A Busy Mom's Guide to Effortless Fall Wardrobe Swaps

Smart Clothing Swaps for a Fall-Ready Closet

Choose easy layers and staples that will keep you and your kids comfortable for fall activities. Here are some examples of what to swap:

• Cotton sundresses for sweater dresses
• Linen shorts for denim, corduroy, or trouser pants
• Lightweight tank tops for soft flannels, cotton button-ups, or silky blouses
• Sun hats and visors for knit beanies and baseball caps
• Light cotton tees and short pajama sets for warmer PJs
• Strappy sandals for boots, sneakers, and loafers

Once you’ve traded summer clothes for fall essentials, make sure you pull your sweaters, hoodies, quilted vests, and light jackets out of storage, too, so you can layer when there’s a chill in the air.

Just don’t make the mistake of packing away or shoving all your warm-weather clothing to the back of your closet. Keep versatile basics and a few of your favorite statement pieces upfront for unexpected warm days and special occasions.

How to Freshen Up Your Fall Clothes

After you’ve added fall pieces to your rotation, take a closer look. Do a sniff test, too. After months of being folded and unworn, your clothes might be a little wrinkled, stiff, or musty. Here’s how to get them looking (and smelling) fresh off the rack again:

• Wash away odors. For clothing that doesn’t pass the sniff test, run a quick load with non-toxic laundry detergent to get rid of mustiness without synthetic fragrances.
• Air out or tumble dry. Let items breathe on a drying rack or toss them in the dryer with a safe dryer sheet alternative.
• Smooth out wrinkles without harsh chemical sprays. Use a non-toxic wrinkle releaser spray that doubles as a static releaser. Lightly mist the wrinkled areas from 6 to 8 inches away while the garment hangs, tug gently to smooth fibers, and let air dry for 30 minutes. It’s like magic. 
• Give knitwear a little TLC. Use a lint shaver or roller to remove pilling so sweaters and scarves are soft for the season and last longer.