Bi-geographic closets

bj1111

Several members have bicoastal or bicontinental lifestyles and closets

Ummlila (Lisa)’s comment about having two completely different closets resonated with my move from the Midwest to NYC. I’m still working through how to split my closet to work in both geographies minimizing duplication to essentials (undergarments, workout clothes, etc)

Midwest is significantly less dressy and activities there are now limited to hanging out at home, dinners out where the dressiest I would get is “just above sleepwear” (not even smart casual).

Shoes and coats are particularly vexing as they are spendy to duplicate

Thoughts?

1 month ago

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from UmmLila (Lisa)

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

It takes a while to get the closet divisions figured out. I’ve been working on this for more than 4 years and it’s only in the last 6 months that I’ve managed to travel in super-anonymous mode with toiletries and one spare outfit and that’s it.

I skew dressy in both Spanish village and New Hampshire tiny city, but that’s just me.

I love looking at what clothes people have on … not just in the places I live, but also checking out what locals wear in places I travel to. (Possibly I might like the anthropology of identifying and making internal fun of tourists and their ready-for-a-hike-on-Kilimanjaro clothes for an outing in a European city, too.)

1 month ago

Sal

Veteran

I don't do this myself, but have friends who do. I do keep a few things at our beach house over summer to avoid having to pack running shoes, a swimsuit, a beachcover, a sunhat etc..

I also have a toilet bag with all my common things in it so I don't have to pack shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, tweezers, moisturiser, shaver, sunscreen etc... I will swap them out every year or so if there are things that linger and don't get used to avoid wastage.

Bit harder with winter expensive and bulky items. I would look to have a small wardrobe of basics at both place especially things like exercise gear, layering tops, denim, and loungewear. Potentially it sounds like your dressier things could mostly live in NY?

1 month ago

Lisa

Veteran

I don't do this personally but I know people who do and they keep separate wardrobes for each location, mostly because the environments are so different. NYC is going to be dark and cold a lot longer than most midwest states. NYC does bring opportunities to dress up more often, and to wear more darker colors but NYC is also known for a LOT of walking, so comfortable footwear is a must.

1 month ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, the first (and only) thing that came to mind is packable puffers - because you also need coats while traveling in between.

1 month ago

cat2

Veteran

We’ve done small City condo/house in the burbs, and now are doing Mountain Cabin and house in the burbs. When we get older and can’t handle the stairs at the cabin, we are likely to go back to City condo and house in the burbs. I stocked the condo with everything we already had that was black or grey, and then over time figured out what we really needed to add. My advice would be to go slowly and take time to figure out what you really need. For us it was different outerwear (our City is cold) and different shoes because we were walking more.

1 month ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've done this - kept two homes in different cities - and did not enjoy it. I do not like having my things in two places. My experience is that it's always a compromise, and not ideal.

I'm glad we have one home now. Much easier with the doggies too.

That said.

I kept these items in our loft in Salt Lake City (doubled up from what was at home in Seattle):

Toiletries
Sleepwear and slippers
Loungewear
Arctic puffer
Trail shoes (which I loathed and should never have bought!)

For the rest - what Jaime said.

1 month ago

ChristelJ

Veteran

I live in two states and switch locations every two months. It's a never ending process what to keep in each place but it is improving over time. I duplicated the same things Angie did. Duplicating some shoes was worth the expense for me, because I travel with only a carry on and they are bulky.

I admit I also have done a lot of consignment and thrift shopping in each place, to fill gaps and add variety, which sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't. I have churn in each place! There are always some favorite pieces, though, that I carry back and forth. That gives me a sense of sanity.

Agreeing with Sal that you might want to leave the dressy items in NY. But you need to always have a few favorite things that feel like core "you" in either location.

1 month ago

Lucy

Veteran

Hmmm, it's quite a dilemma!
Partly, it might depend on how long you plan to stay in each location, eg are you moving between once a month, once every three months, once every six months.
It's not quite the same, but I have worked in different cities to where I live, and then I mainly left pyjamas, toiletries and lounge wear. I would bring my work clothes each week.
Now, I live where I work, but visit our beach house most weekends. I used to try and leave things, but they never ended up being what I wanted, so I just take a smallish bag each weekend now. It allows me to plan for the precise activities.
Depending how often you are travelling, I guess you need to decide if you want to prioritise ease of travel (carry on only), or if you don't mind the inconvenience of a checked bag, for the peace of mind of having what you want when you want it, for the next while.
You will probably find clothes almost naturally migrate to one location or the other, over time. I'd almost not rush into anything!

1 month ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, this isn’t easy, I’m sure! I had two distinct closets for several years when we owned the ranch in Texas, but my closet there was mainly castoffs from my regular wardrobe at home — I always called the ranch “where my clothes go to die.” It was a working ranch so stuff got dusty, torn, and worn, with occasional deposits of cow manure and even (get ready for it) afterbirth. LOL So I don’t have much advice — my wardrobe there just felt like necessity and not my real style — just commiseration!

1 month ago

kinnick

Active Member

For years we had a vacation house within 2 hours of our primary residence. I kept a separate wardrobe in the vacation home because it made it so easy to grab any medicine and go. After retirement we changed to a different vacation home 1000 miles away. I found it to be too much hassle to transport clothing back and forth so have kept separate wardrobes. You can still get 30 wears per item - it just takes twice as long.

1 month ago

Jules

Veteran

Our second place, a Great Lakes summer cottage, isn’t a working ranch but it is super casual, so like Janet it’s often where clothes go to die! I am for example sorted for sneakers, slides and a pair of Toms purchased very cheaply off season that would get filthy in the city, but do for dinner out up there. I do also pack newer/nicer and necessary gear things every time we go.

It’s been a useful way to wear some things out, but some things turn out not to get worn there either! On the other hand I’ve figured out which items I tend to underpack in the moment and make sure to have those there permanently (cabin socks - which turn out to be surprisingly practical for cabin life! - jeans for campfire nights, a warm topper in the form of a vintage flannel shacket, etc). The items that go there to die are summer casual items that were maybe only fresh & desirable for a year or two in the city, extra tee shirts and other loungewear, or things that didn’t quite work out as hoped but are given a second chance (this doesn’t tend to work though).

We don’t have laundry at the cottage so I actually do bring the clothing and linen that live there back and forth to get washed, but they get stored in specific mesh laundry bags at home and don’t take up closet/drawer or mental space here which is helpful. Plus I’ve already done the work of figuring out what I need and don’t have to think about eg. jeans every time because I have that designated pair that will go even if I don’t think the weather requires it (I’m usually wrong).

4 weeks ago

bj1111

Veteran

Thanks for all the advice. I have inadvertently been living with a capsule since moving to nyc.

The dressy items esp workwear migrated east as did all the “nice” sweaters. I seemed to have used about 75% of what I packed.

I did get a maxi swacket and a packable lightweight puffer, both worn already. In prep for my new subway commute, I also purchased a lands end ankle length puffer early in the seas (per Angie’s timely post.) Also got a pair of Nikes with the giant sole. It’s fashion but still v comfy for walking.

Otherwise I have restrained myself from purchasing clothing.

Keeping a list of things that I find I need to complete an outfit now that the weather has turned… so far it’s weitzman 50/50 flat boots and a pair of la canadienne ankle boots from last year. I can’t decide if I should get a Soia and kyo coat on sale since the lands end is so basic.

4 weeks ago

Joy

Veteran

I would duplicate a few coats as the are bulky to carry back and forth. Of course you wear them to keep warm enough while traveling so I eould only duplicate the casual or dressy coats while wearing a dressy or casual one while traveling .

4 weeks ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Get the Soia & Kyo coat!

4 weeks ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

the puffer issue is real ... I feel like the one I want is never in the right place at the right time

3 weeks ago

bj1111

Veteran

Angie—I could have predicted your response!

UmmLila (Lisa) —right!?! Compounding the issue is the ridiculous amount of travel mostly for work. I prolly will have to triple up my toiletries. One for each place and for travel. Otherwise, I’ll need a complex decanting system given the amount of products my face seems to require.

3 weeks ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I have a “go” bag for electronics and another for toiletries that I never unpack — I only replenish. The toiletry one is ridiculously overstuffed for every eventuality, but I have in fact needed everything in it at some point or another. (I do not do carry on luggage for this reason.)

3 weeks ago

Category