In the Simple Living News Issue #63 there is an excellent article by Suzanne Saxe-Roux titled "The Answer to Closet Clutter, A Cultural Perspective." In this article, the author talks about a phenomenon of French living that is little known to Americans -- the French do not have closets. Here's the link if you'd like to read it:
http://www.simpleliving.net/news/2008_march_april.asp#05
In the article, we get to hear how Suzanne Saxe-Roux and her family moved to a small village in France. It was only after relocating to a house bereft of closets , that they realized they had to figure out what to do with all the clothing that they had transported with them.
Ultimately they decided that they would have to whittle down their wardrobes quite a bit in order to make a go of it.
What I loved about this article was how this family follows the same basic procedure that I recommend to my clients:
1) Pare down your wardrobe, eliminating anything you do not love, do not need, or that does not fit or flatter.
2) Seasonally switch out your clothing; pack away winter when summer arrives, and vice-versa. Use this time to do another closet assessment and clean out.
3) Limit your outfits to a specific number.
4) Keep all the current season's clothing in view.
Now here's the best part: from the article we find out that Suzanne and her husband keep approximately one week's worth of clothes out for themselves, and that is it. Are you shocked? Amazed? In awe? You might look at that number and think "No Way! I couldn't do that!"
But I beg to differ. Nearly everyone can survive very stylishly with only a little more than that if they engage in a little wardrobe planning. Limiting your wardrobe can be the key to significantly upping the qualilty and style quotient of your closet.
So, go take a peek at "The Answer to Closet Clutter" by Suzanne Saxe-Roux. You will be very impressed...and very inspired.
See you here next time...same blog time...same blog channel....
(For more information about wardrobe planning, or to sign up for my free E-Zine, please visit my website.)
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7 comments:
I can see that. I live in a weekse worth of suits and about 3 weeks worth of ties.
Dr Helton, making your skin beautiful without surgery
I think that's great advice. If we did wardrobe planning once a year as though we were going on a vacation, clothes would be much more manageable.
Aaron
Very interesting post -- scary not to have a closet though where we can hide our disastrous collection of unworn clothing. I only do the seasonal thing with coats and jackets but it does make sense.
www.SueCrutcher.com
This does make since. I didn't know the french had homes with out closets
Focus Your Energy
This never occured to me but it is true of most houses built prior to the 70's in France.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it applies to most of Europe.
Amazing the things we take for granted!
Yann
Yann Vernier - Personal Coach
I just cannot imagine not having closets. Forget about where to put the clothes, where do you put all the other stuff stored on the floor and shelves of the closet?!!!
I remember that when I was in Paris.
eek!
April Braswell - Online Dating Coach, Romance Coach
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