| What can be more
welcome than sunny days in the 70s and seeing the flowers
starting to bloom after our cold snowy winter? Here in Connecticut,
we all greet Easter and the warm weather with an enthusiasm
and gratitude that folks who reside in a year-round warm climate
can never fully appreciate.
We now can mothball expressions like, “I’ll
be there unless it snows” and “Let’s plan
to go as long as the weather holds” and no longer
have our every move dictated by Dr. Mel’s latest forecast.
But since the weather, although pleasant, can also vary
considerably in temperature, I always find my closet a hodgepodge
of not-yet-put-away winter things and some spring-summer
clothes too lightweight for immediate wear. This spring,
my annual closet transition is complicated by the fact that
I need to do some closet re-shuffling.
Husband Val has had some additional health problems and
is currently receiving rehabilitation and excellent care
at The Guilford House. I expect he will be returning home
the middle of this month; but for awhile, I will need full-time
help and that individual will use the guest room and the
guest room closet, which presently stores many of my “out-of-season”
clothes. Additionally, since Val needs to be downstairs,
many of his clothes will be moved into my den/home office.
Currently, chaos reigns!
Out of necessity, however, I am being much more selective
in what I am keeping and even if something is “perfectly
good and still wearable” (the litmus test used by
all Depression-Era babes), if I really don’t like
it or it’s two sizes too small, and I never wear it,
I am trying to ruthlessly assign it to the Goodwill bag.
Here are some helpful hints and tricks of the trade if closet
organizing is on your spring agenda:
- Arm yourself with ample clear plastic containers in several
sizes. I like to keep items that go together (like the perfect
color blue sweater to go with my plaid jacket) on the same
hanger or in the same box. Other people always separate
by category. The Container store, Walmart and Home Goods
have pretty lined and be-ribboned sweater boxes for your
“special” things as well as plastic garment
bags that when vacuumed closed, hold twice as much in half
the space.
- My bedroom closet was outfitted by California Closet
more than 20 years ago and was an investment I’ve
never regretted. Now you can get the same results for a
lot less as there are so many multi-purpose do-it-yourself
rods, shelves and holders on the market. I also like large,
open wicker baskets to hold oddly shaped items on the floor
of the closet.
- Although considered tall as a young girl, my height has
decreased as my age increased, and I find both a small step
stool and a “grabber” handy items to keep in
the closet to reach articles in high places.
- Of course, everything needs to be freshly clean before
being stored, but you don’t need to run up big dry
cleaning bills. Many items can be “dry cleaned in
your home dryer — just look in the laundry section
of the supermarket for the dry cleaning kits to be used
in the dryer. I even hand-wash all my cashmere sweaters
with a special gentle wool wash and lay them on a mesh frame
to dry.
- All of my handbags get stuffed with tissue and stored
in their own soft drawstring bag while shoes have a winter
home in their marked shoe box. Neutral colors like beige
and gray are good trans-seasonal colors and when combined
with a bright pink or yellow blouse or sweater, can spell
spring one day, but be paired with black or brown if the
weather turns cool later in the week. This is also a perfect
time of year for twin sweater sets, a wool jacket or rain
topper in a pastel color. Inexpensive, chunky jewelry or
an eye-catching pin can bring new sparkle to a simple, older
outfit.
- After you’ve wrestled your closet into shape, treat
yourself to a fashionable pink-toned lipstick and call a
friend for lunch. And remember to smile ... it’s finally
spring.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
