The Evolution of my Organised Wardrobe

I have always been organised, it’s just the way I am. Sometimes people are just programmed to be neat freaks in the way that others are untidy. I have always liked order and control. Years ago before organising became a “thing” and experts like Marie Kondo and Mrs Hinch worked their magic online and in books, I was keeping my house clutter free, tidy and organised.

An example of this is that for as long as I can remember I have opened my post, removed any stamps for charity, put the envelope in recycling and dealt with the contents. I cannot imagine a pile of post and envelopes and junk mail piled up waiting to be sorted, it just creates another job and stresses me. 

Since I downsized to a flat from a house four years ago I have been trying to make the big fitted wardrobe work. I have tried lots of different ways of organising it and finally I have come up with a way which works for me.

Functionality is very important in any space and I need to be able to access my clothes easily so a practical layout is essential. A format which makes choosing an outfit easy is my main concern when getting ready and I also don’t want clothes to get ruined.

The most important rule of my wardrobe is that NOTHING goes in that is not washed. If I have worn it it cannot go back in before being washed. The second rule is that I must always put things back in their place. Not doing so results in an extra job another day.

Behind my bedroom door I have a rack to hang jackets or clothes that I may wear again. (usually cardigans.) All my shoes and bags are neatly in boxes under my bed. Hats and gloves are in my two hat boxes on display and belts in the drawer of the little table in my room.

I do have two very high up shelves at the top in my wardrobe where I store closed boxes of things like a few old nostalgic things and Xmas decorations. These are in boxes so I can cope with them in my wardrobe. Yes, I know it’s weird but I like a clean wardrobe.

My hanging clothes are all colour co-ordinated as I base my outfit each day, on the colour I feel like wearing. One side of the wardrobe has red, burgundy, orange, yellow, blue. The other side has purple, grey, white, neutral, black and black patterned. All other patterned clothes are hung in the section of their most prominent colour.

  

There are folded sections for vest tops, nightwear, jumpers, jumper dresses, scarves, leggings and jeans. All my underwear is in little drawers at the side or baskets. I also have folded sections for bedding as my airing cupboard has no shelves.

 

On one side there is built in shelving where my underwear boxes and bedding go and on the other side I have added a small rail just for coats and jackets. The main rail is long but has a slight dip in the centre so I push the clothes away from the centre where possible.

I bought a fabulous set of plastic cubes that you put together yourself which are perfect for my folded clothes and light enough to go in the bottom of my wardrobe. (There are pipes under the floorboards and I have no idea how much weight I can put on them.) The clip together cubes are by Songmics on Amazon. I can put them in any configuration I choose and take them apart and re-assemble if I change my mind.

Yes, it does take slightly longer to put all my clothes away neatly, but it is quicker in the long run. I can assemble an outfit really quickly and stay within my co-ordination safe zone. I won’t apologise for my love of co-ordination…. That’s how I am.

The wardrobe doors slide and, to be honest, it would be so much easier if they opened out, but as I rent I shall just be grateful to have such a big wardrobe.

As mentioned my shoes and bags go in my under bed boxes and I also keep them tidy for easy access I have a box of shoes and sandals, a box of boots and a box of trainers and plimsolls. For bags I have one box with little purses, make up cases etc. I have another one with shopping type bags. The next one has small handbags and the last has medium handbags with two larger ones sitting on top. 

 

Hat boxes and drawers with belts

My wardrobe organisation has evolved and I am sure it will evolve further. I am thinking of making the scarf cubes into cubes that open at the top instead of the front, this may or may not work but will be worth trying. Bob the mannequin stands beside my wardrobe and is a brilliant place to put my outfit for the next day.

Apologies for the photos, the colour  on some of them is not the best. I shall try harder in future. 🙊

Filofaxes...Downscaling and Selling My Collection.

Like a row of books on a bookcase, a row of Filofaxes can be a thing of beauty. However, I have decided that collecting Filofaxes is not going to work. My collection grew to 75 Filofaxes and other ring bound planners through gifts and lots of secondhand purchasing in charity shops. I love to use them but do find that collecting them is too much, ironically, for my organised, minimalist side. I love the beauty of each one but I am just not a natural collector. I am keeping my favourite planners and the ones that I have received as gifts.

Since I decided to scale down the number of planners that I own, I have given away quite a few. Some have gone to friends and family and I have also given some, complete with dividers and paper, to a domestic violence charity. I do hope the women who receive them can use them to help plan the rebuilding of their lives.

I have decided to sell the other planners that I don’t want so I have put up pictures on here of what I am selling. Any planners left after a month will go to the charity shop.

• If you are interested in buying any of the featured planners please email me on saraorange69@gmail.com

• ALL prices listed are inclusive of postage in the UK. (by Hermes delivery, signed for);
• I am only selling in the UK as it is more complicated to sell abroad;
• I will be very honest about flaws in the planners, they came to me secondhand so are not all perfect;
• For sizes I have listed as A5, personal, pocket and mini, the sizes used by Filofax;  
• If you want further pictures of a product or more details please email me;
• All emails will be answered as soon as I can, but I cannot answer when I am at work;
• Planners will be sold on a first come, first served basis;
• I will not accept returns and all payments must be made by PayPal;
• If you want more than one planner I will look at a slight price reduction;
• I have various random inserts and dividers in A5, personal, pocket and mini. I can add these to any planner order with a small extra cost for increased postage. The inserts or dividers are free. Please email if you want to know what I have;
• I also have Filofax catalogues for sale, please email for details. ( £6 each including postage.) 

A5 Planners

Personal Planners

Pocket Planners

Mini Planners

                                                                           Odds

M2 Filofax 

Unbranded personal calculator

Unbranded off size planner

For further information on the featured planners and how to buy  them, please email me on:     saraorange69@gmail.com 

The Start of my 2019 book journey……. January and February

January and February have been good months for reading. I started the year having books that were either birthday presents, Christmas presents or bought with vouchers. In February I had another foot operation so had extra reading time while I sat with my foot up.

I started the year reading A Fear of Flying by Erica Jong. This was a present and it looked really interesting. The main character, Isadora, is married to a psychoanalyst but is clearly discontent with her world. She goes off on her own across Europe while trying to decide whether to stay with her husband or a man she is having a fling with. The book explores sexuality and feminism in a really interesting way but I did find the main character really annoying and selfish. She whines a lot and frequently mentions what she considers are the issues with being Jewish and a feminist. She is what I would describe as an “I want” woman; her needs MUST come before others. I have never been a feminist so this was a good book to read as I like to look at things from a different perspective. I really wanted to love this book because the person who gave it to me as a present really liked it; sadly it just wasn't for me and it put me off radical feminists even more. ★★

The Librarian by Sally Vickers was a fabulous read. It is set in 1950’s Britain, based around a library in a market town and has some fantastic characters. It really highlights small town prejudices but also shows that children are much more accepting than adults. I loved the mix of characters and working out what makes them tick, but particularly loved the relationship between the characters and books. Their attitudes to reading and books in general was fascinating. Definitely worth reading. ★★★★

I am always happy to read a book by Mike Gayle and The Man I Think I know did not disappoint. This book shows the depth of male bonding, the way you can change your life for the better and how helping someone else can be very rewarding. I loved the James Dewitt character who only really wants his normal life back and the equally likable Danny Allen who has almost given up on life or making an effort. A series of unlikely events means that the characters cross paths many years after attending the same school. James needs help and, as it turns out, Danny is rather good at being helpful. Their journey is funny, poignant and heartwarming while touching on the important issues in life. Mike Gayle’s insightful look at life should be in your to read pile right now. ★★★★★

My next book is beautiful inside and out. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon is a totally fabulous look at little slices of the American South. This mixture of nostalgia, recipes, decor, fashion, accessories and advice comes with a twinkle and a smile from actress, mother, businesswoman and prolific reader, Reese Witherspoon. I read this from cover to cover and would recommend it to any woman who is interested in that vintage mixed with contemporary lifestyle and that mix of femininity with a dash of feisty that all woman need and I aspire to. Reese Witherspoon shows us how growing up in the South inspired and shaped her life. I will be dipping in and out of this book because it’s just that sort of book. Another definite recommendation from me. ★★★★

Another brilliant present I got at Christmas was my first read in February. The Killing by David Hewson is an engrossing read. A clever, twisting plot and brilliant characters makes this book the sort of book you do not want to put down. Throwing politics into a rape and murder case brings up many potential suspects. There are secrets being covered up, family members unsure of their own relatives and a tenacious police detective determined to break the case before she moves on to a new job. This story is about the breaking point of Detective Sarah Lund and how far she will go; about the murder of a nineteen year old girl and about the corruption in politics and how far people will go for power. Another five star recommendation from me. ★★★★★ 

The Golden Thread by Kassia St Clair is a really interesting look at fabric through history. Though not as aesthetically pleasing as The Secret Lives of Colour, The Golden Thread gives you so many fascinating facts about fabric, how it was made, where it fitted in historically and how it changed history. This book makes you think about the fabric we use in our everyday lives and what it represents. Definitely a good read for people interested in the fine detail of history or fabric in general. I would recommend this book but Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair is still my favourite so far. ★★★★★

Dress Memory by Lorelei Vashti is a wonderful book about a decade in a woman’s life through the dresses that meant the most to her. It tells the fabulous story of Lorelei’s twenties and connects her memories to each dress that is evocative of that time. Lorelei has a fabulous collection of vintage dresses that go with her through life as a student, band member, editor and writer in various countries and during her romantic and platonic relationships. This book highlights the highs and lows of a young woman’s life but most of all, it shows that life is for living and you should live it in style. I would recommend this one too. ★★★★★

The other books I read in January and February 2019 are:

Lance by Vladimir Nabokov ★★

Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks ★★★★★

Obsidian Butterfly by Laurel K Hamilton ★★★★

Keep You Close by Lucy Whitehouse ★★★★

Frog Music by Emma Donoghue ★★★

The Girl Who Wasn’t There by Ferdinand Von Schirach ★★★★★

Capital by John Lancaster ★★★★★

I am now adding a star ★★★★★ rating to the books I have read. 5 stars is the top number of stars.

Coming Soon on Orangecoffee69 

• My January and February reads……..what I have enjoyed reading so far this year.

• My Filofax de-clutter …………..including my Filofax sale. Lots of planners at brilliant, low prices.

• Small handbags…….. how I changed to carrying a small bag and what I now carry with me everyday.

Sara's Recommendations. Books I enjoyed ….. December 2018

I read all the time and I always have a book on the go. I would say that I almost chain read books and I would panic if I had nothing on my 'to be read' pile

In December I read some particularly brilliant books. Having my birthday in November meant that I received book presents to treasure and vouchers to spend. My December reads were as follows:

• The Toymaker by Robert Dinsdale. This is a magical and special book about a vast and incredible toy shop. The Emporium is a whole world in itself where people can escape. The family who run the toy shop are not without their problems, but they take in Cathy as one of their own. This book touches on the horrors of war, the necessity for hope and the strength and fragility that can make up a family. If you loved Night Circus you will love the Toymakers.

• The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair. I found this a beautiful, tactile, aesthetic book filled with fascinating information about where colour comes from. I had no idea how complicated the world of colour was or how much work went into finding and producing colours. I have learnt how making colours have killed many over the years due to the methods of making them or the ingredients used. I have learnt that colour is not just the shades you see in paint and clothes and every day objects. It is nature and chemicals and hard work combined. Each colour has a rich and amazing history.

• Roofworld by Christopher Fowler. I have wanted to read this book for a long time and it did not disappoint. Rooftops fascinate me and I have often imagined a world up on the roofs. This book tells the story of an existence high above our heads. It tells of searching, power struggles, megalomania and how the search to find somewhere to escape to does not always work out. It describes the brutal lengths people will go to when they want power and the need to be very careful who you follow in life. This is another book that I couldn't put down.

• Past Tense by Lee Child. Jack Reacher, as always, at his finest. Probing, pushing, investigating, chancing his luck and charming or fighting his way through. As always Lee Child writes an intriguing story which you want to pursue to the end. Combining Reacher’s past and a twisted game of people hunting, this thriller takes you in many different directions, and with a few different sub plots, before you get to the end. I am always very happy to see the next Jack Reacher book is out, Lee Child is a brilliant writer and one of my most treasured books is my signed copy of “Never Go Back”. (Yes, I queued in WhSmiths to get it signed.)

• A Highland Christmas by MC Beaton. This light and fluffy mystery was a good Christmas read. Just like MC Beaton’s Agatha Raisin books this is a mystery without excessive violence set in lovely rural villages. It is easy to read and the crimes and clues are very well thought out.