Monday, January 31, 2011
Friends In High Places: A Working Closet
8:00 PM | Posted by
Tara B. |
Edit Post
Edit Post
After a brief hiatus, FIHP is back with yet another wonderful blogger collaboration. As a style blogger, one of the questions I get asked a lot- the most common one, really- is this: How do I make my closet work for me? This dilemma comes in many shapes and sizes, but the underlying issue is the same.
One reader complained that she simply had so much stuff in her closet, putting an outfit together every morning was a struggle. Now this may seem like a problem most of us would be happy to have, but honestly, I get it. I was at such a point in my life a little over a year ago. My closet was bursting at the seams with more clothes than I could count. And yet, I couldn't find anything to wear! Another reader bemoaned her massive credit card debt, while dozens complained of having bought something they absolutely "had to have", and then struggling with ways to wear it. Essentially, these woman are all faced with the same problem: they're working way too hard for their closet. Rifling anxiously through heaps of unworn clothing on the closet floor every morning, working overtime to pay off that sale haul, and the guilt- the debilitating guilt of it all.
Today's post, featuring one of my most beloved style bloggers of all time, has been in the making for a while. Please welcome Anjali, from the fantastic blog Goldenmeans. If you've been keeping up with Anjali's closet escapades for as long as I have, you might notice a general theme- optimization. She seems to be using everything she's got; mixing old pieces with new, and high-end wares with the budget-friendly. I know times are tough for many of us, and often, it really helps to be able to piece together a fantastic outfit. Not only because it makes us feel beautiful and confident, but because having control over our outward appearance, in some small way, can be symbolic of the control we would like to have over other aspects of our lives. With this in mind, Anjali and I decided it was time to put together a post about being in control- of your closet. For Anjali's tips on closet-control, and to see more of her beautiful outfits, visit her fabulous blog here.
Anjali, in her usual put-together glory.
Buying something is the easiest part of assembling a closet. A monkey with a credit card can buy a pair of pants. But making your closet work- well, that's a whole different ball game! Through my own process of trial-and-error (*cough* mostly error *cough*), I've come up with a four-step system that works for me. D.O.S.I.- Definition, Organization, Setting limits, Inspiration. So far, it's working great!
Being aware- of your self, and of your needs- is probably the greatest service you will ever do yourself. This principle can be applied to your closet to great effect. There are the needs of your lifestyle, needs of your closet, and then there are emotional needs. What kind of a person are you? What do you do everyday? What do you wish you did everyday? Now think of what articles of clothing fit into your life and your closet. If you work a 9-5 job at an office, chances are, you need several button-down shirts and a few pencil skirts. If you live in the northeast, you need a good quality winter coat. These are the practical needs of your closet, as pertains to your everyday life. Then there are emotional needs. You may feel that you need to have an over-the-top, sequined dress for when times when you need a boost of confidence. For me, this piece is a $50 pair of red heels. It satisfies an emotional need, which is also a legitimate need. One pair of red heels. Not ten. If you feel like you need ten pairs of red heels to fulfill an emotional need, please stop here and see this post instead. Anything- anything- that you can't reasonably justify as a "need", you must honestly admit to yourself is a "want".
Admitting a want for what it really is, is the first step to keeping a rein on your purchases. I won't tell you to curtail your wants, because that would be hypocritical and frankly, inhumane. Instead, I'll say this: Be very mindful of what percentage of your clothing budget you spend each month on wants. Chances are, once you've crossed everything off your "needs" list and know it, your monthly clothing expenditure will shrink, since you'll be aware that what you're now buying is just "extra". Step 1, while it may seem redundant, is quite possibly the most important of the bunch. Too many bad closet (and life) decisions are made because we were just going through the motions thoughtlessly, buying into something that looked good on someone else- be it a dress or a dude. Don't be a sheep! Be acutely aware of your own sartorial personality, and the rest will start to look easy.
You need: a versatile pair of blue jeans, crisp button-down shirt, and sturdy pumps.
You want: an uber-delicate silk dress and bejeweled peep-toes.
Step 2. Organize: Taking Stock Of What You've Got.
For the longest time, most of my clothes used lie in a crumpled heap on my closet floor. There was never space for new purchases, and I kept buying more and more because anything more than a day old would just mysteriously disappear into that sinister black hole. Simply put, you won't know what you've got until you can see it all. It seems fairly obvious, yet many of us choose to ignore this step altogether.Once you've gotten to a point where your clothes pile is as tall as you are, tackling it head-on might be an intimidating prospect. But here you must take me on faith- the benefits your closet (and your psyche) will reap from this exercise will far outweigh the initial feelings of anxiety brought on by it. If you're at a loss for where to start, begin by forgoing the next pair of heels, and instead, using that money to buy a 200-pack of hangers. Anything that can go on a hanger, goes on a hanger. This gets rid of the hassle of folding which, if you're anything like me, is an activity whose very thought induces in you feelings of confusion, anger and nausea.
Figure out a system of organization that works for you. I hang all my skirts together, all my dresses together, and so on. Some people choose to arrange things by color. You can even use a program like Dress Assistant to organize and keep track of everything in your wardrobe virtually. It doesn't matter. The point of organizing is for you to be able to open your closet door and immediately be able to take stock of what you have. In completing Step 2, you may find that you already own many of the things that you thought you needed, and maybe even some you thought you wanted, so that takes you back to redefining your goals in Step 1. Also, you may find that your closet is simply too small to accommodate everything that's currently in it, or you may find items in there that you haven't worn in a while, and don't foresee wearing much in the future. This brings us to the next step.
Being able to see what's in your closet is the first step to being able to use it all
It really doesn't take that much longer to line it up than it does to throw it in!
Step 3. Set Limits: Learning To Say No.
So going through the organization phase has left you with a bunch of stuff that doesn't quite fit into your closet, physically, or aesthetically, or both. Guess what? It's time to say goodbye. You just can not let your closet run haywire. Ideally, your closet should function so as to maximize your happiness while minimizing your suffering. If you're constantly working overtime in anticipation of hefty credit card bills, if you have to cut back on other important things- good food, health care, a social life, double-ply toilet paper- because you're allotting too much money to your monthly clothing budget, stop! Remember, you don't work for your closet- your closet works for you! Nice clothes are supposed to enhance the wonderful moments in your life, not replace them entirely.Set limits for your closet, and set limits for your wallet. Then impose these limits unflinchingly. Your closet should be a pleasure for you to behold. If you walk into your closet and feel like there isn't enough room for you to breathe, purge right away! I know you "looove" all your clothes- but it's time to eliminate the ones you "looove" the least. Be ruthless! Treat your closet space and your wallet like bratty children- the more strictly you impose discipline on them, the nicer they will be to you. Trust me.
If you absolutely must break your monthly budget, like for an emergency intervention party or a shotgun wedding, consider selling off a few things from your closet to make up the monetary loss. Not because an extra $100 one month will be the thing to drive you to bankruptcy, but because it'll be a good reminder that there's only so much space in your closet, in your budget and in your life- if one extra thing comes in, you've got to let go of something else you hold dear in order to make room for it. Think you can't do without all those clothes in your closet? Try Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge. It might teach you a thing or two about yourself- like the only thing that isn't limited in life is the bounds of your imagination. One pair of modestly priced blue jeans can take you farther than ten designer dresses.
Step 4. Inspiration: Open Your Eyes!
Good In, Good Out. That's how it usually goes, dear readers. Really, the best way to come up with beautiful, creative, fabulous outfits day after day, is to look at such outfits day after day. Aside from fashion magazines and people-watching, blogs are a fantastic resource for inspiration. There's a not-so-fine line between "copying" and "being inspired by"- the difference between recreating an outfit piece-for-piece, and recapturing the essence of a look. The first, while also capable of yielding great results, is not as creatively gratifying, nor as easy on your wallet, as the second.In lieu of an actual inspiration pin-board, I have an inspiration folder on my desktop, where I save pictures that leave a lasting impression on me. When I'm stuck for ideas on what to do with an item in my closet, I revisit these images for hints. Without inspiration, even a closet filled with the most magnificent pieces will yield only tired, boring outfits. For a list of sources that I turn to for my daily dose of closet inspiration, see here.
A look inspired by two of my favorite fashion bloggers- can you guess which ones?
There is a fifth and final step in the creation of a working closet, and while it fuels your closet and gets things rolling, it is, by far, the least important step in keeping your closet "working" at an optimal level. This step is Shopping. If you're on a fashion blog, chances are you are already well-versed in this particular step. There is, however, one little thing worth mentioning here: shopping ought to be the last step in the chronology of closet-building. There's simply no point in buying more things when you can't keep track of what you already have and what you need, nor is it a good idea to make new purchases without first setting a mental limit for how much indulgence you will allow yourself. So even though this may sound counter-intuitive to some, just remember: shopping comes last! To see my current shopping list, click here.
If you've been struggling to get your closet under control, I hope I've been able to give you a few relevant pointers on how to manage the situation effectively. It's been quite a revelation for me to write this particular post, because even though I've been implementing these steps in my own closet, I never really defined the steps so meticulously as when I sat down to write about it. I'm hoping this exercise will help me getting more out of my closet in the future. And of course, if you've got some tricks of the trade that work for you, share them with the rest of us!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
37 comments:
You two did such a great job!!! I love all the points you made and now I need to go through and purge my closet!
I just bookmarked this particular post on my computer. It's very helpful, direct and well-written. And the pictures are stunning, as usual.
New reader here- I really like your writing, and your brand of subtle, twisted humor. The photography on your site is unbelievable. Great post.
Sound advice! Thanks for introducing me to Dress Assistant. I've been looking for a program like this since Clueless. Ha! :)
This week is off to a great start already. I'm glad to see Friends In High Places back on the scene, and this post has come at a critical and perfect time for me, as I'm one of the people who emailed you with my own closet hassles a few weeks ago.
Thanks for yet another great read :-)
"Kendi everyday" recently had a great series of posts on the same issue. For those who are interested, go check it out
http://kendieveryday.blogspot.com/2011/01/create-working-closet-part-5-remixing.html
(if you scroll down, you'll see part 1-part4)
BRAVO!!! LOVE this collaboration!
Great post, Tara! And oh, I love that last photo of you - the dress with the yellow cardi and your hair up! Just absolutely knock-out beautiful!!! ^_^
Fabulous post, Tara - I struggle with this myself and really appreciate your advice. I also agree with Carol - your outfit in that last photo is perfection!
Great advice! I would also love to see what you two see as your "working" closet- how many shirts, skirts, dresses, shoes, etc., that get the most rotation. Part of the problem is the volume of stuff we all are lucky enough to own, but don't really need or use.
Anon: You've made a great point, and a very difficult request >.< Now that you've planted this seed in my mind, I'm very interested in actually defining what constitutes my personal "working closet" - I think, at this point, approximately 65-70% of what's in my closet is in fairly heavy rotation. Which isn't *so* bad. But I'd like to see that number improve, either by purging items that are not in heavy use, or by finding new ways to use them more often.
Thanks for a thought-provoking comment ^____^
How timely this post is for me. I re-organised my closet yesterday. I bought some multi-hang thingy's that hold clothes downwards up to 30lbs at a time. Brilliant to make more space and stop the clothes from creasing each other. I would love it if one of the Blogger's hosted a reader Closet Photo post like OOTD post.?
Sue: That's a fantastic idea- I'd be happy to host one on LGBC :)
Hi Tara, Always to treat to enter your world. I have a rule that I've had for a while now. And that is If I haven't used it in 6 months I usually donate it.It goes to the local Thrift store that uses the money for boy's and Girl's that for some reason or another can't live at home. The other rule is If I buy 1. item I have to get rid of another.Yes, Sometimes it's really hard to let go of something that I cherish. But I can't see me keeping it and not letting it be loved by someone else. I have only so much room for all of my clothing. So that's my little way of keeping my closet organized and keep it from getting boring as well. But all of your points are great. This was definitely a great read.
I am so glad to see this feature return! What a wonderful, informative, helpful post. Thanks!
I really love the Cascade Foliage Dress outfit. I may just have to recreate that look for myself as well. As for a working closet... it is constant work to pare it down, purge, and lovingly add.
Lovely idea for a post, as I've come to expect from your blog. I'm in the middle of trying to tackle my closet again. I purged about six months ago, but I'm due for another one where I can be even harsher on myself. It's a bit hard to visualize my clothes since I'm living in a spare room without a closet and most of my clothes live in garbage bags (loved and unloved pieces alike). However I think if I could figure out how to live with less even this situation would be easier! This post is giving me a good kick in the rear I deserve.
Thanks 4 the great tips. And it was lovely to see Anjali on your blog, her outfits always brighten my day.
Brilliant! I will never look at my closet the same again. though I'm sure the pile may be taller than I am...
Tara, I am so impressed - this was one comprehensive guide to making your closet work! ANd great pictures to accompany the post!
I have to agree with the hangers - folding is not my thing either. it's a daunting and tedious task for me. I prefer to hang clothes - that way i can see everything. With my stuff, i like to hang my "nice" things separately from my "Just Ok" things :-)
Thanks for the advice ladies...you both are such an inspiration to me, and you both look amazing as usual!
Those are some great points and very good advice. Why is it always so much easier said than done though?!
Melanie@Unravelled Threads
Follow @UnraveldThreads on twitter!
Hi Tara. Great post and the pics look awesome as usual. Thanks for linking my post.
I do agree that having less clothes but appropriate clothes in the close is so important otherwise you get into the trap of "having numerous clothes but nothing to wear". I recently organized my closet and it is so much easier to dress in the mornings now.
Cheers
Alissa: I wouldn't be too hard on myself if I were you. About 3 years ago, I was living in a spare room with most of my clothes in garbage bags, and it's *incredibly* difficult to get organized when you don't have a dedicated space in which to do so. My one suggestion to you, if you can't find a closet, is to go to Walmart and get a few of those plastic drawer towers. They're cheap, an excellent transient solution, even though they will require you do to some folding *shudder*
Melanie: It's only hard getting started. Like when your closet is a ginormous, overflowing mess. But it's a BREEZE to maintain, I promise you. Once everything is in its place, you won't want to mess it up. Even one shirt out of place will bother you enough that you will hang it rather than throw it on the floor, especially if you make sure there are always enough empty hangers in your closet.
Just stumbled upon your blog and must say I'm very impressed. The quality of the pictures and your writing is above par for sure. One of my favorite lines is "nice clothes are supposed to enhance the wonderful moments in your life, not replace them entirely" I must repeat this to myself, since I'm exactly the kind of person who sometimes spends her entire monthly budget on beautiful clothes, and then put on those clothes and sit alone on my couch night after night, cuz I don't have enough money to go out with my friends or do anywhere, in fact, after spending so much on clothes alone.
Your sense of humor is also very dry and sarcastic (the shotgun wedding and "intervention party" made me smile) Bravo.
- Julie.
Second the idea that I'd love a rough count of how many pieces your wadrobe has. (Only if you're comfortable of course). I think that I currently have considerably fewer clothes than most everyone posting these wonderful organizing closet tips and thus really do need at least ten or more pieces but sometimes I second guess myself.
-Victoria
Hi Victoria!
The last time I did a count per request for the blog was last summer, so maybe it's time to do another round-up now. I'll try to get to it later today. And certainly, if you come up with a list of closet essentials you *need* but don't have yet, Step 5 is more important for you. Happy shopping :)
What a great post! Right now I am trying to figure out my tiny closet that is overflowing with clothes (not to mention the huge amount of clothing stored at my parents' home). I am trying to cut back on purchases and wear more of my favorite pieces I already own. Thanks for helping me sort through my thought process!
Thank you for this post. I have been suffering even as early as the 2nd week after getting paid because I blew my budget on frivolities (clothing, restaurants, etc). And I was thinking about how to change that situation for myself because its very disheartening to know that I used to be a super saver and now Im dipping into savings every month to cover things I should have alloted for already. I really appreciate the post and your pictures are (as always) beautiful.
Love the harmonic blue look.
http://lifeisfullofbeautiful.blogspot.com/
Hi Tara,
My relationship with Anthro started during a lonely period in my life & enamored by the sight & smell ( literally) of Anthro, I began acquiring pretty much what I desired.
Some of it was also driven by an entitlement/reward scenario ( landing big sales accounts etc.)
Then I began getting overwhelmed financially & visually.
I hate clutter & seeing too much of anything & stuff piled together. I don't lack closet space or the financial affordability but the sheer weight of the hordes of Anthro stuff took over.
Some stuff lay unopened in bags for weeks on end, sometimes months.
I felt great creating outfits in my closet, but lots of dresses / tops I could'nt wear to work or have an occasion to wear for lay unworn in my closet.
I am a Type A personality & quite competitive & an achiever.
I feel addicted to Anthro. I do love their sometimes one of a kind pieces & think it makes me feel ' unique' as I do believe myself to be > :-)
I used to shop earlier at high end retailers but not with the type of 'addiction' & lack of restraint as at Anthro. I keep feeling I will 'miss out' owning some pieces that I especially like & now I am improving at least to the point of buying what I know I will really love.
And there is so much to love !
Really, none of these are really on a "Needs' list.
How do I 'let go' of acquiring more; whether it is that $19.95 steal of a deal or an item that will sell out quickly ?
Your advice ?
Anon: Believe it or not, I absolutely understand the sentiment you're describing. I hope you won't take offense to what I'm about to say, I say it only because I struggle with these exact same feelings when it comes to shopping at Anthro. The first thing I do to stop my feelings from resulting in an actual action (viz. making a purchase I shouldn't) is to force myself to become aware of these feelings, and then confront them. If you think about it rationally, you know that there will always be new, "unique" things for sale. Anywhere between 1 and 10 unique pieces might go on sale every single week. Most people just can't keep up with that much buying without going bankrupt. There is no limit to how many pretty items Anthro will come up with. So the only way you can keep your space and spending at a sane level is by imposing a limit on yourself. Set a monthly shopping budget. Along with honestly reasoning with yourself, a budget goes a long way in keeping you in check. It feels like your buying habits are motivated by your emotional make-up which isn't uncommon. You might want to seek professional counseling for this, if you're at a point where it's causing you anxiety or financial problems. Please do get in touch with me via email if you'd like to talk about this some more.
xo
Hi Tara,
Thanks for your insight. Putting my thoughts down in writing & your comment about " there will always be unique things on sale" gave me a revised perspective.
My issue is mostly on 'the acquisition' part & 'not missing out'.
I will work to keep your comment in mind as that pretty much drives my Anthro shopping.
The other thing I have introduced actively is putting out all my clothes / shoes / accessories to see in my closet.
Since I prefer simplicity & dislike seeing tons of stuff, this is helping me simplify as well.
The budget rationale does not really work for me, as $300-$500 buys very little of Anthro pieces. Also I don't buy consistently but in spurts of being able to find things.
Now I am trying to stay away from online shopping & instead going through the time consuming & tedious process of store shopping to reduce # of purchases.
Any other suggestions ?
Thanks
Tara,
I've been searching and searching for a blue button down just like you are wearing. Would you mind letting me know where you purchased yours and the brand. Thanks so much. Beautiful post.
Terri
Hi Terri!
My blue shirt was bought from American Eagle in 2006. Abercrombie has something very similar in several colors right now :)
Tara,
Thanks so much!!!
Terri
Inspired by this post and Kendi's from KendiEveryday, I went through my own closet and assessed my "wants" and "needs". Here's what I found to be additionally helpful:
I ended up writing down one big list of anything clothing-related that I want or need, as specifically as possible. Then, I created a rating system, 1-4 (1 = I need this 2 = This would be very useful 3 = This would be somewhat useful and 4 = I can easily live without this). I went through the whole list and assigned each item a number - and was surprised by the result! It was a great way for me to assess my current wishlist and direct my shopping more efficiently.
I also wrote down a list of my most often worn items of clothing (my j crew jackie cardigans, skinny black jeans, green crocheted hat, etc...). Then I asked myself, "Is this the way I want to be dressing?" "Am I wearing these items for their versitility? Comfort? Job-appropriateness?" This exercise helped me to assess how often I am most likely to wear items I'm currently pining over, and also see where holes in my closet might be.
Post a Comment