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Got a style/sustainability question? Know of an Etsy seller I should check out? Want to tell me about your vintage Fluevog collection? Whatever it is, feel free to drop me a line: DianaLynnSmiles *at* gmail.com. (replace *at* with the @ sign)
Hi and welcome! I'm Diana, and this is my blog, Smiles Go With Everything. As the title suggests, I write about a little bit of everything, but the majority of my focus is on style and sustainability and how the two interconnect. In between are sprinklings of baking, gardening, crafting, and whatever I feel like sharing.-
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Tag Archives: Organization
Etsy Love: Jewelry Organization
*Every Wednesday, I take a look at some of the beautiful items found at one of the best places for buying and selling hand-made and vintage: Etsy. Buying hand-made and vintage lets you own beautiful, unique objects with character. It keeps things out of the landfills and supports artists and small businesses who are trying to make a living doing what they love. If you have a particular theme you’d love to see, drop me a line and let me know. *
Hey wait a minute, didn’t I write about jewelry organization yesterday? Why yes, I did. But I decided it would be a nice tie in to feature some fantastic items on Etsy that are great for storing and displaying your jewelry. Some are vintage, some handmade. Some are very affordable, others are more expensive. But again, it’s better to buy something a bit more expensive that’s handmade than to buy cheap items at a big box store that will fall apart in a year.
Here’s some lovely jewelry organization items I found on Etsy:
Cup holder or jewelry holder, $15
Elegant 54 Pair Earring Holder 20 Peg Jewelry Organizer $39.95
My Jewelry Organization
As you probably know, I love to buy handmade and vintage jewelry. In fact, jewelry is really one of my favorite things to buy. It always fits, no matter how much your weight fluctuates. It can instantly transform an outfit. And it’s just darn pretty to look at.
When you have a good amount of jewelry, you have to have some way to organize it, or you’ll never be able to find anything. For awhile, I was tempted by expensive jewelry organizers that had a spot for every little piece of jewelry. Since I couldn’t really afford those, I had to come up with my own, less expensive system. And I love it.
I bought this wooden coat rack at a garage sale. I think it maybe cost $1. I use it to hang all my necklaces and non-cuff/bangle bracelets. And yes, I keep them in rainbow order. In fact, there’s a couple necklaces in there that I thrifted solely because they filled a color gap on my necklace display.
I inherited this vintage jewelry box from my grandmother. I keep all my post earrings, rings and small jewelry in here.
I bought this vintage mug holder from Mask Snorkel Fins for $12 (which is still a whole lot cheaper than similar items at Urban Outfitters). I use it to store all of my vintage bangle and cuff bracelets, which I’ve been acquired quite a few of lately.
This mesh star is another garage sale find – I think it was a couple bucks. I use it to display all my large hoops and dangly earrings.
The total cost for all of this was under $20, and I love how it has character to it, unlike those expensive organizers I was looking at.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Wine Bottles as Boot Shapers
This past winter, I acquired my first pairs of boots as an adult. It’s crazy, I know, but living in Florida my whole life, I just never had any. As I started to acquire more boots, I began to realize that I needed a way to keep them in shape and upright when stored in my closet. I looked up boot shapers on several websites, but I was disappointed with how expensive they were, and I was concerned that they were likely to eventually fall apart and end up in a landfill. Then, I read somewhere about using wine bottles as boot shapers, so I saved up a few, and tried it out. It works like a charm! It’s works best with thinner, smaller wine bottles, which are what I usually buy anyhow. The bottles are easy to take out when you wear the boots, and easy to put back in when you’re done. Plus, I think it looks pretty cool. Since wine bottles are glass, they’ll hold together for a long time, and if I feel that I don’t want to use them anymore, I can just recycle them.
One word of caution though: make sure that the wine bottle isn’t wider than your boot shaft, or it may stretch out your boots. I have found this to be an issue with the ankles of some of my slimmer boots.
Wardrobe Inventory: What I’m Ditching
I realize it’s been awhile, but do you remember when I started my wardrobe inventory project back in May? I started out by counting all the different items in my wardrobe, which helped me to see where my strengths and weaknesses were. Then I brought everything out of my closet and photographed it, to get an even better idea of what was lacking. After that, I turned all the hangers around in my closet to see what I was actually wearing for four weeks. I noticed that there were certain wardrobe essentials that I would wear almost every week, while there were other items that languished. Some of these simply weren’t seasonally appropriate: either the colors were a bit too fall/winter, or they were simply too warm to wear in 90 degree temps. Other items though, I simply wasn’t happy with. So here’s a summary of why I ditched what I ditched.
Anything 60% or more polyester:
I didn’t make this a hard and fast rule, but it just naturally happened. I found myself absolutely hating the way anything with a high polyester content felt on my skin, even if the colors and fit were just fine. I didn’t enjoy wearing these items, so out they go. The one somewhat exception is the brown/pink abstract floral dress. I love the cut of this dress on me, so my plan is to find a tailor that can make a copy of it in a fabric that I can enjoy having next to my skin.
Anything in a color or cut that doesn’t flatter
For one, I’ve discovered that I’m not a big fan of pink. I don’t particularly like how it looks on me. So pink items were ditched. As far as fit, anything that makes me look preggo, anything with elastic on the sleeve hems, or anything that just plains looks frumpy, is out.
Anything with negative associations
I didn’t have much in this area, but I have before. Items that you associate with an ex, with the death of a loved one, with a negative period in your life, tend to hold you back. Anything like this is out.
So that’s a general synopsis of what I decided to get rid of. Stay tuned for a look at what I bought during this period and why, as well as what my wardrobe essentials and wardrobe gaps are. And please feel free to follow along with the Wardrobe Inventory. It can really change how you look at your closet.
Posted in About me, Advice and Musings
Tagged Organization, Style Advice, Wardrobe Inventory
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Wardrobe Inventory: Step 2
(Note: I was having some Google Reader issues earlier, so sorry if you’re getting this twice)
So guess what? Today, instead of just getting to see one day’s outfit, you get to see my entire wardrobe. Seriously. As part of my wardrobe inventory project I started about a week ago, I took all my clothes out of my closet, and photographed them in groups. It was a lot of work and took about an hour. I realize that many people have much more clothing than me, so this might not be doable for everyone. But if you can manage it, I found it a really helpful exercise, as it made many of my wardrobe gaps blatantly obvious.
Note: I didn’t include my winter coats or sweaters here, because I only really wear them about two months out of the year. Once it starts to get cold, I’ll probably do a winter wardrobe inventory.
Here’s my plan for my personal wardrobe inventory challenge. Feel free to follow along with your own wardrobe.
- Count all wardrobe items
- Photograph and analyze each category. Determine wardrobe gaps (that’s what this post is doing)
- Reverse hangers in closet and see what you wear for two weeks, four weeks, or whatever amount of time works best for you
- Get rid of what doesn’t work for you
- Organize closet. Buy new hangers
- Buy clothes to fill gaps
So, without further ado, I present to you, my wardrobe!
Button-downs
On me: Express On fence (L to R): Ann Taylor LOFT, Old Navy, Ann Taylor LOFT, Express
# of items: 5
Gaps: Ah, button-downs. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I hate them, but they really do wonders to polish up an outfit. I don’t have any three quarter sleeved button downs. I’d love to have some silk button downs. I’m seriously lacking in diversity here.
Blouses
On me: L8ter? On fence (L to R): Target, Target, Old Navy, Rampage, ??, Forever 21, Old Navy, Target, Old Navy, Apt 9
# of items: 12 (Target blouse not shown)
Gaps: I’m doing pretty well in this area. What I should focus on are flattering cuts, v and scoop necks and more colors.
Tees – Long and Short-Sleeved
On me: Clash shirt On fence (L to R): Magadog shirt, Iggy Pop shirt, Target, AE, Busch Gardens, American Apparel, Target, Apt 9 In hands: Almost all Target, except for top two, which are a Ravelry t-shirt, and Old Navy
# of items: 16
Gaps: I don’t have any v-neck tees. Brighter and lighter colors are needed. I should avoid crew necks, as they don’t flatter me.
Tanks and Camisoles
On me: Old Navy. Everything else is Old Navy except for seafoam tank, Express, lilac cami, American Apparel and beige cami, Ann Taylor LOFT
# of items: 13
Gaps: I’m doing pretty good with this essential item in my wardrobe. What I can focus on is buying better quality, since many of these camis have short life spans .
Jackets and Hoodies
On me: Old Navy On fence (L to R): The Limited, Kohls, Express
# of items: 4
Gaps: All my jackets are casual. I need some dress casual and dressy items. A blazer is absolutely required.
Cardigans
On me: Anthropologie On fence: Everything is Ann Taylor LOFT except for the burgandy, DKNY, and the gray, handknit.
# of items: 7
Gaps: I want more cashmere for winter, more colors and more v-necks.
Dresses
On me: Apostrophe On fence (L to R): Sortie LA, Busch Gardens, Target, Target, Urban Outfitters, American Rag Cie, R&M Richards, Speachless
# of items: 10 (Rampage dress not shown)
Gaps: I need more cotton jersey, more colors, more above the knee, and more solid colored.
Skirts
On me: Lane Bryant (re-conned) On fence (L to R): Ann Taylor LOFT, handmade by me, handmade by me, ??
# of items: 6 (wool skirt not shown)
Gaps: I need more colors, more casual skirts, more work skirts. I’d like to have at least one or two in cotton jersey.
Shorts, Capris, Jeans, Pants
On me: Express On fence (L to R): handmade by me, Ann Taylor LOFT (reconned), Target, Erik Stewart, Lucky Brand, Express, Ann Taylor LOFT, ??, Banana Republic Outlet
# of items: 10
Gaps: This is an area I’m somewhat weak in. I generally just need more items in cuts that flatter. And more khaki and olive green.
Whew! So there you go folks. Now for step 3. I put all of my clothes back into the closet with hangers reversed. After wearing an item, I’ll put it back in the closet with the hanger in the correct direction. After two weeks, I’ll look at what I haven’t worn and ask myself why I didn’t. Then, after four weeks, I’ll seriously reconsider keeping anything that still hasn’t been worn. Of course, anything that’s just impractical for this season (like a wool skirt) won’t be penalized. I’ll let you know how this step goes in a few weeks.
Posted in About me, Advice and Musings, Randomness
Tagged Organization, Style Advice, Wardrobe Inventory
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Simple Math: Beginning a Wardrobe Inventory
Current State of My Closet
Inspired by Struggling to be Stylish‘s recent Friday challenge, I decided to count all the clothes in my closet. I figured this could be a useful exercise to find out exactly how much I have. I used similar guidelines to hers, with some slight tweaking.
I made sure to include:
- Shoes (count each pair as one item)
- Special occasion outfits and evening dresses
- Items you can’t wear right now because of weight issues
- Things that are resting because it’s the wrong season
- Coats
But I excluded
- Underwear
- Sports gear & sneakers, swim/beach gear (only items used exclusively for these. If you wear a tank top to the gym that you also sometimes wear out, count it)
- Pajamas
- Clothes that are only worn for yard work
- Accessories besides shoes
Also, because I found one category for blouses too broad, I broke it down further. Blouses include button downs, woven blouses, polos and knit tops that are not tees (have embellishment, etc). Tees include long sleeve and short sleeve tees, crew necks, scoop necks, concert tees. Tanks and camis include all my tank tops, camisoles and sleeveless tops.
Here’s my personal closet breakdown:
- Shoes: 20
- Pants: 3
- Jeans: 3
- Shorts: 2
- Capris: 2
- Skirts: 7
- Dresses: 11
- Blouses: 13
- Tees (long and short sleeved): 20
- Tanks/Camis: 12
- Jackets/Coats: 8
- Cardigans: 6
I don’t think that these numbers are perfect, because I likely forgot to count at least something, but they really got me thinking more about my use of wardrobe space. Quantity wise, I own a good amount of clothes. Yet most days, it takes me awhile to put together an outfit. I end up wearing the same pieces over and over again, while other pieces are never worn because I either don’t like them or don’t have the right pieces to wear with them. All of this is leading up to what will be my closet inventory challenge. Over the next few weeks, I want to really analyze what I own – look at what works and what doesn’t. I’m going to photograph the different groups of items that I have. I’m going to deal with the issue of duplicates (how many black tees do I really need?). I’m going to find out which items I wear within a four-week period, then decide if the other items should stay or go. I’m going to revise my wardrobe gaps list and actually make myself shop only for those specific items. I’m going to clean out and organize my closet so I can actually find what I’m looking for.
Am I over-ambitious, trying to do this while finishing my final semester of grad school, hunting for jobs and managing my budget? Maybe. But I think that taking a good hard look at my wardrobe, starting with this inventory, will help me to shop for what I really need and create a wardrobe that I truly love (and that can fit in my limited space)
Stay tuned for more specifics of the wardrobe inventory challenge and feel free to follow along in your own closet.
My Blogspot (and studio)
Well, everyone else is doing it, so I figured I’d post a picture of where I blog. While I’m at it, I’ll also give you a peek into my studio and closet and talk about how I plan to completely change it (with the help of IKEA) in the next year.
Here is my desk where I blog. I bought this desk at a garage sale years ago and repainted it. I love the look, but the fact is that this is really a child’s desk, and it just isn’t a comfortable height for me. It also has too many drawers, which results in lots of clutter and things getting lost in the abyss.
This is my bookcase, which is functional, but doesn’t really fit with the aesthetic that I want for my creative space.
I’d like to replace my bookcase and desk with the Expedit bookcase/desk combo from IKEA.
Lots of creative, versatile storage space. I can keep the stuff I don’t need frequently in the cubbies under the desk. I can add drawers or boxes to organize smaller items. And I think it looks rad.
I’ve had this dresser as long as I can remember. It belonged to my brother and my cousin before me, and it’s probably been repainted at least 5 times. But it won’t quite fit (physically) with the changes I’ve got planned. I’ll still hang on to it, just in a different room. I’ll be replacing it with a MALM six drawer chest from IKEA. Because owning a dresser designated mainly for lingerie, jewelry, hosiery (and t-shirts) makes me feel grown up and lady like.
Now for some photos of my sewing space. The shelves and fabric cabinet have gotten cluttered. The sewing machine desk is not very ergonomic. I have plans to replace and add to the shelves (with more IKEA goodness). The desk will go in favor of a VIKA table. I’ll add a small storage unit on casters underneath the sewing desk (so it can be moved out of the way as needed). And I’ll get my fabric cabinet more organized. I built that sucker, so there’s no way I’m getting rid of it. Oh, and I’ll be getting some type of desk chair, since right now I sit on a piano bench to sew.
Last but not least, my closet. I may have mentioned before that my closet is quite small. I wasn’t kidding.
That holds all of my clothes (except heavy winter coats), all of my shoes, my cameras, my files, and random craft storage. My goal for my closet it to get everything that is not a part of my wardrobe out of here. Hopefully, with the improved storage in the rest of the room (new shelves, new bookcase), I can do that.
Of course, the studio renovation will not happen all at once, since there still is that little thing called a budget that I’m supposed to stick to. Also, the Tampa IKEA doesn’t open until May, and I hate driving two hours to the Orlando store. So most of these changes will wait until the summer. I think that I’ll be a lot more productive with an organized space, both in my outfits and in my sewing and crafting.
Setting up a budget spreadsheet
My dad works for IBM and he uses spreadsheets for everything. I guess I inherited that from him, because I love making spreadsheets to organize my life. I recently blogged about how I planned out the categories of my budget for my New Year’s Resolution of learning to control my spending and save money. Now, I’ve put all that together into a spreadsheet, so that every week, I can enter what I’ve spent and where.
Here’s a screen shot of the main page of my budget:
By entering what I spend each week, I can make sure that I’m not going over the amount I have budgeted. I’m keeping the non-essentials part of the budget flexible by budgeting for the total spend per month, as opposed to the amount spent on each category.
This second part of my budget is where I keep track of exactly what I am buying, when and where. That way, I can track my spending and figure out if there’s some areas where I need to be more reasonable and cut back.
I may just be an organization freak when it comes to spreadsheets, but using this method really helps me to be disciplined.
Sorry if this post was a bit on the dry side. I promise more style related stuff will be coming soon!
Jewelry Organization
My jewelry collection is pretty small by most standards. However, I still feel the need to keep it organized so that I can easily see what my options are without having to dig through a bunch of necklaces and bracelets. The fact that my bracelet/bangle collection is steadily growing also mandated finding a good system. Here’s what I do:
This shot gives a general overview of how I organize my jewelry. I hang my necklaces from a piece I put together with a some scrap wood I found years ago while hiking, some screw-in hooks, hemp and a staple gun. This is one area that I see growing a lot, as I slowly acquire new staple pieces from Etsy.
This jewelry box is one of the ones that I inherited from my grandmother on my mom’s side. While I love it for its sentimental value, it doesn’t leave me much room to grow. I’ve been on the look out at antique shops and garage sales for something a little larger, but haven’t found anything yet. I keep my earrings, rings, pendants and shawl pins in here.
My favorite part of my system is my new bracelet holder that I just made a few weeks ago. I had been inspired by some metal jewelry trees that I had seen on Etsy, but they were out of my price range and didn’t really fit in with my aesthetic. I had a bunch of bamboo knitting needles that I bought at a Joann’s closeout, so I used them, some crafting wire and a cool soda bottle to make this handy holder. Eventually I would like to glue the bottle to a heavier base, because I’ve knocked it over a couple times. Still, it’s very functional, very attractive, and lets me see all my bracelets at a glance without looking cluttered.
What’s your jewelry organization system?
