No, this isn’t a post about the essential clothing items that should be present in a man’s closet – that was discussed in my Basics post. But rather, what is it that every man should have in their closet at their disposal to use for the proper care and treatment of what might very well be a multi-thousand dollar investment (depending on the number of items you own).
Admittedly, I get a little obsessive about closets. Being someone who is in the first stages of looking for a new, bigger home to accommodate a growing family, it is a moment of stark self-reflection when the closet size is one of the first things I consider about my new habitat. Whenever I make my way to Ikea or the Container Store, I dreamily wander through the staged closets pretending I own them.
Twelve year old girls planning their dream wedding can’t hold a candle to me.
A man’s closet can be a number of things: it can be a place of hiding a la Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween…
Or, a closet can be a place that you never want to enter; a place that conjures up fits of hysteria a la Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses…
But to me, a closet is a wonderful place. It is one part labratory, one part weapons cache and one part empty canvas. And any chemist or artist knows you must take steps to preserve your chemicals or your brushes and paints.
The same is true with a man’s wardrobe – and there are some very simple and inexpensive items that can aide in the care, storage and preservation of a man’s clothes:
Drawers
Let’s start with the biggest item here, the drawers. Now, I understand that not everyone has room in their closet for large sets of drawers. I mean, if you’re living in a small studio apartment, you may not even have a closet. But the functionality of these drawers are two-fold – even if they wind up in the bedroom. One, they will inevitably save space. I probably have 30 sweaters, and living in Houston, I wear them three months out of the year – maybe. If I was to hang every one along with every pair of jeans, khakis and workout clothes I own, I would certainly have no room for the things that need to hang – dress shirts, suits, dress pants, etc.
Another value of drawers is that it allows you to fold things that need to be folded. Have you ever left a sweater on a hanger all summer only to come back in October, take it off, and find two large bumps on either shoulder? Hanging sweaters ruins the structure of the garment and it also provides a desirable target for moths.
If you don’t have enough drawers, buy some cheap, plastic storage bins and place them under your bed until you need them. In the winter, take out your sweaters and place your polos and t-shirts inside.
Shoe Shine Kit
You will also see in this picture a shoe-shine kit. This was given to me as a gift, and I love it. One day, we will get into the specific details of shoe care, but for now, know that your kit should contain a polish for black and brown, a couple of clean rags, a soft brush, and heel polish. Polishing your shoes, especially leather ones, keeps the material moisturized and prevents premature cracking and lines in the shoe. Touch them up about once every 10 days or so.
Wooden Hangers
In what some people call overdoing it, I call necessity. As mentioned above, wire and even plastic hangers can deform the shape of shoulders in shirts and suit jackets. Thicker wooden hangers allow for more shape to be contained, especially if you have to hang up something wet.
And it’s not an indulgence at all – one can purchase 25 for less than $30 by visiting places like these.
Shoe Trees
Moving back to footwear, the thing that aides most in shoe protection besides a shine is the shoe tree. These items, usually recommended in cedar, are also good for two reasons:
1. You walk around all day in shoes and you might wear them 3-4 days a week. You want them to fit as comfortably as possible. Inserting shoe trees as soon as you take them off at the end of the day helps keep the shape you spent all day forming in them until the next time you put them on.
2. Probably more important – the cedar counterbalances any odors from the shoe, helping in what is sometimes a very sensitive area.
Valet
This little box I keep on top on my drawers in the closet is a catch-all for random things that need a home: cuff links, collar tabs, safety pins, tuxedo studs, extra keys, watches, etc. The faux leather one in the picture was about $20 at Pottery Barn on sale. You can also readily find two-level valets with spaces for larger items like a watch or iPod underneath.
With these few items, your closet and, in turn, your clothes not only become more manageable and protected, but it also gives the room a bit more panache – something that is commonly needed from a room so often ignored.
