Elise V.'s 10 Top Closet Organization Tips

1. My number one rule of closet organization:  If you can't see it, you won't wear it.       

      -Get outside of the box! Your shoes, I mean.  I can't tell you how many people whose closets I have                
       organized have fought me on this point...and then later have admitted it made a huge difference in   
       wearing their shoes they would have otherwise forgotten.  

      -Similarly, keep your purses out of their dust bags (excluding exotic skins-use your judgement).  

      

2). Use the "one in; one out" rule.  Yep, I mean it.  Unless you are starting from square one in your closet, you likely have entirely too many things in there.  Remember, building a great wardrobe is about quality, not quantity.  If you haven't worn a garment in question over the past year, consider letting it go.  If that seems to harsh, ask yourself these three questions: 
      1). Do you love it?  
      2). Do you look good in it/does it fit? Maybe you really will lose weight and fit back into your jeans 
           from freshman year. Likely, you won't, and those jeans are taking up valuable closet real estate.  
      3) Does it align with where you are in life/your image? 

3). Remove dry cleaning bags immediately.  Not only do they take up space and get in the way, but they also imprison your clothes with harsh chemicals. 

4). Break up your suits so you will remember to wear them separately.  For example, that great looking black blazer you normally wear as a suit can also be worn on the weekend with a pair of jeans and a fun t-shirt underneath, like Cameron Diaz seen here (minus the bra showing!)

5). Fasten/button the top one or couple of buttons on all shirts and keep clothes neatly on the hanger.  

6). Cheat sheet on what to hang and what to fold: 
Hang: dresses, skirts, blouses, pants 

Fold: Anything delicate, especially those with beading, sweaters. and anything made with cashmere 

For jeans, you can choose either way.  I've tried it both ways and personally prefer folding.

7). Hang "like with like."  For example, keep all your jackets together, blouses together, etc.  If you want to get really serious about organization, you can further classify by color.  For example, I keep all my neutral (white, black, nude) blouses together, and I also hang by occasion: I put cocktail dresses together, day dresses together, etc. Also, if you don't have a walk-in closet, put the things you wear most often toward the center of the closet for easy access.   

8). Use uniform and quality hangers.  I know, insert "no more wire hangers" joke here.  Seriously, don't use cheap hangers that lack any way to grip your clothes.  Your garments will constantly fall off and drive you crazy.   

9). Store accessories such as belts and scarves on racks, hooks or folded in baskets in plain sight.   

10). Stay on top of it.  If you go through your closet several times a year and stay organized, the less of a job you will have later. 

Build Your Shoe Wardrobe

 Anyone who knows me knows I am truly a shoe freak.  I love shoes.  No, really.  I adore them.  Shoes can do a lot for your wardrobe.  In fact, they can make or break your outfit.  For years I have told clients, "Start building your closet with great looking shoes and handbags, and you'll have the building blocks of a great wardrobe."  The truth is, you can take even a mediocre outfit, pair it with a great looking pair of shoes, and it will make a huge difference.  So how does one select a fabulous shoe wardrobe?  I'm glad you asked.  May I present....

Elise V.'s 10 "Building Blocks" for a Fabulous Shoe Wardrobe: 

1). A pair of "nude"(semi-close to your skin tone) and black pumps-Buy a classic shape in the best quality you can afford.  I would choose patent or leather.  Hint: a platform is stylish and more comfortable. 

2). Flats- There are so many cute embellished (and otherwise) flats out there right now...and hooray! Flats are cute + comfortable! 

3). Tall boots- at least two pair: one appropriate for office and one "riding boot."  For a classic look, buy a knee-high or mid-calf pair; For a more edgy look, go for an over-the-knee pair; For a more casual/sporty look, choose a chunkier heel.  

4). All-weather boots-Make sure to buy some waterproof boots, and if your budget allows, a second all-weather pair for colder weather. 

5). Metallic Heels-You need at least two: one gold and one silver.  Even better, a mix of the two as shown in the center. Don't forget about rose gold.  It's a great neutral choice as well.  Cocktail attire or black tie affair? Check! Metallics are awesome because they go with any color. 

6). Comfy casual shoes/boots- for running errands, etc.  Choose a flat boot or see option #2.  I LOVE my Jimmy Choo for Ugg grey knit boots shown here.  

7). Wedges/Espadrilles-Not only are these fashionable, but they are more comfortable than most shoes!

8). Casual sandals-You'll need a pair for the beach and a more stylish pair you can wear with a sundress. 

9). Dressy sandals-You'll need something other than an office-appropriate pump for weekends, etc.  Consider buying a few dressy and fun sandals.  No hose allowed! 

                                      

10). Ankle boots-For the fashion-forward who aren't in the mood to wear their dressy sandals or tall boots.  Ankle boots are a big thing right now and can easily give an outfit a little "umph." I love my Tory Burch ones with the gold chain detail below. 

And remember, "One shoe can change your life." -Cinderella 

Fall 2012 Fashion Trends

Ah, fall, my absolute favorite time of year.  It is the culmination of all the things I love: cool weather, pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween, and of course, fall fashion.  Inevitably this time of year I start getting the question, "What are the fall trends this year?"  I'm going to break down what I consider to be the biggest (and most translatable into every day life, as opposed to the runway ) trends.

Elise's Top 10 Fall Trends of 2012

1). Gilded shoes- You'll see shoes with gold toes, gold heels, etc.  And while we're on the subject of gold, the color itself is trend #2.....

2). Gold-You'll see it in many of the brocade and embroidered patterns, often paired back with black, or as seen below in an evening look.

3). Fit and flare skirts- I'm excited about this one....I love skirts that are just short and flirty enough, yet still classy.

4). Any and all shades of RED: burgundy, orange-red, or bleeding heart red, it doesn't matter.  Wear red.  If you're not bold enough to wear a red dress, go ahead and pull in red with accessories, such as your shoes, bag, gloves, etc.

5). Jeweled and/or contrasting collars- Not only can you buy tops, sweaters, and dresses with existing statement collars, but you can also buy a statement collar alone to add a "little something" to an existing outfit.

   

6). Wide brimmed hats (and statement hats in general)- Hooray, I adore hats!  

7). Velvet-Like leather, this fabric will be seen as the primary material of some pieces (see the green Gucci gown), or as an accent.  Either way, the rich yummy fabric is a big trend for fall.

8). Winter white- I've always loved winter white, and we're going to see a lot of it this year.  In fact, we're going to be seeing stark white this winter as well.  J Brand (and others) are putting out a stark white jean for fall.  I'm on the fence about stark white in the winter.  Call me old fashioned, but I just don't like stark white after Labor Day.  So I'll be sticking to the traditional winter white this fall.

9). Leather, and I mean leather everywhere: dresses, tops, skirts, leggings, accessories, as an accent (see the sleeves on the second picture).

          

10). The statement clutch- I am a big fan of a fabulous clutch, but this season your bag may be more of a conversation starter than a place to keep your lipstick and phone.