Tag: organized closet

Quick Fixes for a Better Closet

I received photos of a stranger’s closet via text last week.  (It sounded funny to me as I typed it, but it is not an uncommon occurrence, and the stranger isn’t strange at all!)

A participant from a recent presentation asked questions  about her oddly shaped and slightly frustrating closet.   I love these questions!  And regardless of the size or status of your closet, there are steps I suggest to EVERYONE, including this class participant, to give you more breathing room and make your closet work better for you!

Try one of these suggestions this week, or all of them!

      • Pull all unused hangers off your closet rods.  Toss or recycle the old or decrepit ones, and set aside the ones you may use as you hang clothes up today.   When you’re done clearing space today, put all the extras in the laundry room.

      • Collect and recycle the empty shoe and shipping boxes, then toss out the shopping bags, dry cleaner bags, tags, pocket lint, tissues, etc. from the floor.
      • Collect all those Errands-To-Be-Run items – for return, repair, donate or share?  Yep – send them all on their way.  Pack them into the car, and add the errands to this week’s to-do list.
      • If space is tight, consider moving move all non-clothing items elsewhere.  (For example, more-than-one-piece-of-luggage, keepsakes, excessive bedding, gifts to be given, bags of clothing donations, fans, furniture?)  Send these under the bed or into storage elsewhere in your home.
      • Swap your clothes for the season.  Yes, I know it may seem like a hassle, and I also know some items can be worn all 12 months but some… can’t or shouldn’t be worn all 12 months.  Store these in storage bins or totes under the bed or on the top shelf of the closet.  Your clothes will last longer safely folded away instead of hanging and collecting dust, and you will reap major space benefits by clearing away items you won’t wear for a while.
      • Swap out your shoes for the season, too.
      • Move that safe on the floor. (Yes, everyone keeps their safe on the floor of their closet and thieves know it.) Hide it somewhere clever while freeing up some closet space.
      • Now that you have more breathing room, use your vertical space better: install over the door shoe racks on the back of the doors, or jewelry storage on a blank wall.

Try one, try all!  And enjoy some breathing room in your closet this week!

My Shopping trip with Tamika Maria Price, Wardrobe Consultant!

My new favorite jacket

My new favorite jacket

Thursday morning, 9 am:  I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I am really excited to go shopping with Tamika Maria Price (http://www.tamikamariaprice.com/  and http://www.alinechicago.com/) at Macy’s!  I’m never excited to shop, but I am today!

9:45 am:  Driving out to meet Tamika, I realize the unfamiliar feeling in my stomach is Fear. About shopping!  Silly right?  Every day, I do things that frighten others.  Public speaking, singing in public for hundreds?  Bring it on.  Bugs, spiders, wild animals – eh, no biggies.  Leading groups, starting a business, parenting sons and teenagers?  Tough some days, but not scary.  Shopping for clothes for me?  Terrifying.

Why?  My fears include spending too much money; not finding what I want and wasting time; not knowing if I’m buying the right clothes or styles or colors or sizes; being frivolous, spending time and money on me instead of others.

12:30 pm:  I had nothing to fear!  It was great to shop with someone who knows what she is doing!  Tamika worked the sales, came with coupons, helped me find my style, knew my colors and took care of me!  I have 17 awesome items plus accessories, and here is what I learned:

1.  Try Multiple Sizes.  I tried on 3 different sizes of clothes, depending on the type of item and the designer.   Thankfully, my shopping consultant planned for this, because I would not have.  And it’s not just because I am a petite on the bottom, and regular sized on top, it’s because each designer is just a little different.  The pair of jeans I bought – I tried on 3 pair, in two different colors.  I liked the indigo in one color, but the same size in a maroon was too big.  Go figure.Hmmmm, which fabulous new sweater to wear today?

2.  Break Your Own Rules.  I operate under certain rules when it comes to clothes and shopping, and I am not even aware of those rules most days.  What colors go with other colors, what shoe color or accessories go with certain items, etc.  Tamika helped me examine those rules while we worked together, and stretch my comfort zone just a little. 

3.  Go ahead and shop once in a while.  And shop multiple stores.   As we walked to our second stop, Tamika asked me where I usually go to shop.  I looked at her blankly, because there is no “usually go to shop”.  I shop when I have to, and I shop on-line with a few retailers whose sizing I can rely on, like Eddie Bauer and Coldwater Creek.  The problem with that?  All my clothes come from the same two stores, which gets a little predictable and boring.   I will still rely on my favorites, but I will also go in person to shop at least once a season, to try stuff on and see what’s available.

New shirt, earrings and necklace.

4.  Buy a few new things every season to keep your wardrobe and style fresh.  I wore an ensemble this past Sunday: my new favorite white-with-black-stripe shirt and new statement necklace with a slim black skirt, black cami and sandals I already had.  A couple of new pieces updated the whole look.  Looking great doesn’t have to break the bank.

5.  Stay focused, and shop with a list.  Go with a plan and a list.  You never know what you may end up with otherwise!  But of course, when a really great sweater presents itself, fabulous and on sale, consider going off the list just a little, and try it on!

And for the best shopping trip ever, take Tamika with you!!!