I put all my summer clothes away in the fall every year. It helps save space, and it's also a clever trick to keep me from buying too many new spring/summer clothes that next year. Putting the clothes out of sight makes them almost feel new when I pull them out in the spring. Then it's easy to assess what can still be worn, what might need to be "refashioned" and what I need to buy to refresh my wardrobe.
This year I'm excited to use my favorite new online tool: Polyvore to find inspiration for revamping old clothes and creating new outfits. For example I have a blue skirt that I've never known what to match with. So I'd just throw it on with a white tee shirt. There had to be other things I could do with it. I went to Polyvore, found a similar blue skirt and saw what other people would pair it with. The outfit below was one of my favorites. I love the belt and the use of purple, and three blues (counting gray). I wouldn't wear the silver shoes or jewelry to work, but I can take this idea and match my own accessories.
This also helps with focusing shopping trips. Work with what you've got! If there are tops or bottoms you always match with the same things, search for the piece of clothing and find other outfit possibilities. Then decide what you'd need to buy to create more looks.
Polyvore will help ease your spontaneous spending. Virtual shopping and outfit creation can be (almost) as satisfying as the real deal. Plus you can narrow down what you need, and what you don't. Polyvore homepage will always show you the top users, and most looked at, items that are "hot" and other highlights, so it's easy to find new styles that excite you.
For more Virtual Style Fun: Visit Polyvore.com. Hope you have fun exploring Polyvore!