During one chic aperitif hour over New Year's, while settling a linguistic tête-à-tête, this fashionista discovered that dear Mr. Dictionary defines new as "not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time." As we descend upon our snow-covered campus, we return to our dorm rooms from holidays at home, with multiple suitcases of winter clothes dragging oh so gracefully behind us. It occurs to me that Mr. Dictionary must have known a chic young collegiate woman intent on combining her Summer/Fall wardrobe with her Winter/Spring items into one minuscule wooden frame (masquerading as an adequate closet space) when composing his definition.
For indeed, during this January fashion merger we fashionistas are engulfed with the "new:" dresses we forgot we owned, that scarf that fell behind the bed in August, that favorite earring potentially lost forever found in that secret compartment in the purse hiding under the sink! Alongside these pleasant "new" discoveries, however, come the unpleasant ones: those coats are obstructing the view of my dresses, I can cram the silk shirt next to that scratchy wool sweater (can't I?), where in heaven's name are all my boots going to go?! The course of true fashion devotion never did run smooth, but there are Shakespearean organization tools at our disposal to stiletto-ready the path.
1. Clear, colorful plastic containers
Instead of cramming all those T-shirts, and sweaters into those pitiful drawers underneath your closet, strut on over to Target and invest in this alternate storage option. The see-through quality allows you to quickly identify the contents. Color-code the apparel within for quick wardrobe decisions on your way to that 8 a.m. lecture. The tops close securely and tightly, banishing any worry of pesky moths. These tops are themselves colorful, easily accenting your room's color scheme. Easily stackable and impossible to break, they fit anywhere and come in multiple sizes (the smaller ones work wonders for gloves and scarves). Add some potpourri for an elegant effect.
2. Hang clothes by design
Decode your own dressing methodology. Ask yourself, do you usually dress as a result of how you feel emotionally? Physically? Does it depend on the weather? I myself find that blustery, grey days bring out the inner colorful bright rebel in me. Analyze and then act accordingly. Hang your clothes by cut (dresses together, pants, skirts, etc.) for easy access. To go the extra mile, organize by color within these larger sections. Evening ensembles get their own prized section of course.
3. Over-the-door shoe racks
Shoe organization is key for your own sanity. Invest in stackable racks for boots, and over the door ones for pumps, keeping them crisp and presentable.
4. Wooden pegs/metal hooks
Purses were meant to be hung on these contraptions. Stuffed in a pile or in a container, they fall to the bottom and drown. On pegs they are easily visible and quickly become part of a grab-and-go system.
5. Moleskine's style carnet
This cherry on the sundae allows you to catalog your entire wardrobe with special remembrance notes and thumbnail pics, all in a chic moleskine notebook. Finally, we can put those note-taking habits to proper use. With organization like this, it's going to be one chic 2012.
Contact Felicia Caponigri at fcaponig@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
