Focus on your Closets

Back in the day, the annual cleaning of one’s home in April/May was an accepted ritual. I’m not sure it still exists the way it once did. However, it’s still a good idea. An even better one is to tackle the cleaning of closets at the same time. If this is too overwhelming why not consider doing this project in June. You’ll still be ahead of the “official” start of summer.

The May issue of Bazaar covered this topic very nicely in a piece titled Spring Cleaning: Fashion insiders reveal their secrets to getting the most out of your closet and your clothes.

Sounds good to me – let’s take a look at the some of their suggestions in this article by Claire Distenfeld who claims, “the keys to making this project work are organization and efficiency.”

START EARLY That ship has already sailed by the time you read this so let’s concentrate on starting right now because summer officially starts on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 12:24 am EDT.

DEVISE A PLAN and a strategy even though your plan may start with chaos. “Take everything out of your closet,” advises Dee Hilfiger, designer of Dee Ocleppo. “Once it’s all in sight, begin by sorting items into three piles: keep, store and donate.”

EMBRACE THE PURGE and admit to yourself that getting rid of clothes you’ve worn for a long time can be difficult. “If you haven’t worn something in a year, just throw it out,” says Claire Distenfeld, owner of Fivestory New York. Best advice: toss anything that no longer fits or is from a past trend.

BE OVERPROTECTIVE by remembering that a little care goes a long way. According to Hilfiger, “You have to make sure things are stored correctly because you don’t want to pull something out six months later and find that moths have eaten it. For hard-to-store items such as accessories, you have to think outside the box – literally. Bags are hard because they’re all different sizes and shapes. Sometimes I actually hang them on hangers, believe it or not, to keep them from being crushed.”

STICK TO A PROCESS because it’s crucial to create order when packing for a summer getaway. Note: since you’ve done such a good job cleaning we’re moving on to upcoming fun-in-the-sun trips as a reward. “I typically pack all my shoes together, each one stuffed with tissue so they keep their shape,” says Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, director and a cofounder of D’NA boutique in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

TAKE EXTRA CARE so that when you travel everything arrives looking good. Linda Rodin, a stylist and creator of Rodin Olio Lusso, says “I put my blouses in tissue paper so they don’t wrinkle and I use dry-cleaner plastic to wrap my shoes.”

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT because you don’t want excess baggage. “The key is to stick with the things you would normally wear at home,” says Rodin. Or as fashion consultant Sofia Sanchez de Betak suggests, “Try to bring your all-time favorites, the things you know work with everything.”  Finally, don’t overthink about packing for a summer jaunt. As Abdulaziz says, “Pack what makes you feel most comfortable.

MAY WE SUGGEST…

Everything ADEA offers fits perfectly, feels terrific and packs as if it was made for no-worry, no-hassle travel. Now, let’s all enjoy a perfectly glorious summer!

Shaun Nelson-Henrick

A MILESTONE FOR ADEA: This is my 100th blog: all written over the past two years – it’s been an adventure to say the least!

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