Confession: An Unpolished Approach
Whenever I paint, it always ends up on my face, I put eyeshadow on with my fingers, my nails are usually chipped, I always manage to spill hot sauce on clean white shirts and my closet is an absolute disaster.
Photo credit: criss.cross.apple.sauce via Flickr
Aside from my bad luck with hot sauce, the rest can all be attributed to my unpolished approach to art and style. In most cases, the method to my madness is generally embraced, but I can’t help feeling a little self conscious about the chaotic closet. I hate putting things away, especially since sometimes my “getting ready” process involves trying on multiple pieces before settling on a look.
On the bright side, this horrid habit of “not putting away” has actually helped me take wardrobe reinvention to a whole new level. A skirt transforms into a flowy strapless shirt, a bright slinky top dubs as a scarf and lounge clothes paired with the right accessories create the perfect grungy-glam look. In fact, a lot of the outfits I end up wearing were never meant to go together – I just randomly choose them from the mountain of fun spilling out of my closet.
Wearing:
- Plaid shirt: H&M mens
- Tank dress: American Apparel
- Jeans: People’s Liberation
- Shoes: Forever 21/DIY studded oxfords
- Jewlery: Forever 21
- Bag: Target
I’m sure there are some of you who can relate, even some who also found a method for the madness. However, for those who insist on having perfectly organized closets but want to find new ways to create looks – try throwing it all on your floor and trying random things on in front of a mirror. It will probably be painful at first, but you might actually enjoy yourself and find a few new outfits.
What about you? I’d love to hear what your closets are like and your methods.
Special thanks to Natalie for encouraging me to try something new with this post.
I love this entry. Adorable outfit! I can really relate to the seemingly “mad” process of selecting and approving a total look through a series of trial and error that usually translates into the systematic dismantling of one’s closet. I have to force myself to put clothes away weekly or else it will become too huge a task.
I would seriously have a heart attack if my closet looked like that..haha, though I guess it would be fun to try. It’s definitely working for you, always love what you pull together!
jesspgh – Glad you liked the post and refreshing to hear you can relate. It can be overwhelming at times, but I’ve slowly come to realize I like the mess.
Jessica – Haha, I have a lot of friends that freak out when they see my room. That’s why I get a little embarrassed. Glad you like the end results though!
One of the best things I ever did for myself was to hire a personal assistant for a few hours a week. Most important duty is seriously picking up the volcano of clothes from the week before and hanging them back up. It’s stress-free mess making!
What ends up making me get creative with my closet is when I haven’t done laundry in 3 months (like now) – that’s when I no longer have my trusted stand-by’s and I have to reconsider what’s left (and end up wearing the most interesting concoctions, much to the amusement of everyone in the office.)
haha, jordana, i’m right there with you! when i moved in with my boyfriend, though, i started feeling bad about having my clothing all over the floor all the time… i ended up getting an extra laundry basket for “not dirty” clothes, which i routinely dump on the floor, pick something out, and then throw everything back into the not-dirty-basket. every once in awhile, i’ll go through the basket and put clothing back in the closet or in drawers, but it allows me to have my madness while getting ready!
Love this post and the accompanying pictures! I have a really messy closet, and also tend to keep piles of things around the house, magazines and books, for instance, that drive my Mr. bananas. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like to think they are fruits of creative labor!
Crosby – Hah! Dreaming of a day in the future when I’ll be able to hire an assistant. I think it’d give me peace of mind…but I’d probably need them to come over everyday. Not doing laundry definitely makes you stretch your outfit thinking. I finallllly did a ton yesterday.
christy – I have a not-dirty-basket too! I don’t even own a dresser, so it’s kind of taken it’s place until I buy one. Whatever works, right?
dreamsequins – Wow, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one! Definitely fruits of creative labor, LOL. My boyfriend is a clean freak, luckily, so he helps where he can.
This is me to a “T”. I do the exact same thing. I have clothes spilling out of my closet, my dresser, unpacked suitcases from Christmas vacation. Visually, it’s a mess, but I do agree that it tends to spur on creativity and spontaneity.
Great post, by the way.
Jordy!!!
Just wanted to leave you a little comment and say that you’re doing a great job with the postings! I know you always have a great style and hopefully your readers take your advice with a shot of tequila and dive right in!!! I’ll be keepin my eye on you kid!!!
Cars
Lauren – You have no idea how happy I am to hear that! Haha! So glad you enjoyed.
Cars – Thanks for stopping by! How do you always find a way to add tequila to the mix? Haha!
I hear ya–my clothes have a tendency to end up like this because
–I try on multiple things and then usually leave immediately
–I hang many dresses/skirts/tops together from one hanger, so taking 1 down to try it means taking 5 down to try it. I hang them all together for space saving in my tiny closets.
My method to reign in the chaos
–organize clothes by types to that if I pull one hanger down I have a shot of only trying what is on that hanger
–put anything that isn’t hung back up immediately on the arm chair
–hang it up before bed if I don’t get it before I leave for the day
My problem is my closet space is too too cramped. I try every space saving trick their is.
There is really no way around a dresser. In my last place I had the most amazing GIANT dresser with matching lingerie dresser and all sorts of boxes and smaller storage units. Thats how I attempt to keep it all together.
As for new outfits, I think that grabbing some items and throwing them on the bed, or grabbing a top and holding it up to some new skirts, is always helpful; no need to have things in a pile for that. When the armchair gets crowded I can’t find things! Then I can’t make the outfits I envision.
I also just leave some time each week to attempt new combos.
i spilt red wine on myself on the weekend! haha
joelyne
xxx
http://www.thesydneygirl.blogspot.com
I lay clothes all over my bed and chair when picking out my outfit, and then dread having to put them all away when I get back home!
That is so funny, this is what my closet looks like right now…and this morning I was throwing shoes around. The only problem is I live in a place where if I am not careful, I get sweaty digging in my closet, which leads to frizzy hair…and then I look like a hot mess!
Love this photo!
xoxox,
CC
I think that would be very stressful way to find what to wear in the morning, but I can totally see how that leads to more creative choices
I try to picture my closet in my head when figuring out what to wear 
My floor looked like that until I moved in with my boyfriend. He would assume that if clothes were on the floor they were dirty and he would throw them in the laundry hamper. Now I have to hang up my clothes if I don’t want that to happen.
If I didn’t know this was your room, I would think it was mine. I think its an organized chaos, I know what I want is here.. somewhere and thats good for me. I just have to be careful where I step. The whole putting things away lasts like one day. hahaha!
Jessica – Wow, thx for the thought-out comment! You clearly have a method for the madness!
joelyne – Haha, I’m pretty bad with wine too.
Annie Spandex – Same! Ugh – I lay them on my bed every night as if they’ll get hung up, then place them back on the floor when I go to sleep.
Gracelikekelly – Haha! I think that is one of the best descriptions I’ve heard – hot mess…LOL!
Couture Carrie – Thx doll! Guessing you mean the first…
FashionMatchmaker – Totally! It can get stressful. Usually I try to organize in piles so things are easier to find.
goodbuygal – Busted! That sucks!
alixrose – As long as you have a lil organization, I say you’re good to go. Why waste time on things that aren’t important to you?
OH BABY! I did not realize this amazing madness method until I got back from London and just pulled random items out of my suitcase to wear with random things from my closet… It’s sort of refreshing!
birdie – Haha, I hate unpacking!