Formal capsule organisation - YouLookFab Forum

Hi all
I was doing my winter to spring wardrobe turnover and realized yet again how,much space my special occasion ‘capsule’ takes up in my smallish closet. Not actually a functional capsule but a collection of about 6 cocktail dresses that can be pulled out for occasions from formal office parties (becoming non-existent) to weddings, daytime/nighttime, winter of summer. I am happy with this capsule as it is: the dresses have been collected over many years and have held up pretty well since they don’t get worn a lot. They are also styles that work with my figure still and that I haven’t tired of, again, because they aren’t worn a lot.
So far I’ve always kept these pieces in my closet and not boxed up because I want them ready to use, not getting stuffy smelling and crumpled. But I’m realizing with every seasonal swap that the amount of space they take up is completely out of proportion to the one/two times a year I get to wear ONE of them. Despite my age, I haven’t been invited to a wedding in years, have none upcoming, and those are about the only true formal events I attend. I have no problem being slightly over dressed on an office party but don’t want to wear these dresses on other occasions, e.g. dress them down or wear silk to a family christmas party where everyone is wearing sweaters.
All of this rambling just to say I don’t,want to cull and I’m not planning on wearing them more often. My question to you is: how do you organize and/or store your formal clothes? Any tips on how I could improve? Do you own many formal pieces? And do you lament the casualisation of our society and the decline of the cocktail dress?

6 years ago

piccolakitten

Member

Yes I have a collection, some are just beautiful things I found that I dream about wearing one day in my dream life they do take up room and I’m currently trying to rethink my closet space.

Synne

Veteran

Hmm.. interesting topic. I also keep my formal wear out, mainly because I like looking at it, and I don't want it to get wrinkly or worse, as you say. But it is worringly how little I wear it.... One dress haven't been worn since Christmas '16. And some items have actually never been worn, just hanging there like big ol' question marks. I don't have any answers for you it seems, ha ha.
An upside is that my occasion wear section takes up quite a chunk of my otherwise small wardrobe. That means I can't go on a rampant shopping spree, because I don't have any more space to fill. Money saved!

Jenni NZ

Yes my dresses are not worn enough. Previously I had seldom worn items like that in a spare room closet ( my daughter’s room that she had grown up and moved out of). Now in the new home we built with amazing walk-in wardrobe they just hang there and take up space. My “Oscar” dress, from several years back, is full-length, black tie, worn precisely once. I didn’t know about any rent-the-runway type sites when I bought it.
If you packed them up, wouldn’t you have enough warning for an event that you could take them out and uncrumple them in advance? So long as you don’t forget what you have?

As for lamenting the casualisation of society, yes, I do. It has been happening since at least the 90s I reckon, not much “Sunday best” happening either.

Anonymous

To be honest, I purged my "wedding guest" capsule when I lost weight. In the back of my mind I told myself I would rebuild it. Haven't yet and don't foresee a need to do so.

I'm sorry. I don't have any concrete advice for you.

Christina F.

I keep mine in a garment bag in my basement storage unit. (The unit is an NYC apartment necessity.) if I had a second closet that’s where the bag would go.

missvee

If you need the space in your closet, could you put them in garment bags and then lay them under your bed? .

I don't keep my formal capsule in my main closet. Could it be moved to s guest room closet? Mine are in a basement closet for out of season things and luggage storage..

rachylou

I have rolled up all my party clothes and put them in a storage stool... that Lilypup The Dog uses to jump up on the bed. Lol. But it does keep them accessible yet out of the closet. I suppose I should say tho that certain dresses and suits ARE hanging in the closet.

Liesbeth

Thanks for the tips! Don’t have an extra closet and my basement may be a little too damp for long term storage. But garment bags under the bed an/or rolling instead of folding do sound doable!
In time we will get a larger closet...

Sterling: good that you held back. What a reality check.

Stagiaire Fash

Have you considered something like this that only takes up space for one hanger? https://styledegree.sg/shop/ho.....es-hanger/

But really, Jenni's right--for any occasion that would require these dresses, you're going to have a lot of advance warning to pull them out of where ever you have them stored (is there room with your out-of-season things?), get them ready for the event, and style with current accessories.

Sterling, next time you get that invite, will you let us all help you pick?

Sal

I don’t have a black tie collection - but my cocktail and wedding guest dresses are in my main closet. There are four that I consider “active” and five that are not - two that don’t fit (but almost do) and three that are not my taste at the moment (but might be one day). I should put those five in my sons closet (not like he has much in it),

If I was short of space I think putting them in good storage in a box is a good use of space. Or keep the favourite two out?

I do lament the lack of chances to dress up too. I love party dresses and so rarely get to wear them!!

nemosmom

I only have four 'fancy' dresses, so they don't take up a ton of space, but I hang them on my DH's side of the closet He has a single high bar, whereas my side have double bars and the dresses are too long to hang there. The only other dresses I own are jersey-type ones, and I fold those and store them on a shelf.

Getting dressed up for cocktail events is stressful to me, and I never feel quite right in a fancy dress.

The only true formal dress I have is my wedding dress, which is champagne not white so could be worn to a summer black tie event if needed.
Otherwise I just buy things I can wear to work also, like my orchid dress. Desk to dinner-nothing with sequins or such-since I almost never have dressy events. I wish I did have reasons to buy beautiful dresses though, as I love dressing up Hopefully the pendulum will swing back a bit!

Fashintern, that hanger looks nifty... but the fabric would still take up as much space I’m afraid :). Sal & nemosmom: I sure would like to move them to dh’s closet, only he has no room b/o hoarding tendencies (lol, not seriously but he does keep two coats that he hadn’t worn in 10 years in his everyday closet). Son still had baby closet :). Good to hear so many store these out of sight.
Suntiger: I would take your approach if I had to rebuild my collection. Now I’ll just store them further away and pull out when needed, hopefully soon

The Cat

I find myself nodding along to much of what you wrote.

I have around 10 party dresses and skirts-- plus tops, shawls and other toppers. A couple of the dresses and blouses are included in my common spring and fall wardrobes. And one skirt and some of the tops and toppers are included in my common summer wardrobe. Though the rest of the items don't get much wear, I love them and want to keep them. They are carefully selected through a couple of decades and look timeless. For me, party items are difficult to purchase, as I seldom see some that I really like, and when I do, they are often very expensive. I store my party items in a separate hanging closet in the attic.

I go through all my items four times a year to evaluate whether they still earn a place in my wardrobe and for which purposes they can be used.

Glory

I also have mine in my closet. I only have a few items plus one pair of shoes. When I switch over I look at them and sometimes will try them on. I keep them in a couple of garment bags so they are ready to go when needed. I won't cull them because on the rare occasion you need something it is a blessing to have something that works.

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