Fall has always been my favorite season of the year.

The scent of burning leaves.  The explosion of color.  The crisp chill in the air.  Cider.  Pumpkins.  Halloween.

Nature uses fall to prepare for winter and we do, too.

While we might not hibernate as deeply as the bears, we certainly tend to be less active and spend more time indoors when the weather’s inclement outside.

And just as animals will shore up their nests or dens with additional leaves for insulation, we’ll add extra blankets to our beds or snuggle under down duvets.

Heck, a few of us humans have been known to do an annual migration south just like many birds do!

And, of course, one other rite of passage in the Fall, since we can’t grow thicker fur coats like our animal friends, is to pack up our bikinis and halter dresses and pull out our cashmere and wool from storage.

Which makes Fall a perfect time to do a little wardrobe purging.

But when it comes to assessing what gets to stay and what has to go, I know a lot of women who struggle. So here are three tips that I find helpful:

1. If an item has sentimental value and that’s the ONLY reason you’re hanging on to it, take a picture of it. Often a lovely picture of the item is enough to satisfy your need to “keep it” while allowing you to pass it on and make room for something new and better to arrive in your life.

2. If you’re unsure if you want to keep certain items, place them in a box, tape it shut and mark the month and year. If you haven’t gone looking for the pieces during the next year, drop the entire box off at your favorite charity. (No peeking inside again!)

3. Picture someone else enjoying the item you’ll give away. Remember, someone somewhere is longing for everything you have just as someone somewhere has everything you’re wishing for.

Afterwards, if you discover some new found space in your closet, you may want to fill it with today’s VPOD.

This metallic silk ensemble from the 1970s screams Fall in a muted color palette that is simply gorgeous.

It’s a fine way to celebrate the changing seasons for a Vintage Crusader!

Available at Katy Kane Vintage & Couture Clothing.

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