The Seasonal Closet
I wish I could explain to you just how tiny my closet is.
I am picky about closets. I like things just so. I like to be able to see everything, organized at a glance. I hate sliding closet doors, always obstructing half my sartorial view. I much prefer accordion or French doors, even a simple curtain. Someday, I will have a dream walk-in closet… or even a specially chosen spare bedroom… perfectly appointed with double-level racks, paper lined shelves, giant full-length mirror, beautiful lightning, even a chaise-longue on which to recline while contemplating my outfit choices.
But… that is a dream for another day. Currently I reside in a wee Brooklyn apartment, with two of the tiniest closets you ever did see. One for hanging clothes, the other for shoes, bags, and folded pants. I mean we are talking no bigger than 3’x3’ square… and that is the big one…hardly wider than its skinny doors.
I pride myself, that in the last few years, I have pared down my closet and refined my clothing buying habits. I’m going for quality over quantity. Carefully selected pieces that I love made from natural materials. Ok, I’m not perfect, I still fall prey to the occasional trendy impulse buy… and let’s be real… I really love to shop…but the point is, I have made strides to cut down on the copious amount of clothing that occupies my mini-closets, and yet I still do not have enough room for everything…
Lack of closet space, and storage in general, is an all too common inconvenience to the dwellers of this fair city. And everyone I know has figured out their own way of dealing with it. Packed shelves scale walls all the way up to the ceilings; monsters find no refuge under beds, since every inch is already spoken for; bicycles hang in hallways like modernist sculpture…cause, where else will they go? I have a friend, who at this point is a full-fledged adult, who still shuttles out of season clothes to her folk’s house on Long Island to free up space in her tiny Manhattan abode.
Which brings me to what I really want to discuss today…the seasonal closet!
I started packing up the winter clothes and unpacking spring stuff, mostly out of necessity. But now, I find it such a practical practice that, even if I had my dream closet I would still implement the seasonal switchover. Call me a closet nerd if you will, but I think its fun! I love re-acquainting myself with my sundresses as the weather starts to warm up, and re-discovering my jackets again just as the air begins to get crisp…
Even if you don’t get giddy planning out your summer outfits in April like I do, any process that keeps you in touch with your wardrobe is a good idea, no matter what. Having to come to terms with every piece of clothing you own twice a year will yield you a more refined look and an organized and accessible closet for the months to come. In the spirit of simple organization, I have created for you a straightforward list of 8 of my fave closet tricks of the trade, and reasons you should tackle yours every season too!
1. Out with the old!-
Culling and purging your closet on a regular basis (or at least twice a year in this case) keeps your wardrobe fresh and easy to navigate. No one wants to be digging thru a stack of shirts that don’t fit trying to find one that does…get rid of what does not work for who you are now! And that means things you don’t like or don’t fit. Anything you are packing up that you didn’t wear this season or anything you unpack that doesn’t fit anymore has to go! Sure, there are exceptions…but be brutal and be honest! You’ll be happier in the long run!
Plan a clothing swap with your girlfriends or donate to charity… (Goodwill and Dress For Success are a couple of good ones). Or hey, times are tough! Sell particularly nice pieces on Ebay and make some cash!
2. Create a shopping list!-
We all know that shopping for groceries without a list leads to impulse buys of Oreos and forgetting the milk! The same applies to shopping for clothes. Hang a small white board or stash a notepad in the closet. Take note of what your wardrobe lacks for the upcoming season. Take your list with you on a shopping trip and only buy what’s on the list. Also, jot down what not to buy (like go-to items you already have plenty of)!!! This saves you money and keeps you focused. My List looks like this:
3. Less Outfit Stress!-
We’ve all stood in front of a packed closet whining that we have nothing to wear. The seasonal check in will help eliminate this easily … think about it… you’ve removed seasonally inappropriate pieces, gotten rid of anything you don’t love or doesn’t fit, and figured out what you need to round things out. So, you automatically have a closet full of things that look cute…so just pick something already! It is ALL good! Even if you wear the same cute, perfectly you outfit 3 weekends in a row…who cares? No one will notice anything other than that you look hot.
4. Don’t forget about your basic bits…-
Just like you are supposed to check the batteries in your smoke detector at Daylight Savings Time, the seasonal switchover is a good time to check in with all your hardworking foundation pieces as well. Inspect your socks for holes and indentify any orphans, pull out any undies that have lived past their day, find any bras with over stretched elastic or broken bits, check thru tees and camis and make sure you have the colors you need and that everything is in good shape. Mend what can be fixed, trash what is dead, and add any needed replacements to your shopping list!
5. Transitional Items-
Last weekend it felt more like August than April, today it is rainy and mild. So needless to say, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to only have shorts and sundresses on hand. Pack up your seasonal gear that you really aren’t going to need, but make sure to keep a few transitional pieces on hand. Light sweaters and jackets and long pants still have a place in your spring/summer wardrobe for chilly days, but your thick wooly sweater and snow boots can go ahead get to hibernating for the next few months. I tend to keep more extra layers within reach at the beginning of the season and then pack them away as the season progresses.
6. Be a Hanger Snob!-
Ok... I promise not to go all Joan Crawford on you here. But I am an admitted hanger snob… and you should be too. Seriously, the hangers you use really do matter. Chances are your clothes spend more time hanging in the closet than they do on your body, so you want to make sure that they are not being damaged in the process. Which is all a wire hanger will do. They offer no support, and will stretch out the sleeves and shoulders in no time. Think about it this way- the dry cleaner gives them away for free for a reason… cause they are cheap!! So give them back to him! It will save him a little money on the back end, and you will not have useless evil hangers clogging up your life. Those plastic tubular hangers are only marginally better…I hate them too.
Wooden Hangers are beautiful and offer decent support but are expensive not nearly as useful as my favorite (and pretty much the only hanger I use)- The Clear Plastic Store Hanger.
These have been used in the industry for years. They are inexpensive, super durable and super functional . You can hang anything on them, from your heaviest winter Coat to your skimpiest summer Camisole. They are thick enough to support the shoulders in your garment and keep items from slipping off, the big grooves are great at securing straps, the hook spins, so that all your hangers can easily face the same way (which is vital!), clips keep them adaptable, and they stack together which is a great space saver. Since my closet is so small, I hook hangers together to layer pieces… three blouses take up as much room as one!
I have a lot to say when it comes to hangers and how to properly hang things…so stay tuned for another post where I can indulge my hanger obsession and delve even deeper into the subject!
7. Organizing Tricks and Tools-
As you are gearing up your wardrobe to work for you this season, make sure your closet is working for you as well. In addition to good quality hangers, I have a few other tricks that help keep your closet running smoothly.
Organize garments by type and add rack dividers to create sections. I use a piece of Grosgrain ribbon, use a sharpie to write the section name, and then tie it around the rod. Its cute, it works, and its free!
I love hanging shelves. They just fasten on over the closet rod, and you can store sweaters, pants, shoes, you name it. The great thing is that if you need to remove them for the season like I do, they come off easy and fold up flat and easy to store.
I also have an over the door hook on my closet door. It’s a simple addition but adds an extra place to hang things, while deciding on an outfit, or for having a planned outfit within easy reach for the next day… An extra hook or two is almost like having an extra hand when in the depths of outfit deliberation. They also are great place to hang transitional pieces until the weather has changed enough to store them as well!
I’m a sort of out of sight, out of mind kind of girl, so I love clear storage boxes. I mostly use mine for storing shoes, but if you are keeping other accessories in your closet too, they are great for being able to find what you need that much faster and easier.
Keep wardrobe tools, such as a lint roller, double-stick tape, safety pins, and a small pair of scissors stored in a bag or box in the closet. Having your tools close at hand makes it easy to when you need to snip a thread or get the cat hair of your black dress.
8. Storage Tricks and Tools-
Likewise you want to make sure your out of season clothes are being stored properly so they are ready to go when it is time to for the next seasonal switch.
If anything needs to be washed or dry-cleaned, do that before you pack them up.
Fold things nicely, use a folding board to keep things in uniform shape or roll sweaters to prevent creases.
Invest in good quality storage containers with a good seal. I store most of my stuff in my old cedar chest and in storage bags/boxes that slide easily under the bed. Be aware that cardboard, wooden and plastic containers are slightly acidic, and can erode delicate fabrics over time, so if you are storing cashmere or silk or vintage items, line your boxes with acid-free tissue paper, to keep them in tip-top shape. I store my vintage and designer shoes in acid-free paper year round. You can find decent sized packages at the Container Store.
Pack a lavender sachet or cedar block into your storage container with your clothes to help keep tings fresh. For a great low cost alternative, toss in an un-used dryer sheet instead!
I just finished my spring swap this weekend. My sweaters are all folded and cozy in my old cedar chest, my closet is brimming flirty dresses , my t-shirts are newly folded and even organized by color! I’ve got my shopping list started and there are two bags of clothes in the hallway ready to go off to a new life… I am ready for Spring!! But, a few months from now, as another New York winter starts to take shape, I will pull out the flirty dresses and replace them once again with a hanging shelf full of sweaters… and I’ll be pretty excited about that too.
Happy Organizing!!
-Becca
haha!! "no navy tees!"
LOVE IT!
you HAVE you come look at my closet when you're back. we need an overhaul. I need you help.
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OK! You have inspired me to do this. I will clear out some time on my schedule and get on it. Maybe I'll even take pics of my endeavor. Great tips and I plan on using every single one of them. You ROCK Becca.
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The ribbon idea is pure genius! Brilliant! I think I love you. I'm doing that not for me but to save mys husband's life. Surely he will comply with the Law of the Ribbon!
Thanks,
wickedmess :: sorta joking but not really ::
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