We’ve all got ‘em, and chances are, yours says a lot about you.
Our closets, and the stuff we keep inside them, offer intimate insight into who we are. They’re a physical amalgam of the things we’ve deemed important enough to save, even though they’re hidden away, out of sight.
We turn to our closets to prepare for a job interview, a first date, or a trip to a new place. Maybe yours is expertly curated, or bursting with treasured possessions, but it’s just as likely a weird corner in your bedroom that barely functions. Whatever it looks like, we want to hear about it. Email stephanie.talmadge@racked.com if you want to tell us about what lives in yours.
My Shoes Are Taking Over My Whole House
Tell us about yourself.
Paris, 21, a photography student living in London, England.
What’s the oldest thing in your closet? The newest thing?
The oldest thing in my wardrobe (UK!) is my favorite yellow teddy bear night top. It was passed on to me by a friend/relative (you know, the uncles and aunts that are actually just your parents’ friends and not even related to you) and is probably ten years old, but it still fits me. It’s covered in teddy bears and flowers, and I have no idea why I keep and love it so much. I still wear it sometimes. The newest thing would be the pair of gorgeous glittery trainers from Johnnie B that I got for Christmas. I’m definitely a child at heart, so I’m obsessed with all things glittery, and these are dripping in gold sequins.
What lives in the “dark corner” of your closet? In other words, what do you continue to keep in there even though it never sees the light of day?
I’ll always keep my signed shirt from my first school, and my hockey bag. When I was 13, I left my first school, and we all brought in spare school shirts and got them signed as a keepsake. It’s been in my wardrobe ever since, even though I never actually look at it. Also, I was an avid hockey player during my school years and played for my county. Though I haven’t played hockey for years now, and I miss it, I’ll never get rid of my hockey stick, bag, and gear. It’s shoved somewhere in the back of my wardrobe. (I think?)
How do you have your closet organized? And what about shoes? Where the heck do they go?
I’ve always had everything color-coordinated — even down to shades. Everyone thinks I’m a bit strange for doing it, but it makes life so much easier and it makes choosing an outfit quicker. (Although, admittedly, my gym stuff stays at the end, and isn’t organized.) I had to buy a shoe rack for my wardrobe when I moved in, as I have too many. I also take over all the space on the shoe rack my housemate bought for downstairs, which she finds infuriating! Some are also kept under my bed, some still in their boxes! Shoes are a nightmare to store. I normally give up and pile them on top of each other.
Wax poetic to me about hangers.
Bloody hangers. We’ve always had those horrible metal hangers that everything slides off of. I’ve resorted to buying myself those velvet hangers, which are truly a life-saver. I also, dreadfully, ask to keep hangers from shops when I buy clothes! I get slightly upset when they don’t let me keep the nice wooden ones. Wooden ones are the way forward.
What’s the weirdest thing in your closet that’s just there because it has nowhere else to live?
The weirdest thing in my wardrobe… probably this strange bag made of two halves of a vinyl record. It’s horrible, and sits in my wardrobe doing nothing. I should get rid of it, but it was from my (actual) aunty and uncle, so I feel like I can’t throw it away.
The Flannels of Boyfriends Past
Tell us about yourself.
Giana, 24, an editorial assistant and adjunct professor living in Montclair, New Jersey.
What’s the oldest thing in your closet? The newest thing?
Technically speaking, the oldest piece of clothing in my closet is a funky, purple-striped, oversized Michael Gerald cardigan that belonged to my grandfather (?) or one of my uncles — an attic find. Newest is a yellow/purple-flowered tunic with a tie around the waist that I just ordered from ModCloth.
What lives in the “dark corner” of your closet? In other words, what do you continue to keep in there even though it never sees the light of day?
Flannels that I collected from my ex-boyfriends? Just kidding! (Sort of..).
How do you have your closet organized? And what about shoes? Where the heck do they go?
That's a really good question that I should be asking myself! There really is not much, errr.... method to the madness. I hang up dresses and shirts that would wrinkle; I’m trying to keep those somewhat in order. Workout, sleepwear, and old stockings with holes in them usually fall in some of the drawers or little baskets I keep in my closet. I have a bucket of shoes stuffed in my closet where I keep the less-worn-but-can't-throw-out items. The shoes I wear day-to-day end up being thrown about my room or under my bed.
Wax poetic to me about hangers.
The state of the hangers in my closet is probably the most embarrassing part of that dark hole. I use whatever I have — literally! Plastic, metal, the ones I get from department stores. Some of them are even broken in half and I still use them! Hangers just don't wind up being a top priority on my list, but I'm starting to think they should be.
What’s the weirdest thing in your closet that’s just there because it has nowhere else to live?
My closet is actually pretty tiny, so I can't afford too much room for random gatherings. I am a hoarder,, though. I have this canvas bag of old Halloween costume items. Minnie Mouse ears have made their way in there, despite the fact that I have not been to Disney World since 2010. I also have a King's Robe that is kid-sized....
Reviving My Robert Pattinson-Inspired Pea Coat
Tell us about yourself.
Stephen, 24, a journalist living in Washington, DC.
What’s the oldest thing in your closet? The newest thing?
The oldest thing is probably the American Eagle charcoal peacoat I have from high school (I'm shocked it still fits well). I bought it during the peacoat heyday, a.k.a. Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Edward Cullen. After years of storage, I realized I missed it, so it'll see a revival this winter. The newest thing is a pair of chinos I got on sale from J.Crew. I'm proud of my clearance-plus-sale-plus-free-shipping-promo-online shopping lifestyle, especially since I got these for $15.
What lives in the “dark corner” of your closet? In other words, what do you continue to keep in there even though it never sees the light of day?
There's this thick-striped navy and slightly-less-navy sweater from Gap that I was gifted like seven or eight years ago that I've worn all of twice. I love who gave me the sweater and I keep it, telling myself, ‘Oh, yeah, put it over an Oxford,' but every time I try it on I'm just like, 'Ew, horizontal stripes,’ and then take it off. Maybe one day, Gap sweater. Maybe one day.
How do you have your closet organized? And what about shoes? Where the heck do they go?
I moved to DC around seven months ago and lucked out with a huge closet. Oxfords and work shirts go on the left, and then pants and light jackets go on the right. I keep T-shirts folded in a chest of drawers in my bedroom. Shoes have their own shelf above the shirts on the left, and my sweaters are folded or rolled and stored on the right shelf to avoid losing their shapes on hangers. Travel bags are tucked onto shelves wherever there's room, and my bookbag/everyday belts/ties hang on the hooks on the door.
Wax poetic to me about hangers.
I really need to bite the bullet and invest in actual quality hangers. You know, the wooden ones that are a little curved so my Oxfords don't get misshapen? I know, I'm not living my best hanger life with the rainbow array of plastic hangers from Walmart and Target. Maybe that can be my New Year’s resolution: stalk Marshalls and T.J. Maxx until I have an entire set of wooden hangers.
What’s the weirdest thing in your closet that’s just there because it has nowhere else to live?
There are two containers you use at parties for punch or lemonade — or in my case, sangria. There's just nowhere else in the apartment for them, so they live on the tip-top shelf in the closet (I told you this thing was massive). But the fact that I have two designated sangria pitchers that each hold around five gallons of liquid should give you a clearer indication of who I am than my clothing does.
Becoming an Adult Means Hanging up Your Pants
Tell us about yourself.
Sarah, 25, a graphic designer living in Atlanta, Georgia.
What’s the oldest thing in your closet?
The oldest thing is this vintage dress I got from a friend in college — it’s amazing, it has shoulder pads, a beautiful open back, and it’s floor length. Even though I sew, I couldn’t bring myself to cut and hem it (in case someday I decide I want this dress to be long again) so every time I wear it, I safety pin it underneath with a hundred safety pins to be the right length. Nothing in my closet is very old overall though, I’m really honest about getting rid of something as soon as I realize I haven’t worn it in awhile and don’t plan to.
What lives in the “dark corner” of your closet? In other words, what do you continue to keep in there even though it never sees the light of day?
My bachelor’s degree. Haha! My university didn’t send it to me until a year after I graduated, so by then the magic had worn off, I forgot to get it framed, and it just sits in the tube they mailed it in.
How do you have your closet organized? And what about shoes? Where the heck do they go?
You can’t really see from the photo, but it’s all organized by color. I used to have it organized by item length, but this worked when the closet opened from one side. This new closet opens in the middle and it felt off-centered to have it by length. Underneath there’s a shoe bin I found at Goodwill for a couple dollars, and it holds all of the shoes I wear most often. I also keep a rolling cart under my bed with shoes I need to keep but never wear, like fancy heels for fancy events and such.
Wax poetic to me about hangers.
I bought this pack of 50 velvety hangers with grooves from Ross for ~$10, and they’ve been so good to me. Nothing ever slides off, I love them. I’ve also started hanging up my pants like A Real Adult, so I need to get more pants hangers.
What’s the weirdest thing in your closet that’s just there because it has nowhere else to live?
You’ll see in the picture my weird sunglasses stand. I wear glasses, and actually have a bunch of prescription pairs from essentially an influencer promotion I did a few years ago. So I found this clear plastic stand on Amazon that can hold all of them, and I can look at it while picking out my clothes and see what pair matches today.
*These responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.