Shuffling the Sanctum

A few months ago I wrote about the Inner Sanctum- a hallowed place where every gentleman maintains his sartorial investment and stores his clothes.

Twice a year we all face the chore of rotating wardrobes. Fall and Winter clothes need to be moved to a place where they will not hinder access to one’s Spring and Summer wardrobe. This process need not be viewed as a chore. It often brings a sense of contentment- reminiscing about fond memories of the winter months; goals achieved, and holiday seasons. And with Spring come thoughts of warm weather, outdoor activities in the sunshine, and perhaps a new love interest.

Having two closets makes this process much easier- simply add your Spring and Fall Wardrobe into your primary closet, and put Fall and Winter into the one you use for storage. If you don’t have two closets, there are many space saving options shown below. A cedar closet is best because of the pleasant aroma it gives your clothing, its durability, and because it repels moths.

Before moving or rearranging your Fall and Winter items here are some guidelines regarding:

Suits and sport coats

Hang on large cedar hangers that keep shoulder shape like these:

Store in breathable garment bags like these:

Brush them off to remove any crumbs or lint. While brushing them examine them carefully and if you’ve spilled anything on them, take them to the cleaners before putting them away Stains attract moths, especially sweeter substances.

Trousers

Are best stored with cedar clamps:

Multi-trouser hangers are available to maximize space and hang on the back of your closet door.

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/z61587.asp

Again, brush your trousers and take them to the cleaners if necessary.

Shirts

Stored on cedar shirt hangers like these:

Folded shirts should be taken out of packages and hung up. Otherwise wrinkles will be hard to iron out when it’s time to wear them in six months.

Ties

There are several options here:

Rolling and storing in a drawer:

If you’re challenged for space, here’s a great idea:

This is what I use

Sweaters

Should NEVER be put on a hanger. The fibers of the garment will stretch and cause the garment to lose its shape. Should be stored in a breathable bag like this to protect them from moths:

Should be put in a dresser drawer or stacked on a shelf. If space forces you to store them on the floor here again is a great idea:

Belts

Can be stored as ties above-

Here is an additional idea:

This little gizmo even has extra room at the top for additional what not.

Shoes

Would include darker colors, boots, and those with non-leather soles intended for inclement weather.

Wipe off and polish or have polished.

Insert shoes trees like these:

Store in shoe bags like these:

Shoe racks like these make for a nice organizer:

If you don’t have any space left on your floor try this:

This item also has extra pockets for socks and belts

Socks

Best stored in drawers like those shown for ties above.

Major Reorganization.

If the space of your Inner Sanctum has gotten too limited, here are some options to give you more space: Go to Home depot, buy the wood and fixtures you want, and do it yourself (not an option for me given my mechanical abilities.

Do it yourself with a kit as shown below (again, not an option for me):

Use an outside contractor specializing in closet remodeling:

http://www.calclosets.com/en/sb.cn?crt=pagekey=31

http://www.theneatfreaks.com/?gclid=CMum_ZLb0YsCFRQkUAodpFklGw

I’ve posted two links below indicating the best cleaners in America. With dry cleaners, the cheapest is ALMOST ALWAYS not the best.

www.lci.com

www.leadingcleaners.com

Seriously consider donating to charity any clothing you didn’t wear last season. Hopefully you won’t have any of these items because you’re heeding our advice and buying clothing that’s always in style. Give away what you don’t use. Plenty of people in this world have NOTHING to wear.

In conclusion, remember seasonal sanctum shuffling doesn’t need to be a chore. You may need items to be properly dressed for the Spring and Summer season, or to replace clothing worn out from last year.

Which means you’ll need to go shopping!