Does your room look like this? Mine sure does after trying to figure out what to wear for a night on the town!
Lucky Magazine has a great article this month on organizing your closet. I figured it was good timing to post about it seeing as how we are changing our clothes out for spring/summer (yeah!). I realize it might be hard to read because I scanned it in but if you click on each image, it should come out larger or click here for the article. Or just go buy the magazine! And while I'm at it, I have done several posts on organizing and inspiring closets in case you are interested, go to "closets" under my Labels and check 'em out for yourself!
As you may know, in addition to being an interior designer, I am also a closet designer. And every (and I do mean every!) client says "Oh, I have A LOT of shoes!" But what I find funny is that "A LOT" is a relative term. What is A LOT of shoes to you? 20 pair? 200 pair? 2, 000 pair?
There once was an old lady who lived in a shoe...er house...who had so many shoes that she didn't know what to do. So she called me. Seriously, she easily had 2, 000 pairs of shoes covering every square inch of space in her bedroom! Not to mention trash cans full of shoes hidden in her closet. She wanted a place to house her addiction. I, on the other hand, wanted to give her the number of a good therapist.
So after that experience, I find it funny when people with 20 pair of shoes tell me they have "A LOT" of shoes. But whether you have 20 or 2, 000 you must find a way to store them, right? So here goes...
Do you line them up in a row?
Or do you encase them like important artifacts?
Or do you display them like a tabletop vignette?
Or do you have a mini-photoshoot with your footwear and label their boxes by photo?
Or do you just label them?
Or do you have a super creative solution that makes your shoes look like art? Let's face it some of them are! I mean Milano's were not made for walkin'!
Or do you mount them on the wall for easy viewing?
Let's face it, I am not reinventing the wheel here, just showing you some inspiration! But speaking of a wheel, check this crazy-ass thing out...
WTF?
It is like a game show...step right up and spin the wheel to see what shoes you will wear today!
Don't have a large closet? Make one. Use a long wall or an entire room as a wardrobe of sorts. And why not get creative with the closet system itself? Especially since it is out in the open! How brilliant to use the latter as a clothing rod to connect the bookcases! I especially like this mix of modern materials and old accessories. Tres chic.
Today kicks off Charleston Fashion Week. Not sure if these are boutiques, stylists offices or closets. Regardless, they give me mad inspiration. And as I try to figure out what the ___ to wear to the show, I am painfully reminded that I desperately need a new wardrobe.
[Pause with me while I pout.]
via citified
via whoneedsacloset
via sunnys
[Still pouting.]
And speaking of Charleston Fashion Week, I wanted to give a shout out to my friend, Dee Ruel, who's jewelry will be featured in the show! Dee is crazy talented and unlike many of us who make jewelry as a hobby, she actually studied it at the Hui No' Eau art school on the island of Maui no less! I can see it now...Yeah, dad I want to go study in Hawaii. What, yes, I am serious! In addition to making jewelry, she is also a paper artist! She made me the cutest little calling cards. I wanted something to put in the package when folks make a purchase through Objects and she totally nailed it. Nailed it!
I mean really.
If you need cards, invitations or the like...Dee's your girl. And if you need to bedazzle your arms, ears or neck...Dee's your girl. Local? Check out her shop on Coleman Blvd. in Mt. P (she just celebrated her 3rd anniversary!) and if you are not local, no fear she has a website too!
I have always LOVED California Closets ads. They are brilliant and look more like a magazine page than an ad. Many years ago, I worked for California Closets and absolutely LOVED it! If you know me at all or have ever read my blog you know that I am obsessed with organizing and especially with fancy closets. I am excited to say that I will be working for them again! I will still be doing interior design, of course, but also adding to the organizing side of my business by designing custom closets, pantries, home offices, garages, etc. So Charleston folks...let me know if you want a free consultation!
~Images: 1) via decorpad.com 2) via shoesmendhearts.com 3) unknown 4) Designed by Robert Curieur via missgraciousliving.southernaccents.com 5) Architectural Digest
Now that you have purged and categorized your wardrobe and acquired the proper storage equipment, it is time to reload your closet!
Clothes Maintain the categories that you set up earlier by hanging like items together. And within these sections you can also group items by color, light to dark, to further streamline your closet. Be sure to allow some space between each hanger so you do not damage clothing. These easy steps will make getting ready in the a.m. a snap! Insider Tip: discard the plastic dry cleaning bags, they do not allow your clothing to breath which can cause discoloration of the fabric.
Shoes You have a few options based on the space that you have available. Lined up flat and in pairs or in stackable boxes on shelves. If you are short on space you can use an over the door rack but be sure that they do not squish, smash or flatten your shoes! Boot shapers are a must to keep them in good condition.
If you are feeling really froggy, try these beautiful shoe boxes from Closet Fetish!
Or label them like this...
Handbags The best way to store your handbags is lined up on a shelf or if you have extra hanging space you can attach "S" hooks from the closet rod and hang bags by size and/or color and be sure to allow enough space in between them so they do not get damaged.
Accessories Organizing your jewelery really depends on the space that you have available but I think the key is making sure that items are visible or else you will never wear them. So ideally not in a jewelery box but in clear jars or hanging from a peg board or on a specialty jewelery tree. Scarves are best hung on hooks, hangers or rods so they do not get creases in them. You can also roll them and put them in decorative boxes or baskets.
I know this seems like A LOT of work but just remember that in the end you will have a beautiful and functional closet as well as a brand new wardrobe all from your very own closet! Lookout for another post today with some truly envious closets that will really inspire you! Best of luck!
~Images: 1 and 2) Real Simple 3 and 4) Unknown 5) Closetfetish.com 6) House Beautiful 7 and 8) Real Simple 9) House Beautiful 10) Domino 11) Country Home 12) House Beautiful
Overall Space: Check Before you can load everything back into your closet, you need to take a look at your closet itself and make sure you have the proper equipment. What kind of storage system do you have? Is it sufficient? Is it functional? If the answer is no, you might need to look into a new closet system that can specifically be designed to fit your storage needs. Depending on your budget, there are many options available from do-it-yourself Elfa systems to custom closets installed by a closet company.
Yeah, right!
Lighting: Check Is there sufficient lighting in your closet? You need to make sure that your space is well lit or else you risk wearing mis-matched clothing or suffering a wardrobe malfunction. If your closet is not hard wired for a light fixture, consider adding some of these Infomercial staples...the tap light.
Clothing Rods: Check Make sure you have an adequate amount of hanging space for each type of garment as well as an adequate amount of room for each garment. You don't want your clothes to be smashed together so allow them some room to breath! Measure the longest shirt and make sure that it can hang freely without hitting another rod or shelf.
Shelving: Check Make sure you allow some room for shelving in your closet area because you can actually increase an items lifespan by folding it instead of hanging it. For example, sweaters and delicate items like those with sequins or cashmere should always be folded!
Hangers: Check Next you need to invest in some quality hangers. Are you all saying "NO WIRE HANGERS!" Ha! Well you should be because they are just plain bad for your clothes (as are the plastic kind). Wood hangers are great because they can hold the weight of your clothes and help them to maintain their shape. The latest rage are these flocked hangers because they take up less space than wood hangers and the material keeps clothes from falling off. They even have notches for tank tops, camisoles, etc. Make sure you have the appropriate hangers for each garment; pants hangers for pants, coat hangers for coats, etc. And please do me a HUGE favor and buy all matching hangers, I promise it makes a HUGE difference!
~Images: 1) Sex and The City via hookedonhouses.net 2) Real Simple 3) House Beautiful 4) Bed, Bath & Beyond
Once you have an itemized list of your wardrobe, you will want to go through your clothes item by item and create an Outfit List. An Outfit List will help you find new ways to mix and match your clothes and pinpoint any items that might be missing from your wardrobe. For example, write "grey skinny jeans" at the top of a sheet of paper and list all of the outfits you can create with those jeans. Use this guide as an example to get you started.
If this step gives you hives or makes you break into a cold sweat then consider inviting over a fashionable friend for guidance or better yet, hiring a professional stylist or wardrobe consultant. Ask around at your favorite boutique, they might have a good reference for you. The advantage of using a professional is that he or she can also teach you to understand your body type and determine which colors look best on you. Learning how to camouflage your flaws and highlight your assets can be an amazing confidence boost!
After you have completed your Outfit List, take a look at it and see what items are missing. Do you need more basic tops? Do you need more accessories to update your wardrobe? Would you wear more of your clothes if you just had a new pair of black pants for work? According to fashion experts, there are many "basics" that are essential to every wardrobe. Tim Gunn has his famous list and I found this one from Closet Charm both of which are helpful and can be adapted a bit based on your lifestyle.
Now that you have assessed your wardrobe and know what items are lacking you are ready to go shopping (if need be), provided that you stick to the list and remember that you still have to put all this stuff back in your closet! So don't pull a Confessions of a Shopaholic!
~Images: 1) via emilystyle.blogspot.com 2) of clothes via zimbio.com 3) Confessions of a Shopaholic
Now that you have purged, purged, purged, it is time to take inventory of your entire wardrobe. I know, I know this seems like something only really anal-retentive people (like me) would do but trust me, doing this step will help you identify your shopping patterns. For instance...Do you have a plethora of white shirts? Do you buy a ton of sweaters yet live in a warm climate? Do you have plenty of work shoes but not enough dressy shoes? See, there is a point here.
Separate all of your "keep" items into categories: pants, jeans, skirts, dress shirts, casual shirts, sweaters, jackets, dresses, etc. Once you have done this, create a list of these items with as much detail as possible. So instead of "black dress" write "black Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress" so you will know to which black dress you are referring. Use this list as an example to create your own.
Once you have an itemized list of your wardrobe, you will want to save it for the next phase of your closet makeover. Start a notebook or file on your computer or better yet, print it out and keep it handy in your closet. Hang in there and keep this image in your mind...you are getting closer!
~Image: Book Shop Your Closet by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli
We are all guilty of hanging onto things that we just don't need. Whether it is a pair of jeans that no longer fit, an ex-boyfriend's sweatshirt, or a t-shirt from a college formal that occurred in the last decade, there comes a time when you just have to let...it...go. I understand that this can be a daunting process but you don't always have to hang on to a material possession to hang onto a memory. And I promise once you start purging, you will feel so much better!
This sounds crazy but the best way to get started is to pull everything out of your closet and then go through it all, item by item. You want to create three different piles a Throw Away, Give Away and a Keep.
Throw Away - anything that is damaged beyond repair Give Away - anything that is out of style or does not fit Keep - anything that still fits and that you have worn in the last year
There are many options for your "Give Away" items. You can give them to a friend, donate them to a charity like Goodwill or an organization like Dress for Success. Or you can consign them to a used or vintage clothing store in hopes of making a little extra cash!
If you are having a hard time deciding which pile to put items in, you might need psycological help. Just kidding! But you might need to invite a friend or two over to help you along in this process. Remember that scene in the "Sex and the City" movie where Carrie had the girls over to help her before she moved in with Big? Sometimes it takes a little "tough love" for you to see it is time to move on. We hold onto items for many different reasons ("but it was SO expensive" or "it might come back in style one day") so try to determine why you hold onto these items as you partake in this process. It might help you to deal with your issues so you don't make the same mistakes again in the future.
Now take your items to the trash, donation center, ebay store, etc. See, doesn't that feel better? Ok stop patting yourself on the back, take a deep breath, and prepare to tackle the "keep" items next!
~Images: 1) unknown 2) Book Shop Your Closet by Melanie Charleton Facitelli 3) www.hookedonhouses.net
How much are you loving these "cooler" temperatures?!?! I cannot wait to sport the new fall trends-tailored blazers, boyfriend cardigans, over-sized 80's inspired sweaters! Now it might be a while before I can actually wear these bad boys (remember I live in Charleston) but I can still shop for them, right? And I can still gather my fall/winter clothes from storage in preparation as I am sure there is a chilly football game or an oyster roast in my near future.
As most of you know in addition to interior design, I also do closet organizing and custom closet design. And there is nothing like the change of seasons to motivate you to organize your closet! So I have decided to dedicate next week's posting to...tada...organizing your closet! I will give you some step-by-step tips to organizing your closet but if the process is still to daunting, then email me for more information on my services. I can help you take your closet from this...
To this...
Or This...
To This...
Have a great weekend and enjoy this wonderful weather!
~Images: 1 and 2) Real Simple Oct 2007 3 and 4) An anonymous client of mine
So I have been working hard creating my "boutique closet" (see previous post on A-ma-zing Closets in June) which includes a vanity area and I found these amazing images for inspiration. Vanities always remind me of a Hollywood starlet getting ready for her close up. I think of Doris Day in Pillow Talk, Joan Collins in Mommy Dearest (yikes!), Laura Liney in Nanny Diaries...any other iconic movies come to mind? ~Images: 1) Jennier Marsico's Vanity in Domino April 2007 2) Unknown 3) Domino April 2006 4) Cottage Living Feb 2007 5) Ashley Stark's Closet in Domino March 2006
