Today I have a closet tour for you. Come with me as I show you our walk-in closet and how I store my clothes. This is what a ten-item wardrobe looks like! Many will be relieved to see that there aren't just ten items in there. The extras are mixed in as well. You can see how I store my out-of-season clothes and extras (swim, scarves, etc.) and hopefully you can get inspired to organize your closet the Madame Chic way.
Here are some tips:
If you don't have a chest of drawers, use canvas bins to store your clothes. I get mine from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Place a cloth at the top of each out-of-season bin so your clothes don't attract dust.
Be sure to regularly go through your bins to make sure you aren't holding on to clothing or accessories that you never use or wear.
Make all of your hangers uniform. Get rid of wire hangers and invest in hangers that will treat your clothes well. This will also improve the visual appeal of your closet.
Use scented sachets for everything from your tee shirts to your undergarments. In this video, I show you ones that were gifted to me by a family friend from her company, The Linen Souk.
If possible, only hang up the clothes that are relevant to the season you are in. This will bring clarity on busy mornings when you are trying to figure out what to wear.
Regularly go through your closet to organize and assess. Enjoy your closet space and make it look like a chic boutique.
Check out this week's video to see my closet. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel (and don't forget to subscribe!) at www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur
News
Thank you to ballerina, Kathryn Morgan, for featuring my YouTube channel and books in her August Favorites video. If you don't know Kathryn, you will love her videos! She is a wonderful example of a poised lady. Thank you, Kathryn!
Also, Travelettes includes Lessons from Madame Chic in her article, 4 Books You Must Read Before Visiting Paris.
Comments of the Week
Bosendorfer32 writes:
This might be one of my favorite videos ever, Jennifer! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! It is so refreshing to have someone be so upfront and honest with the struggles of dressing ourselves through the different stages of our lives, especially during pregnancy and nursing, when most women still have some weight to lose. I have had seven children myself and for some reason, I felt like I could only have a 10 item wardrobe when I was at my pre pregnancy weight. I was honestly so confused on how to implement it during the first few months of pregnancy, when regular clothes don't fit, and the first 4-6 months postpartum when very few of my clothes fit and feel like they should! I would usually end up buying several really cheap items to get me through, but the quality was poor and they made me feel worse and affected my self esteem. I hated feeling like that at such a joyful period in my and my family's lives! Now I know that especially for these times when are bodies are not as they usually are, to keep quality rather than quantity in mind, and it's ok to gave a 5 item wardrobe of beautiful and flattering clothes and to just keep an eye out for what you need and to not feel the pressure of having certain things right away(for instance a pair of jeans.) This week's video was so very helpful and I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say your candor and your beautiful but down to earth way of handling life is so refreshing. You look beautiful and congrats on your precious baby.
Thank you for your kind words! It's true, our bodies go through so many different phases that we need to stay centered and commit to dressing well, no matter what phase we are in. If that means paring down the wardrobe to a very small size, so be it! I love the feeling of peace I get from my small wardrobe. I love to share the ten-item wardrobe and see how it positively affects other people's lives.
Jo K writes:
Dear Jennifer,
I thought you might be interested in my recent experience with a limited wardrobe. I have just started a new job after many years of working from home and raising my children. My immediate instinct was to go shopping for new clothes – although my work environment is not very formal, I do need to look presentable. Financially, a shopping trip (or, more likely, a catalogue-shopping binge) was out of the question.
So, with you in mind, I did a thorough review of what I already had and found three serviceable dresses, two summer dresses that I’ve had for several years and another dress that I bought for a special occasion and have not worn since. With two cashmere cardigans, one of which I repaired, I have enough to be presentable five days a week. I have some tailored trousers for when the weather cools and I am on the lookout for a neutral skirt to mix and match.
Aside from the convenience of the limited options, some interesting things I have realised are:
New is not necessarily better. I have always thought that confidence came from new clothes. In fact, the same feeling can come from having my outfits well planned.
The two summer dresses were not favourites. In fact, one of them I did not like very much but being ‘forced’ to wear it has made me value and like it more.
There is a satisfaction that comes from ‘wearing up’ clothes, rather than adding new ones. It is like the feeling that comes from using up the last bits and pieces of food in the fridge at the end of the week.
Finally, when I do purchase new clothes for my work wardrobe in the future, I will have a clearer idea of what works best and what I really need.
Dear Jo K, thank you for sharing your experience with us. What I like most about your process, is that it was thoughtful, disciplined and not rushed. I am so happy you are taking satisfaction out of the ten-item wardrobe concept.
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Sharon B. writes:
I picked up "At Home with..." from the library. Thank you so much for writing this book. It is beautifully written and exactly what I needed.
Sharon, thank you so much for your email. I am so happy that At Home With Madame Chic has brought you joy!
This week I would love to know what you thought of my closet tour. How do you organize your closet? How is your ten-item wardrobe coming along? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as a comment of the week on the blog.
See you soon!
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