Post #114: A New Year's Resolution

Let's face it, when it comes to most people's closets, there's the stuff that you reach for all the time. There's the stuff that you reach for sometimes (every so often, on special occasions, etc.). And then there's the stuff that you try to avoid reaching for. And hey, it's ok. Every closet needs its rejects...especially if there isn't a world of Narnian space inside that wardrobe.

So how do we go along with the whole "new year, new you" phenomenon while not losing our closet-focused minds?

In the past, I've always gone for the grand gesture. I make a billion resolutions without really writing them down. Somewhere in that mix the "Grand Closet Overhaul" rears its organizational head.

It normally takes a few weeks, during which time my bedroom becomes my new closet with piles of clothing big enough to jump into scattered around. Then I carefully put everything back in my closet, switch around my shelves, and somehow (almost) the same amount of stuff fits back in perfectly.

I always say that I'm going to get rid of/donate a bunch of stuff, but parting with even those reject pile pieces can be difficult. So this year, in an effort to really change, I'm taking a new approach to my closet.

Although I claim to have "actress style," meaning I like dressing for different "roles" à la Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (remember those good old days?), I am still going to make a concerted effort to reduce the amount of clothing I AVOID in my closet. The trick this year is this: instead of doing it all in one fail swoop, I'll go through my closet every couple of days in an effort to pair it down.

If I haven't worn it in forever: it GOES.

If I wore it in eighth grade and it's not a basic or from a special event: it GOES.

If I can't remember why I bought it and really hate it: it (sadly for my wallet) GOES.

If I won't wear it now and can't make it into something new: it GOES.

I know, I know. I'm being strict. And quite frankly when it's my closet instead of someone else's, each discard is a lot harder. Yet that's what doing it in little sessions is for...and at age 20, I feel like I should start making a more concerted effort to cultivate my personal (and future appropriate) wardrobe.

Post #57: The Closet Challenge - Project Complete

            I'll be the first to admit that "The Closet Challenge" was a bit more daunting than I expected it to be. I had forgotten how long such organizational attempts had taken in the past. I had also forgotten how somehow everything that fits into my closet does not fit on my bedroom floor. And while I must say that my ever-changing summer schedule (as well as some built in relaxation time) is a large factor in why I have not been updating this blog, especially with regard to The Closet Challenge, I do admit that I feel bad for such copious amounts of lag time. Therefore, consider this the fresh start to a fresh wave in blog posts. The Mannequin has officially opened for summer. 

            And now, after that somewhat lengthy introduction, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine:

My Newly Organized Closet

            While I do intend to continue on and organize the clothing that I have hanging up by color, it is organized by type. As for the shelving...everything now has its own breathable space. In fact, thanks to some very serious consideration about what clothing I should donate (some things are just meant to go out with the times...and if something's too small for you now or if you avoid it every time you're thinking about to wear, it's time for it to go), each of my larger bags (and hats!) has its own unique shelf. The goal was to keep nothing from looking overcrowded, and I think that I may have achieved that. While the piles of clothing still exist in the back of my closet, they exist with a purpose. For example, over the years I have grown quite the collection of oversized t-shirts that act as pajamas. There is no need for me to take up valuable (visible) hanger space with these. Therefore, I made a pile of all of them. I just take the shirt on top and voilá: pajamas for the night. Next to my shirts lies a pile of pajama pants, followed by sweatpants, followed by shorts.  My shoes are neatly arranged on shelves and my hanging clothing is separated by type. 

            Undergoing such a project has definitely made me believe that I can take on any organizational challenge. So here are a few tips (and wishes!) from yours truly:

• Keep things organized by type. Each shelf should have only one type of item on it (whether that be shoes, scarves, hats, bags, etc.). 
• If it's summer, keep your winter gear on lower or higher shelves. Leave the eye-level space for what you're actually going to wear this season. 
• If you have some extra cash and extra space, definitely go for The Container Store's Linen Drop-Front Shoe Boxes. I have been eyeing them for weeks now:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/shelf?productId=10029670&N=154

• If you're not going to wear or use something again, donate it! Personally, I donated six bags of clothing and a few bags of toys to the Vietnam Veterans of America. They pick the stuff up from your house and it goes to people in need of such things. Check it out: http://www.pickupplease.org/vva/veterans-donation.aspx?gclid=CNSzsZ_mw6kCFUlx5Qod2SsXgg
• To keep things aesthetically pleasing, don't overcrowd your shelves. In fact, I'm even thinking of putting a white curtain in the very back of my closet to section off shelving that contains toys that I want to keep but that I don't really use anymore. 
• Get thinner hangers! Once again, if you have the means to do it, make your closet uniform and get hangers like The Container Store's Platinum Huggable Hangers. They have a non-slip velvety surface that holds your clothing better than most plastic hangers, they save space, and they look good.

            I could probably go on for a few more bullet points, but I'll leave you with these tips for now. No matter how big or small your closet is, embrace the process. It can be very cleansing to clean out the clutter in your life. Plus, a clean closet means that you get to see and love all of those fabulous shopping finds even more. Give it a try. 

Post #54: The Closet Challenge - A Bit Of Research

            While ideally my closet will end up looking like Carrie Bradshaw's in the first Sex and the City movie (see video clip below)...that may be (structurally) out of the realm of possibility. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3D5Lm7FNtAAHLGny4SakqvBf6Bk57hiJqmkSZJY62DLk1PqyzUvkZaFWk_qtu_OpoPrNzxGZ3L1um4e0v4Z5G8Bxr3dHG2UlFEmbZn3OxRJWxSoIsjOgtzu6zLBYQ7AQolIyFA05gkM/s1600/sex+in+the+city+closet+2.png

(Go here for a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO-kM8am5zc&feature=related)

            However, in my quest to make my closet pleasant to be in and completely organized, I did look up some of the "best" closet organizing tips. So here they are:

• Good Housekeeping came up with a cute idea: the "once-a-year fashion show." "Empty the closet, then try on each garment in front of a full-length mirror. Does it fit? With what outfits and on what occasions will you wear it? Does it need mending? Will you ever be able to get out that ink stain? Separate pieces into four piles: keep, mend, donate, throw away. Follow the same steps for shoes." I don't know if I'll try on everything in my closet, but I definitely will be cutthroat when it comes to weeding through my wardrobe for donations.
• Good Housekeeping also suggests using see-through boxes or easily organizable bins to store accessories and shoes. 
• A tip I found on HGTV.com suggested really thinking about how much you use certain things. If something in your closet is only seasonal, put it in storage elsewhere. If certain things come out once a year and have no other place in the house, put them on the highest shelves. This tip may sound like a no-brainer, but it may be something that is too often overlooked. 
• I don't know if I'll be able to pull of this other HGTV tip, but one closet organizer suggested leaving some empty shelving to make things feel clean and spacious. 
• I also hear (and have read from many sources) that the best way to store your shoes is in their original boxes with a polaroid on the front. 

Let the organizing begin. 

Post #53: The Closet Challenge

The Before

             Do you ever feel like your closet is an unorganized mess no matter what you do? Like it always gets cluttered no matter how many times you pull everything out and "reorganize" it? 

            I do. 

            

            To be fair, most closets need reorganizing (however minor) at least once a month. When I interned at a fashion design company last summer, there were many days where I was asked to clean and organize "the closet." After all, it makes sense. If you love clothing, you're gonna go shopping and get more clothing...which then needs to fit in your space. If you don't walk around naked every day, then you're constantly pulling things out of your closet and putting them back in. By nature, closets get dirty. 

            Yet the trouble with this is that dirty closets aren't nice to open...and they tend to absorb random things that have been "missing" for months. 

            So, here's the challenge: I am going to completely reorganize my messy walk-in closet (and I will cut myself some slack: I did just return from college for the summer...so a lot of stuff just got thrown in there). And I am going to do this by Friday. To prove it to you, I am posting before and after pictures of my walk-in. Wish me lots of fashionable luck!