It might currently be sunny and warm outside, but slowly the leaves will begin to change colour and the air will turn brisk signifying the start of a new season.

Before you know it, every girl will be busy Instagramming the perfect pumpkin spice latte and our summer uniform of cutoffs and off-the-shoulder tops will be replaced with cozy knits and designer over-the-knee boots.

And with the start of a new season comes the opportunity to rearrange your closet to make room for the drool-worthy fall pieces that you’ve been dreaming about purchasing.

The seasonal closet purge can be a bit of an overwhelming and stressful task, but luckily for you, we’ve got seven tips to help you get the job done pain-free.

Take Everything Out Of Your Closet
The best way to see what you’re working with is to take every single item out of your closet. This is going to be a huge pain, but it will give you the opportunity to completely clean out your closet and have a moment to reflect on each item. You can think about why you bought it and when the last time you wore it was.

Separate Into Three Piles

As you pull out each item ask yourself, “Will I ever wear this again” and be completely honest. Once you’ve determined the fate of the article of clothing, put it into one of the following piles: for keeping, for donating, or for selling (the lightly used, expensive items you’ve got). Even though we’re moving into the colder months, you shouldn’t toss away all of your summer clothes just yet. You never know when Mother Nature is planning on throwing an unexpected weather curveball and will greet you with 20-degree weather in October.

Follow The One-Year Rule
This is definitely an oldie but nevertheless a goodie. If you haven’t worn an item in a year, chances are you’re not going to wear it anytime soon.  Take this as your opportunity to clear up some closet space to make room for new seasonal items that you’ll actually wear.

Do The Same With Your Accessories
After your clothes have been removed, you should be left with your accessories and shoes. Follow the same steps and condense what you’ve accumulated over the years. Just because you treated yourself to a Coach cross body bag five years ago does not mean that you need to keep it.

Get Organized
Once you’ve determined what items to keep, it’s time to get organized. Before you hang up any clothes, toss away all of your mismatched hangers and hit up Winners or Bed Bath and Beyond and get some matching hangers, hampers, and storage boxes (perfect for storing your summer clothes). Seeing your closet nicely organized will make you feel inspired to keep it clean in the coming months.

Clean Up
Now it’s time to get rid of your unwanted goods. If there are any items worth selling, take them to a local consignment store to try to earn some extra money — which could be used on fall items! Whatever items can’t be sold, add them to your donation pile and take to a local charity.

For Future Shopping
It’s important to always try and avoid impulse buying, and once you stop making irrational purchases you’ll end up with a closet full of items that you actually love. It’s also important to shop in person, this way you’ll be able to see the quality of the item and how it fits and you won’t have to struggle with returns.

Inspiration Photo: Blogger Pink Foxy, Photo courtesy of Pinterest VIA Pink Foxy

By Ainsley Smith, Toronto @ainsleysmithy

Are you an employer? Post your fashion job here.

Are you a job seeker? Find fashion jobs here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for the latest fashion jobs, career advice and fashion trends!