Wednesday 26 September 2012

pleasures of being boxed in.

There are basically two reasons for storing you closet stuff.
1. to organize & declutter, duh.
2. to store off-season stuff.

Storage container come is a variety of sizes, construction and price. Some fit nicely into other storage items while others can be used alone. Buy different sizes to accommodate a variety of items. One type of storage items I really love are the ones for shoes. Each section for a separate pair of shoes. Neatly place and protected and most importantly, visible. Therefore allowing for a quick pick. I know some people use the original shoe boxe and stick on pretty images to tell you what is in the box. Yes, it's nice. But then they are all piled one on top of the other and can get messy when pulling out the bottom box....getting the visual of the tumbling boxes??...

Keep it simple and accessible.
And pick nice boxes, patterns or nice solid colours which will add an attractive design aspect to the inside of your closet. The ones with lids are great for stuff that you use once in a while, keeps them dust free. Especially if you want to put away off-season items away for a long period of time. If you do have a basement or storage locker, then take them out of the bedroom completely. Just make sure there isn't humidity or a bug situation, you don't want surprises when it's time to pull them out!


but if you must because you are creatively driven:
http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.ca/2010/06/top-3-favorite-shoe-storage-ideas.html

Tuesday 25 September 2012

clothes depository.

There are those people who are vigilant about putting all their stuff away asap. And then there are those that just dump their stuff, generally the clothes come off and make their way directly to the floor. Live like a sergeant or an aging university student, or the pile just gets conveniently displaced....hmmm.


    http://static.themetapicture.com/media/funny-clothes-bed-day-chair-night.jpg


blogDOG says: 'Find something in the middle.'

As much as I love to wash and fold clothes, it is very painful for me to put them away. They sit in my laundry basket for several days, my only consoling thought is that at least they are clean and ready if the need arises. But it still drives me crazy. And when I get home, I usually change into comfortable clothes for lounging around the house, walking my real dog, Vegas. The dirty clothes actually do go directly in the hamper, but the sweater and jeans will probably just get draped on the couch in the bedroom. Yes we are fortunate that we have room for a love seat.
My side, his side.

I have always had a chair of some sort to temporarily deposit clothes I intend on wearing again. The in-between stage, the on hold stage, it justifies my inability to put things away, right away. A chair keeps it off the floor, dust free & fairly unwrinkled. It really is a savior. Find one that suits your room, hopefully something attractive that will decorate the room and has good draping capacity. Below are some fantastic chairs/armchairs to inspire you. I personally like a chair that has a hook/handle like aspect (like the very beautiful turquoise chair) at the backrest, very accommodating for purses and jackets.

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/category/furniture/home-furniture.jsp

Friday 21 September 2012

little BLACKdress.

need I say more?

Besides a crewneck white tee and a pair of essential jeans, every woman needs to invest in a few staple black dresses. The ones that are best are those which you could take you from the office, to an art gallery opening, to a hot date or even, thankfully, to a wedding! There are so many to choose from and they could become the go to piece your closet and your best friend when you're stuck in yet another indecisive fashion rut or running out of time to get dressed.

it can be tremendously life saving...

Fresh off the runway SP2013.




Here a few easy inspirational black dresses from a favourite website of mine, Totokaelo.




shopping in Montreal? 
Check out a very cool shop in the heart of the Mile End district. It is owned by Julie Pesant, a dynamically creative woman with a multitude of aspirational visions and LBDs. 




Thursday 20 September 2012

separation is necessary.




















Besides the obvious closet for clothes, what is the situation with your dresser?
Just about everybody owns a dresser, but it's not necessarily providing the storage space that you need. I have seen some that just basically collect dust and offer very little room to actually put stuff in, usually passed on to us from a family member or friend and just never felt right about replacing it...
Not good.
When I met my husband, he had a very cute vintage dresser with very slim drawers that could fit just a few socks or tees and half the handles were missing. Very dis-functional. Of course most of his stuff just never made it to the bedroom, they were piled high in the laundry room down the hall like a good bachelor, so it never bothered him.
Until I moved in. And so I had to organize...



Steps of separation:
1. Two type of drawers would be great. A tall dresser for smaller items and a larger dresser for, well, bigger items or for clothing you have most of.
2. Go through all your items/clothing that end up in the bedroom and which you think should go into drawers, such as jewelry, belts, scarves, underwear, tees, socks, sweater, jeans and gym stuff. Separate and create piles for each grouping. It helps to fold as you go along & editing is always good! When you have gone through everything you will see that some piles are really more massive than others. This will also help you decide which size of drawer you need for which category.
4. Fill them up. But before dumping them into the drawers, think of how to separate items for the two sets of dressers you might have. Think of how you get dressed. How could you group items to make dressing easier? Take the example of my husband. He is an electrician and has specific work clothes which I have organized for him so that he could basically get dressed in the dark, since at times he gets up really early, way before I do. Under garments first, then socks, basic top and jeans. It's amazing how well it works for him, and he's not constantly asking me where something is...
Give it a try!


Sunday 16 September 2012

mirror, mirror...

Get one.
How can anyone manage to get dressed without a full length mirror?? And it has nothing to do with vanity. Just some solid confirmation that you look ok, presentable and balanced. Jumping up and down in front of the bathroom sink really doesn't do it, nor is it any better to stand on the bed to get a view of your lower half. It really is crucial for proper complete viewing of yourself when fully dressed. My favourite destination is Home Sense for selection, especially if you are in need of a an oversized scale. Just make sure that it reflects a realistic image of you. Some mirrors, especially inexpensive ones, are of poor quality and kind of warp the reflected image.

A 3 panel mirror is fantastic, gives you a very complete viewing!

Oh, and for those who want to double check and want to be certain that all is good even from the back, a small hand held mirror is great :)


Find the one that suits your needs and fits with the style of your room.


Thursday 13 September 2012

breaking RULES


How permitted are you to break rules?

As far as clothing goes, I am all about breaking rules and bending them to suit my taste and comfort. What goes with what? It really is kind of limitless I would say, depends on who your are, your style, what your comfort levels are and really how imaginatively quirky and daring you might be.

I was talking to an acquaintance yesterday, a male, casual conservative. He loves shirts with french cuffs and he was told that ultimately it should always be worn with a tie. 'What do you think Lucyna?' Again, no real rules in my book, more of what is working for the individual. 'How do I look?' he inquired. ohhhhh...I thought his basic black shoes were not right with the shirt and khakis he was wearing, or keep the pants and shoes, but change the shirt for a clean black tee or polo.

Khakis are a remarkably versatile pant for a man. Wear them for work, dinner, golfing or lazy lounging.  Dress up, dress down. Everyman should have one at least one pair, if anything, just to get out of those jeans. And there are so many great looks and brands today, depending on your top and shoes, you could achieve a variety of sharp looks. But shop around and try to find the best fit for you, it might take a few stores before you get a hit. And don't be shy about trying different combinations, you might be surprised that getting away from the classic combo suits you best.

Here is a great read on khakis. Also for the photo above (sketch by me).

Below are some easy great looks from J.Crew. They always have great visuals to refresh those khakis or maybe they might inspire you enough to get your first pair?
Options for the shirt you love to wear.
OK, so, like I needed to add some SP2013 images from the JCrew runway collection. Though I know the looks might be too much for some, it can be instrumental in getting the fashion wheels turning as to how to expand on your khaki looks, especially when transitioning into new seasons, using colours & layering, especially a chunky sweater or a great blazer. Don't forget to ponder over the shoes!...




Wednesday 5 September 2012

dream IT!

Dream a dream closet.
We all dream of walk in closets, a spa behind the door...But the reality is that some get it and others just continue to visualize :)
Certain factors come into play.
Is it your home or a rental. 
Space. 
Money. 
Needs.
These components will help to create the closet that you want or can have. Work within your parameters. Money is obviously a big issue. You don't want to invest in something that you can't take with you. But maximizing the closet space you have can be done on all levels, get inspired and then scale it down.

Here is a wonderfully fabulous site that I peruse through for all kind of decor ideas: HOUZZ

Take a look at their page they have posted today on closets.


Roll it...
Be creative and make up for lack of closet space. A rolling rack is an uber cool item today and can be a quick and cheap way to solve your issues. Just remember, invest in a decent one that won't tilt precariously to one side or bow at the center!! Also, display your best clothing and use good hangers. Make it an art piece.







Tuesday 4 September 2012

behind Closet Doors.

Open IT!
We sure could hide a great deal behind those closet doors. 
We are all guilty of it. Sure it definitely comes in handy when surprised guests show up and the house is a mess...throw it all behind a door. But maybe not the solution on a daily basis. If you are a college student, then you are exempt, but, unfortunately and well, realistically, it doesn't apply to a grownup with a regular job and his/her own place.
Take charge. 
Yes it could be quite daunting, scary, time consuming, painful, but it could also make a world of difference in your life by having an organized closet. One where all is visible, clean and ready for selection. Dressing could be done in a flash, especially when you are late for work or need to make an impression for a last minute rendez-vous!
Edit.
This is probably the hardest step. Start with the current season. Take it all out and make 3 piles.
To keep.
To try on and maybe keep.
To part, throw out or donate.
Just getting through this is probably the biggest step. Do it with the best intentions. Book some 'closet time' at least 4 hours, or do it on a Saturday, you might need a full day depending on the amount of clothes/stuff you need to get through. Get a good, honest friend who can give you solid positive advice. Some boxes or garbage bags. And get a couple of solid plastic containers for items that aren't the right season or you really have a hard time to part with. But keep in mind that it needs to be stored somewhere, so if it goes back into the same closet, you might be hindering the uncluttered aspect of this project. 
Use the KISS rule: Keep It Simple Stupid. A solid philosophy to adhere to :)