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Seasonal Transitions

Spring officially starts next week, which means now is a good time to start thinking about whether or not you’d like to store away your winter wardrobe. This can help protect your off-season clothes from moths and make much needed room for spring and summer items. Things such as heavy boots, tweeds, and sweaters can take up a lot of space, and a crowded closet can potentially damage tailored jackets, as well as just generally be a nuisance to deal with.

Before packing things away, however, make sure you give everything a good cleaning. Food bits and human odor can attract insects, so a dry clean or wash will be necessary. You’ll also want to check the pockets on everything to make sure you’re not storing away anything important.

For storage, I like to use cloth garment bags, as they’re more breathable than plastic. You can buy some decent ones for about $15 through Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond, though if you have the money, our advertiser The Hanger Project also sells a rather nice model for $65. For sweaters and shoes, I mostly use plastic bins, but lately have been considering getting under-the-bed canvas storage units. Whichever one you choose for yourself, take care to put heavier sweaters at the bottom, and don’t pack things in too tightly. That way, your thinner, lightweight knits won’t come out wrinkled by the time fall rolls around. You may also want to consider throwing in some cedar or lavender sachets with your knitwear, as they’ll help deter dreaded moths and silverfish from finding your clothes and snacking on them.

Finally, consider donating anything you haven’t worn either to a local Goodwill or a charity that will pick up your clothes for free. This site can help you schedule a pick-up for the second. For things that might be too expensive to give away, maybe make a note about what you’d like to sell. eBay is a great place to recoup some of the money you’ve spent, but you’ll want to wait until September before you list. From my experience, seasonal items tend to sell a bit better during their appropriate seasons. Those few extra dollars can make you feel a bit better about having to sell something you were reluctant to part with. 

MyHabit.com, the flash sale site owned and operated by Amazon, has recently been in the business of kicking the tail of its competitors. They’ve had great brands, and they have Amazon-level logistics. Old Gilt fans will remember the days when you’d order something and it would show up the next day. MyHabit’s still on that. Rare are the orders that don’t show up within three or four business days. Plus: shipping and returns are free.

Right now they’re having a big inventory clearance. It started this morning so a lot of stuff is gone, but there’s still a lot left. I love the Facconable shirt-jacket above, which is about $200. This Gant by Michael Bastian down vest is awesome (in XL and XXL only). There are Facconable chinos in a number of sizes and colors still left. There’s a ton of Hickey Freeman outerwear at very reasonable prices. I love this C’N’C Costume Nacional field coat, which is a hundred bucks. There’s even a few Cucinelli cashmere pieces.

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NYT: Amazon Plans Its Next Conquest: Your Closet

Amazon’s getting serious about apparel, but it means stepping into a particularly dangerous minefield. Their focus has been price - offering commodity products for less than their competitors. The fashion business is distinctly uncomfortable with that prospect.They want fancy presentation and pricing that preserves their mystique (and margins).

Still, this is big news for consumers. I had no idea, for example, that if I type “Jack Spade” into the Amazon search bar, I’ll find hundreds of products. Their flash sale offering, MyHabit, is catching up to industry leader (and category creator) Gilt Groupe, as well. Today, for example, it’s offering sales on Gant Rugger and Luciano Barbera. We’ll see where it’s heading, but it’s tough to see it breaking bad for those of us who like to shop online.