Home for the Holidays

Is it November already??? Why does the end of the year always feel like it arrives with warp speed? I love the holidays, but not necessarily the tasks and duties that come with them (i.e. food making, gift buying, and crowd handling).

So, as a means of entering slowly into this holiday year, I like to do something that makes me feel ready to begin the madness, and that prepares me for a season of fun, frivolity, and PARTIES!! The weather is now officially cold, so it's time to revive the winter wardrobe. UGH!! I can hear you groaning and moaning. I know, I know, it doesn't seem like a fun exercise at all, but if you incorporate a little music and a lot of wine (hehe), you will get through it!!

If done well, you will have a workable winter closet that makes getting dressed quite enjoyable. The first step is to take all of your summer clothes out of the drawers and put them into piles: summer, seasonal, and c'est la vie. The summer pile goes up in the attic for another year. These are clothes that are too thin or skin-bearing for the cold, winter days.

The seasonal clothes are layering pieces that you will be able to wear under cardigans, jackets, or even over turtlenecks and long-sleeved shirts. This is where you can really get creative. If you're unsure if something will work, try it on and see!

The c'est la vie pile are the clothes that you didn't wear at all this summer. You probably didn't wear them the summer before either, but decided to hang on to them, just in case. Two years and no wear? Say goodbye. If you have a bag or box at the ready, it is much easier to just throw the clothes in the box as if you are simply organizing everything. Once the c'est la vie pile is in the box, you will most likely have forgotten what is in there and it will be easy to throw it in the car and head to your local Goodwill (or save the clothes in good condition for next summer's consignment delivery).

Once this part of the process is complete, you can get out your winter wardrobe and begin to organize your closet and drawers with those pieces. Think about a system that works best for you. Would you prefer everything to be color coordinated or organized by style? Do you wear pants more often than skirts? If that is the case, you might want to hang them where you can get to them most easily. These might seem like minute details, but they will really help to get you out the door in a pinch.

You can even organize your sweater drawer. Think about putting the ones you wear on a regular basis in one drawer near the top, and the heavy, blistering cold weather sweaters in a bottom drawer (or top if you live in, say, Colorado or Alaska). Pants and jeans can go in another drawer, or be hung in your closet.

Feel free to send me your organization tips for the winter season!!

Closet Connoisseur- The Service

If you like the information that has been posted on this blog, please see my website for more about Closet Connoisseur's closet organization services. http://closetconnoisseurraleigh.com/index.html

Closet Connoisseur will help you organize your closet for each season, get rid of items that you don't wear, and help you get the most out of your wardrobe.

You can make extra money by taking clothes that have been worn, but are in good condition to a consignment shop. Most shops will give you 40% of the sales. I will help you find the shop that will give you the best return for your items, and will deliver your clothes to the shop for you.

I will also deliver the clothes we identify for donation to the group or service of your choice and retain a tax deduction form if you are interested.

Finally, I will help you to go through your clothes and organize things in a way that will help you find the perfect outfit for any occasion. By putting certain pieces together and creating outfits, you will have a much easier time getting ready for every day wear or special events.

Check out the website and make an appointment today!!

Spring Cleaning

Ok, I realize summer is almost officially here (June 21, 2009), but there is always time for a little spring cleaning! With the economy creeping along, wheezing its way back to strength, this is a perfect time to reevaluate your goods. We are all trying to save and not spend on items we really don't need anyway. As much as it kills me to say it, this includes clothes and shoes (GASP!!)

BUT---do not fret my little fashionistas, for help is on the way! I am sure that most of you have a fantastic wardrobe hidden among all of the closet hangers; you just have to rediscover it.

This is no small project, but it is one that will result in a revived, refreshed wardrobe that could carry you through the summer, and on to better economic times! In order for this process to be successful, you must go through most if not all of your summer wardrobe (save winter for another time).

Your goal should be to determine whether each piece of clothing or shoes should be kept, tossed, donated, or consigned. I would recommend having a storage box or some type of container for each of these categories. This may seem like a logical and rather simple task, but I would bet that once you get going, you will realize that it is not so easy to part with your favorite plaid blazer, or that puffy sweater grandma knitted you oh so many years ago. You must be STRONG and make these tough decisions! They will pay off in the end, I promise. Think of it this way, an extra hanger in the closet just means one extra space for a new item (once the credit card is paid and the bank account is balanced).

Tomorrow....confronting your fashion demons.