https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:53:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-659325 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:02:43 +0000 ManidipaM 659325@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae, these are excruciating! I think I'll keep them off the streets and save some poor lady's toes and ankles </p> <p>But yeah, if I actually had shoes I thought *anyone* could walk in, and it wasn't just *my feet*... selling would certainly be an option. Though these are, oh say, 8 years old? Not sure there's a market for THAT outside a thrift store ... which we have none of! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-659319 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:52:30 +0000 rae 659319@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay for a closet! I think you will enjoy it a lot - I used to have a teeny closet because the hubs used the large closet to store his business inventory. After he switched to different wares, though, I got the big closet and it was SO nice to be able to see things hanging. Your baskets are also very cool - they are like art that happens to hold clothes!</p> <p>I hear you on the high heels. Lately I've been wanting to "get more" out of my clothes and cross them over from work to casual wear - I look at my sitting shoes and wonder what the point was! I wonder if you can resell your high heels? I am hoping to do so with mine - the good thing about sitting shoes you wear twice a year is that they are in great condition, lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-659301 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:22:31 +0000 Meredith1953 659301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ManidipaM,<br /> You have come up with a very clever way to utilize existing containers (including suitcase) to arrange your clothing! Very smart of you. I am always so impressed when necessity truly becomes the Mother of Invention. Yep, the cruel shoes have gotta go! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-659155 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 07:27:19 +0000 ramya 659155@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Mani!!!! I love the use of the baskets!!! brilliant gal:) such organising is a must for our miniature sized metro homes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-659139 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:20:55 +0000 ManidipaM 659139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari, yes, it would be nice to be able to close it all up sometimes; but at the same time, I'm sort of torn --- at the moment, I'm rather enjoying having it all visible to pick out an outfit quickly (after the weeks of rummaging through overstuffed suitcases that you have to *pack* again when you're dressed); but I daresay I'll tire of the novelty soon enough! </p> <p>Excellent idea about the hooks too --- the wall next to it looks a bit bare anyway, and could be a great place for necklaces and such, a la Rae and Claire's closets, among others. Thank you!</p> <p>Thanks everyone else for looking and encouraging too! I'm pretty relieved to be saying sayonara to those shoes too! Donna, you're very right --- 2.5" heels *can* be comfy; my wedges are that high, but the construction is far superior. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658858 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:36:32 +0000 jayne 658858@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>love this post! It is so fun to see how you organize your closet and office! The baskets are lovely! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658835 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:26:18 +0000 DonnaF 658835@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can see how those shoes seduced you. . .Oh, to be 6' 5" so that proportionately they would be *low* heels! Also, sometimes 2.5" heels can feel lower and be more comfortable than 2" heels, depending upon the heel and how it is placed; comfort is not always 100% predictable, so don't dismiss 2.5" heels completely out of hand. I have also noticed that the same shoe may be described in a different height on various web sites which is all the more confusing.</p> <p>Congrats on your closet progress!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658732 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:27:51 +0000 Kari 658732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a smart idea! I love you DIY closet concept, particularly making use of those gorgeous straw baskets. </p> <p>Befite I read that you were already thinking about this, I was going to suggest adding a second curtain rod in front and hang pretty floor length curtains so that you can close the closet when you wish. You could even get pretty rings so that you can slide the curtains easily, and install some small hooks on the wall next to the alcove so that you can tie the sides of the curtain back when it is in the way. </p> <p>I live in an apartment with sliding door closets, so I can only see one side at a time. We're we going to live here longer, I'd honestly think about removing the closet doors and putting in a long tension rod instead to bring extra color and texture in from a beautiful curtain. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658706 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:47:01 +0000 christieanne 658706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know how you managed to deal with the suitcases for so long - this new system will make getting dressed so much easier for you it seems. The baskets are so pretty! </p> <p>I have experienced foot problems like never before this last week and fully endorse you eliminating painful, impractical shoes from the closet. Letting them go is so much better than feeling guilty about not wearing or suffering while wearing. Denise's logic is brilliant! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658665 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 11:51:25 +0000 Deborah 658665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Firstly, Denise your logic makes perfect sense to me:)</p> <p>M I find this post fascinating. I am very lucky to have a nice sized walk in wardrobe which I have all to myself! DH has a freestanding wardrobe for his clothing. So I have only had to think about organizing my clothes within the existing structure so to speak. I really like how you have logic-ed out what you need and how it will work. I will be really interested to watch your progress with this. And as for the shoes let them go! The discomfort is just not worth it. I bought a pair of heels a couple of years ago because they looked fab. Wore them to a wedding and could barely walk I them. I felt very u comfortable and ver un glam...needless to say they no longer have a place in my wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658654 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 10:11:02 +0000 harmonica 658654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I absolutely love your closet arrangement! So clever to devide into clean and used-but-to wear-again!! I have a problem with figuring out where to put those clothes that can be worn again, because in my mind they can't be put together with the 100% clean ones. And the baskets are just gorgeous storage! Lots of interesting forms and texture and very handy. It's like an organic closet, opposed to the very strict and square drawers. </p> <p>Oh yes, get rid of the bad shoes - bad vibes should be forbidden in your very breezy and organic closet </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658646 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 08:17:28 +0000 ManidipaM 658646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Denise, you are delightful! I completely endorse your math. And also, shoes that make you miserable *sitting down* owe YOU money!</p> <p>Yes, these shoes of mine were expensive too for sale eye-candy --- I guess I was buying for the fantasy life there too, and trying to keep up with the Joneses at work (not to be confused with our fab Jonesy!). Did not work, took up stupid space, and I barely wore them, like, in ever!</p> <p>Now everyone here will also understand when I say the two-box gap in the shoe cabinet is looking like two shoe-wardrobe holes to me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658637 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 07:46:36 +0000 CocoLion 658637@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love all of your baskets! I am glad you figured out how to make a closet, you are resourceful. Somehow your exercise reminds me of playing house with leaves as a young girl, sort of making something out of nothing, but that is another topic...</p> <p>Get rid of uncomfortable shoes and don't look back is my moto. I purchased a pair of nude pumps which turned out to be so painful! Luckily they were not real leather and only $22. But they seriously took away from the enjoyment of my $210 opera seats so I decided they really cost me more like $232, based on the negative effect they had on my opera experience. So the next time I went to the opera, I wore unmatched but comfortable shoes and vowed to put good going out shoes on my wardrobe hole list. With a new budget of $232. My next opera tickets are in September. </p> <p>And somehow I think my feminine logic will make perfect sense to everyone here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/beginnings-of-a-closet-long-plus-what-the-was-i-thinking#post-658632 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 07:18:56 +0000 ManidipaM 658632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So the SO and I made good use of our weekend to put together the start of a closet, and stop living out of overstuffed suitcases. The suitcases still figure, but they're bound to be far less packed, hopefully less messy, and easier to pick things out of, come Monday.</p> <p>A shower rod in the alcove is going to hold hangers; freshly laundered clothes on one side (those that get badly creased or wrinkled when folded into stacks), worn once and to wear again on the other end. In the middle, a smart idea for using my woven straw bags as a divider --- they're slung on S-hooks which are hanging from rings of rope since the rod is too large for them to hook on directly. I need to bring my coats in as well and find a way to keep them covered from the dust (don't have garment bags long enough). Maybe I can add another rod with curtains in front...</p> <p>The black suitcase below in in lieu of a dresser drawer, and holds six stacks of my clothes that can be folded. It holds:<br /> (1) structured pants and skirts<br /> (2) T-shirts and knit tops<br /> (3) woven shirts, tops and tunics<br /> (4) leggings and harem pants and salwars<br /> (5) smaller 'divider' stack of strictly-at-home summer dresses and shorts, topped off by a few longer scarves<br /> (6) smaller 'divider' stack of tank tops and camisoles</p> <p>Next to it, the small round jug-eared basket holds my belts.</p> <p>Stacked in the corner, the three pot-bellied baskets hold linens: sheets in the largest, towels in the second, and pillow cases in the smallest. Under my straw hat sit my walking capris and exercise T-shirt. The blue box on top of the basket holds my undies (knickers to you, Angie) and bras. </p> <p>Next to that, the boxy basket with matching lid holds a few special occasion garments: sarees, gauzy embroidered cotton salwar-kameez ensembles, a few long scarves and shawls, all wrapped up in an old sheet for protection from dust and creepy-crawlies, then topped with a layer of scarves and wraps laid side by side --- these I use at work, to survive the Arctic Office.</p> <p>The grey suitcase next to it is my travel bag. Always half-packed, with clothes as well as basic toiletries, adapter plugs, back-up chargers and the like.</p> <p>In the far corner of the photo, the yellow printed sheet is protecting the contents of the 'clean laundry' Moses basket --- stuff in need of ironing, folding, repairs etc.</p> <p>The overflowing basket right in the middle, front of photo, is what holds clothes worn and to be worn again. Some of those will now be hung up in the new 'closet' and others (like T-shirts, nightdresses etc) can stay in the basket, which can go sit on the suitcase.</p> <p>On the other side of photo #1, under the window, you can just see a coloured woven basket which holds my 'crushable' or foldable handbags. (Btw, only the first of the straw bags hung up has ever been used until this year, the other two dating back to 2005 and had tags on till I clipped them the other day --- saving for the future was an epidemic around here! The one in front isn't much younger, circa 2007, and has a little hole in it, but still good for toting around town after recent anti-fungal treatments with soap, water and leather cream!)</p> <p>Elsewhere in the room, a small picnic hamper holds night clothes, and another bigger basket serves as the laundry hamper for clothes that need to be washed. </p> <p>Bonus shot of my floor-level 'desk' (doubles as bed and jewellery boxes!) in #3.</p> <p>The 'men's wardrobe and workplace' occupies the other 'bedroom'; but is far sparser. No desk (laptop sits on low stool or goes on the lap; or else its owner occupies the dining table when it's not too warm there). His clothes are two categories: tops and bottoms, and go in two suitcases (seasonal and current) plus a couple of boxes for innerwear and night clothes.</p> <p>Our shoes share a small cabinet in the living space: 2 shelves for him and 3 for me! Each holds 3-4 pairs, depending on neatness of arrangement and bulk of shoe.</p> <p>---</p> <p>In the What was I Thinking category, these shoes have got to go. I bought them in 2003 or 2004... and didn't wear them more than 2-3 times; there wasn't occasion for them very often, except the big corporate dos that happen only one or twice a year. </p> <p>I thought the lower heel at least was possibly comfy for a couple of hours. I have NO idea why... Because these are 2.5-inch heels, and the black and neon sandals are a good 3-inches. Those I knew I could not stand in for long, definitely sitting shoes only. But after taking the red ones out on a trial run to dinner at a friend's they both have to go. Excruciating! (Excuse dusty pants; clearly I've been up to messy jobs.) </p>