Happy New Year! I’m sure you’ve all been very busy strategizing your game plans for those New Year’s Resolutions (as have I). Whether it’s excercising more, spending more time with your family,or trying to live more fashion “centsibly”; now is the perfect opportunity to start fresh and make it happen! One way to bring balance to your life is to ensure your surroundings are in order. The act of organizing to achieve balance dates back to ancient times. Take the Chinese practice of Feng Shui for example. Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive “Qi” (energy flow). Modern interpretations of the ancient practice, claim that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects (such as furniture) to help people achieve their goals. I think the Chinese are definetely onto something with Feng Shui. For me, organization is very important as well. If my environment is in order, everything else will fall into place. For someone who lives and breathes fashion, having an organized, harmonious closet is a must! Check out some of my closet organization tips here.

Closet organization should ultimately solve that neverending problem of “lost” items in your closet, and it will also help you preserve the clothing you spend your hard-earned dollars on.

Clothing

* Begin by separating your items into seasons. Next, separate your season piles into items (i.e. pants, skirts, tops, accessories). Finally, separate your item piles into colors.

* I like to hang what’s in season in the closet for easy access. Anything out-of-season should be boxed away in storage. I shop at stores like Target for easy-stacking canvas storage boxes with windows and garment bags for hanging storage. Note: Always make sure your garments are clean before storing them away! You wouldn’t want those pesky moths going to town on your precious clothing.

*Hangers are also an important element for the preservation of clothing. Use shaped, wooden hangers for your jackets and coats to maintain the shape of their shoulder lines. Use heavy plastic hangers for your shirts and suit hangers for your pants and skirts. Use soft, padded hangers for your delicate silk blouses and dresses.

* Jersey knit dresses, long, delicate dresses, vintage pieces, and anything with heavy beadwork should be folded and boxed to retain their shape and to protect them from dust. Recycle your leftover christmas boxes or boxes from stores and label them on the outer corner of the box. Stack them on your closet shelf, or in mildew-resistant storage boxes if they’re out of season.

* Always fold and stack your sweaters in wire baskets on your closet shelf. Tissue weight knits that are easily damaged should be stored in individual sweater bags.

* An easy way to organize your hosiery and intimates is to purchase some inexpensive drawer dividers. Sheer hosiery can be protected by grouping into freezer-sized Ziploc bags. Bras, and silky delicates should be stored in a seperate lined drawer.

Accessories

*Organize your shoes one of two ways (depending on the amount of closet space you have available.) If you’d like to keep the floor clear, store your heavy rotation shoes in a canvas shoe file. All other shoes can be stored in clear plastic stacking boxes for easy viewing. Tall boots should be grouped together with plastic boot-shaping inserts to help retain their shape. Otherwise, invest in a quality, cedar shoe rack to display your prized collection.

*Handbags should be stored in their original dust bags or in a clear handbag file for protection

*Scarves, shawls, soft cold-weather hats, and gloves should have their own plastic storage box as well.

I prefer storing things this way because everything stays stain-free, dust-free, scratch-free and within easy reach–no worries! I’d love to hear your organization tips too!

Love,
Loren