full article - Clos-ette

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T-BARS are aprettyand practical wayto
hold necklacesand bracelets. Lookfor
heightsthatare compatiblewlth the
various lengths andweights of yourpieces.
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STASH IN-SEASON HANDBAGS
orthose in rotation on ashelfor
displayhook(likeonef rom Simply
sarahshaw-com). Stand soft bags
hoboswith ;ute bookendsio
helpthem rnaintain thelrshape.
like
ARRANGE SHOES BY CATEGORY (pumps,
boots, etc),then group them bycolorfrom lightro
dark,saysl\,4elanle Charlton Fascitel i,founderof
Clo sette, an organizationaldesign company.
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USE WOODEN OR METAL HANGERS
ratherthan plastic,whichtendsto
STARCLOSETS!
bend undertheweightof clothlng,
See where
suggestsFascite
i.
celebrities
keep their prized purchases
at instyle.com/closet
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Keep or scrap?
Partingways with beloved clothing can
be the most difficult part ofa closet
cleanup. "Like a garden, a closet can get
overgrown, and your wardrobe will need
to be pruned," says Barbra Horowitz,
author ofthe advice book C/oset
Control lf the task seems impossible,
think of it this way Getting rid ofclothes
makes room for new stuff. You'll want to
update your look each season, right?
That's why it's a perfect time to toss
pieces that no longer suityou. Consider
donatingto charity. Find great local ones
at Dressforsuccess.org or Goodwill.org.
UNIFY
But
Edit your wardrobe. Waitingforan
outdated skirt to come back in style?
Ai'aid ro diLcl- rhaL ove'priced dress
you feel guilty for buying but never
wearing? Ler it gol "When you create a
clean, less-crowded space, you will
actuai y wear more ofyour pieces,"
says Fascitelli, who designed the walk-in
closet for th is story.
Don't harbor foreign items. )rofessional organizer Lara Greenberg of
Streamline Inc. suggests removing a
items that don't belong in a bedroom
closet, such as CDs or magazines.
storing pieces in Space Bags (available
at Containerstore.com), which vacuumseal clothes into flat, airtight packages.
Once those bulky wool sweaters have
been shrunk, they can be stored under
the bed for the duration of the summer.
Never pile sweaters more than four or
five high, and always p ace the heaviest
on the bottom. Lightweight sweaters
should be folded iengthwise and placed
over hangers; hangingthem like you do
dress shirts will cause stretching and
create dents at the shoulders. T-shirts
should be stacked forthe same
reason three per pile will avoid a mess.
watch the weather. "Seasonal
clothes left out all year long take up
valuable space," says Ecker, who favors
Don't fold trousers. Avoid creases and
clip marks oy hangi'rg from tl"e cuff'.
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TIP KEEPA POP-UP N/ESH CUBE IN YOUR
CLOSETFOR ITEMSYOU PLAN TO DONATE
SOTHEY DON'TTAKE UP ROD ORSHELFSPACE
120 n srvre / NlAKEovER
2ooe
CLEAR THE FLOORIt mightseem
ikeyou'regivingup prime realestate,
butthefloorcan easllybecomea messy
dumpingground,warnsGreenbefg.
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R
K LUND
store any high-end bagyou're not
using in the dust case that came with
the
purchase. Lost it? Buya new one at
Margarets.com, but before tucking it
ins de. sruff the bag witl' acid-free tissJe to
help the bag keep its shape. For an extraprized purse,give it another layer of
protection by placing it in a breathable box.
Lavender or cedar sachets are great
for keepingthe space smellingfresh and
deterring insects (try Crabtree-evelyn.com
or Loccitane.com). Theycan be placed
inside storage boxes or on shelves-but
never let them touch garments,as Sachets
contain oils that can stain. Separatethe
sachets from clothingwith acid-free tissue.
An unlit scented candle or barofsoap can
also provide fragrance. And if well-used
shoes are an odor issue, keep ascented
dryer sheet underthe main offenders.
A valet rod on the back ofthe closet
door is a handy place to hang pieces while
you're putting together a look, say the
experts at Garde Robe (garderobe
online.com), a f ull-service wardrobe
storage company in NYC. Buy one from
Organize.com to hangyour dry cleaning
before it goes in the closet. And always
removethe plastic bags, which emitgases
that can discolor or damage clothing.
Function comes first, butyour closet
can also be beautiful. Line shelves with
fun fabric, paint the walls a bright color,
even hang photos or art. "Upholster the
back of a three-way mirror so when
.
KEEP NECKLACES UNTANGLED
with stackable trays and small
comDartment boxes like those at
Containerstore.com. The velvet
inserts also create a sense oforder,
.
ARRANGE BAUBLES BY SEASON
OR STYLEto accessthem more easily
and pulltogetheryou r look in aflash.
Clothesthat
should live in
everywoman's
closet
Your closet is clean; nowget
your wardrobe in order with
some essential but versatile
pieces. Julie Watson, a
personal shopper in
chicago, makes her picks.
Dress it up or
bleed dye onto your clothes.
playto any occasion by
New ideas for organizingiewelry
HANG NECKLACES FROM A
PEGBOARD soyou can quickly choose
the right accents and bring some longforgotten favorites back into rotation.
FAB 5
c osed, itservesasan inspiration board
for outfits and future purchases," says
Fascitelli. Choose decorative outdoor
fabrics like ones from Sunbrella that won't
OUTSIDE TH E BOX
.
THE
II
LITTLE BLACK
DRESS
down-
adding accessories or
layered pieces to a sleeveless
shift orsheath with minimal
detail (no ruching or pleats).
cnaTmeuse
dress, The
Limited, $98;
thelimlted.com
foa stores.
CARDIGAN
Choose a neutral color
(black, navy or brown) in one- to twoply cashmere or lightweight merino
wool. lt can be used in lieu ofa blazerfor
awork-appropriate look or as a layering
piece with jeans and a T-shirt.
O
WHITE BUTTON-FRONT SHIRT
Good construction andfitare key
A boxytop looks boyish, so pickone with
r)
darts or princess seams and asateen
finish with a bit ofstretch. The buttons
should never bulge orgap.
JEANS
The most versatile denim can effortfrom office to evening.lt
lessly move
must be a darkwash, and thefewer
detailsthe better: no whiskering, abrasions or ornate pocket elements.
BLACKSUIT
Lookfor a season-spanningfabric,
such as lightweight ltalian wool,that can
be ounched uo with acolored blouse and
jewelry. Trousers and a jacketare greatto
start with, buttry a suit system (skirt and
dress included) ifyour budget allows. r
MAR K LUND