7 steps for an inspiring spring closet clean-out
plus, a Q&A with Julia Coney
hello, lovers!
for the purposes of today’s send as I aim to remain in a delusionally optimistic state, we’re going to ignore that mercury is in retrograde. instead, I’m centered on the fact that it’s officially spring, and I’m diving headfirst into all of the feelings of renewal this season brings. specifically, today’s edition is going to focus on personal style. as the weather warms up, I have some lofty goals around how I’m approaching my wardrobe with more creativity and confidence, and my goal is to help you do the same! shall we get into it?
before we get into the fun, this edition of The Sunday Series is too long for email, so I’d recommend clicking out to read in browser or even better, in the Substack app, where you can like and comment! your engagement on Substack means so much to me 💌
here’s what you can look forward to in today’s edition of The Sunday Series:
7 steps for an inspiring spring closet clean-out, including how to select three words that define your personal style
the spring sales I’m shopping (now that my closet is cleaned out!)
meet , author of , podcast host, and wine consultant for American Airlines
paid subscriber exclusive: content I’ve consumed and loved lately. I’m sharing recommendations for podcasts, articles, and Substacks of note…think of these snippets as intel to make you not only entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist but a more well-rounded conversationalist :)
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7 steps for an inspiring spring closet clean-out
I’ve been in desperate need of a wardrobe reassessment. I’ve also been avoiding having to make the tough decisions on what to keep and what to donate. but there’s no better time to make these choices than when you’re putting away winter clothes and breaking out the spring ones! so, if you, too, are struggling to take the leap to edit down your closet, let me take your hand, and let’s do it together.
STEP ONE: find your three words
before you dive into the daunting task of editing down your wardrobe, it’s time for some pre-work. this approach was inspired by my dear friend, , author of . I can’t get enough of her Substack!!!!
I’m linking up her latest send above, in which she guides us through how to refine our personal style, including taking us through ’s signature three-word method where you distill your style into three adjectives. to pick out your three words, Allison recommends the following framework:
your first word is your practical word: is there a specific silhouette or color you see reoccurring amongst your wardrobe staples?
your second word is your aspirational word: this is your guiding word or your north star and can come from your IG bookmarks, or Pinterest saves
your third word is your emotional word: ask yourself, how do I want to feel in my clothing? what do I want to tell people with how I dress?
my three words are flowy, Scandi, and feminine
prep work extra credit…
if you want to dig even deeper into Allison’s expertise, one of my favorite people on the internet, , interviewed her a couple springs back about her methodology behind a closet clean out. I’ve embedded the interview below.
STEP TWO: tidy your space
I know, I know…but you’re about to turn your drawers and closet upside down, so this starting point offers the optimal work environment for you to efficiently begin your edit.
STEP THREE: take every! single! item! out of your closet, dresser, and storage (but not all at once)
the beauty in doing this closet clean out during a seasonal transition is that you can tackle swapping out your sweaters for your summer frocks while editing both seasons of clothes. I started with what’s currently in my closet, then moved to what’s currently in my dresser, and then pulled down my summer stuff. I only put back sweaters that passed the below tests and didn’t let any summer wear enter my closet/dresser that didn’t pass the test! WOOOOOF.
STEP FOUR: sort into four initial piles
KEEP: these are all the items you adore, fit you well, and wear frequently. while sentimentality may creep its way into the ‘keep’ pile, try your best for it not to! if you find yourself wanting to ‘keep’ something that you don’t actually wear but you have an emotional attachment to, it actually goes in the ‘unsure’ pile…
KEEP AND DRY CLEAN: I’ve started to find myself reaching for items that I want to wear, but aren’t pressed and ready to go. so, I made a dedicated pile of things that needed to go straight to the dry cleaner before going back into my closet.
UNSURE: initially, this pile might be the largest. these are the items that you sporadically reach for and can’t quite commit to parting with (yet). for me, this pile was filled with items I wished fit, I don’t know how to style, I haven’t worn in over a year, or wouldn’t buy today, but loved when I purchased them.
DONATE/SELL: these are the ones that you’re immediately willing to part with based on them not being in the best condition, not aligning with your current approach to your style, or no longer fitting you.
STEP FIVE: scrutinize the ‘unsure’ pile
this is the toughest step!!!! now, we’re going piece by piece through the items that you didn’t have an immediate gut reaction to keep or donate. take every single one off its hanger/unfold it, and pick it up. and ask yourself if the weather permitted, would you wear it in your everyday life today? you’re now sorting into sub-piles based on your answer to that question:
NOT NOW, but I would if I were at [insert trip/event/incredibly niche fantasy scenario]: vacation frocks, evening wear, and special occasion dresses that you don’t wear all the time but don’t want to get rid of go in the ‘not now’ pile. ideally—space permitting—these don’t go back in the closet…these are going into a separate but accessible place so as not to crowd the daily scouring of your wardrobe.
NOT NOW, but maybe it’ll come back in style: this hypothetical world is a tough one to live in! Allison’s timeless versus trendy Qs include, did I want to wear this piece last year? do I think I’m going to want to wear it next year? if this style does come back around, will I want to pull out this exact piece, or buy something new? ultimately, these ones are hard to part with but oftentimes really belong in the donate/sell pile.
NOT NOW, but if I lose 5-10 pounds: giiiiiiiiirl where do we begin when it comes to unpacking the emotionally-loaded stories this pile illicts? my standing therapy appointment is on Mondays and it’s a Sunday, so I don’t have the answer today. but I think my therapist would tell us that we need to let these ones go. if I haven’t been able to wear a pair of jeans in a year but can still picture how they made me feel when I was down 10 pounds in 2022, holding onto them feels like a level of unhealthy yearning. I think the answer is to donate and buy the bigger size!!!!
STEP SIX: restock closet, donate/sell, and move ON!
your goal here is to wind up with an ultra-edited closet and dresser. personally, I was having trouble finding ANYTHING I wanted to wear as of late because my limited space was stuffed with a bunch of superfluous items I wasn’t wearing, but it gave me the illusion of choice. making peace with a more narrow set of options that actually all work for my body and my current life is so refreshing.
STEP SEVEN: make a Pinterest board that evokes your aspirational style word
I had so much fun with this step. after getting a refreshed view of what my personal style currently is based on what works in my closet, I went to Pinterest to explore what imagery I gravitated toward. my aspirational word is ‘Scandi,’ and I found myself pinning lots of colorful, casual, classic, comfortable, and fun pieces.
spring sales I’m shopping
while the point of the above exercise is certainly not to encourage consumerism, the reality of a wardrobe edit is that you begin to identify real gaps in what you’re working with. for me, those current gaps are in pants/jeans, long skirts, belts, statement sneakers, and flats. I don’t need more dresses, but I always covet more dresses! which makes sense, given that my words are flowy and feminine.
💸 aaaaaand as a disclaimer, my shopping sections always include affiliate links. these little babes help us keep The Sunday Series free. I make a small commission when readers click and shop through my links at no additional cost to you—so if you found something through a link I sourced, please do consider purchasing through that link so I’m credited! I’ve been using the ShopMy platform for a few months and love it. want to start making commission on the links YOU share? sign up with my referral link for a 10% bonus on your fist six months of linking.
Banana Republic: Semi-Annual Friends & Family Event
40% off their full-priced purchases and 2-3 day shipping on orders $175+
Poplin Maxi Skirt (in black or navy and white stripes): originally $120, marked down to $72 paired with Poplin Bubble-Hem Cropped Top (also in black or navy and white stripes): originally $80, marked down to $48
Denim Shift Dress: originally $120, marked down to $72
Satin Long Midi Skirt (in cream or black): originally $140, marked down to $84
Linen Blazer Top (in cream or black): originally $180, marked down to $108
Stretch-Poplin Long Midi Dress (in pale pink, black, or blood orange): originally $200, marked down to $120
Viscose-Linen Ruched Long Midi Dress (in etched green paisley, clementine orange or black): originally $150, marked down to $90
Athleta: Friends & Family Sale
I’m not going to lie, Athleta has long been a brand I’d deemed ‘not for me’ but I’ve recently begun to reconsider! last night, of allllll the things, Pookie’s Instagram Stories converted me on a couple items. can’t beat these prices, plus, you can stack her code (10CAMPBELL) on top of the 30% Friends & Family Sale already running for 40% off!! also, since Banana and Athleta (and Gap and Old Navy) are all the same family of brands, if you have a cart running with Banana, this will all get compiled for simpler shipping.
Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant: originally $89, marked down to $48.06 (ps. for my fellow short gals, there is a petite size!)
Retreat Linen Top: originally $99, marked down to $62.37
Aureum Collective: select items marked down
where do we begin here?? I hate how much I’ve been coveting an Aureum belt for months. I’ve tried to convince myself I don’t need one! but in reality, a belt can completely change an outfit, and the few that I have in my mix are both getting dinged up and limiting in terms of what they can do for me! so alas, we’re leaning into this upgrade thanks to some lovely sale prices.
No. 2 Belt - Black Silver: originally $450, marked down to $315
No. 3 Belt - Etoupe Gold: originally $200, marked down to $100
No. 11 Belt - Black Silver: originally $245, marked down to $125
Como Sunglasses: originally $295, marked down to $65
Meet Julia Coney
last Sunday, I got to do one of my favorite things: meet an internet friend IRL. Julia Coney and I have been connected for years online, but it wasn’t until she was in town last weekend for a wine tasting that we got to hug and gush over each other! better yet, I was able to see her in her element as she guided us through the most epic tasting and pairing at Pier 57 at Platform by the James Beard Foundation is a state-of-the-art show kitchen. come along to meet Julia and learn more about her inspiring career!
Kayla Douglas: Hi Julia! You're a wine writer, wine educator, and consultant. Can you share more about the path that led you to becoming immersed in the world of wine?
Julia Coney: I was introduced to wine through my boss. I was working as a legal assistant and he had a BBQ at his house and started pairing Napa Valley wines with Texas BBQ. This was 1999. I couldn’t fully understand what I was tasting, I just knew it was amazing and the food enhanced the wine and the wine enhanced the food. I started exploring wine on my own after that. Buying bottles, making notes, but didn’t think about it as a career for decades.
KD: One of the many hats you wear involves being a wine consultant for American Airlines. Tell us more about the process of creating an onboard wine menu!
JC: It has been an amazing partnership with American Airlines and the James Beard Foundation. The one thing I never realized is the volume of beverages on planes. Selecting all the wines for onboard and lounges is a process. The wines have to be rotated often, so it keeps the wine list and me on my toes in terms of tasting wines and figuring out which wines taste great at 30,000 feet. We have amazing wine partners all over the world. It is never a dull moment.
I always think about how people travel and where. What wine will they sip on the plane and their destination? What wines do they enjoy? I put myself in the mind of a traveler because I believe the experience starts in the lounge. It’s natural for people to gravitate to what wines they like and drink. The wines reflect the range of wines around the world. These wines are meant to diversify your palate. Wine is a liquid passport.
KD: While we're on the note of travel, what is your favorite wine region in the world to visit and why?
JC: This is a trick question. I’m a sparkling wine lover and I never get tired of traveling to the Champagne region. I’ll feel at home there. Lately, I’ve been on a Barolo and Barbera kick so now I need to go to Piedmont, Italy.
KD: For someone who wants to hone in on their own wine education, would you recommend WSET? What's the best way to get started?
JC: I think the best way to get started is finding a local boutique wine store and asking them for help. I worked in a wine store for 5 years and I loved helping customers with finding a wine for them based on their preferences and their budget. I also highly encourage to try a different wine each week with a different food. Take a photo of the label so if the bottle is memorable and you want to try it again. Keep the notes on your phone. If you want to dive deeper I say there are many great wine books on the market and the WSET.
Wine will always evolve, and it's a never-ending learning process. The more you think you know about wine, the more you know nothing. The key to wine is like life, curiosity.
KD: You pen Métier, a bi-weekly Substack with musings about wine and more. How do you approach making a topic with complex language like wine more approachable?
JC: I find wine terminology too hard to understand if you are not a wine professional and I write for consumers. For me, it’s writing about a wine that you should be drinking and one that pairs well with snacks. I don’t like to have wine lingo because it confuses most people. I just want people to drink great quality wine and even less of it. I want them to enjoy wine and not feel like there’s a test at the end. Wine is so personal. I’ve had some just okay wine with fun people, and that makes it a great wine. That’s why when asked what’s the best wine, my reply is always, “The best wine is the wine currently in my glass with people I like.” The wine world has made wine too complicated. And I’m here to change that.
KD: Amongst all of your projects, you also have a podcast, Just Getting Better. What can listeners expect when they tune into an episode?
JC: I love our podcast. My co-host, Michelle Williams and I kept having conversations about everything so we decided to add microphones to our conversation. We talk a lot about women’s health, politics, and books.
KD: Shifting to what you're reading! Tell us about something you read recently that left you with a book hangover.
JC: I’m still in a book hangover from All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. This book was beautifully written. I usually don’t re-read thrillers, but when the book was over, I was heartbroken. It was such amazing writing. And now I am a huge fan of Chris Whitaker.
KD: What book is on your TBR pile that you're most excited to pick up next?
JC: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. There are so many great books coming out this year that my TBR will continue to be outrageously long. But I love it. I average between 50-70 books (print and digital) and around 20-25 audiobooks a year. I only listen to non-fiction on audio. I can’t get into fiction books on audio, but that’s just me. Whatever way people want to read, I’m here for. I stopped giving myself a book goal per year. I took the pressure off myself.
KD: The Sunday Series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you in D.C. on a Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
JC: Ooh. I would say I have two types of Sundays and I plan them. One Sunday is doing yoga, farmers market, pursuing books at Kramerbooks, Mahogany Books, or Politics & Prose. The other Sunday is bed day. Wake up, a decadent bath, and a fresh set of pajamas and doing nothing but read.
content I’ve consumed and loved this week: a cultural curation
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podcasts I loved listening to this week
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