Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Snakeskin and Rainbow Knits

Several  weeks after I said I would do it, I spent four hours spring cleaning my wardrobe on the weekend.   I do this 4 times a year, partly because I have limited space so I need to remove all woollens and retrieve the summer dresses shoved into unmentionable crooks and crannies.

But the main reason for the clean out is is because a supposedly dried up creek runs under that part of the house (potential purchasers of our house, stop reading now) and my clothes tend to get damp, which annoys me no end. I have to keep moving things around so that things don't get ruined. 

Like everyone else, I could easily do with more closet space.  I could also do with better light in my wardrobe area.    So much so that whenever I clean it out I always find things I forgot I had or which I in fact couldn't see. I am still looking for my favourite black cardigan. ....As I keep saying, if I had more closet space, I would buy fewer clothes, because I would be able to clearly see what I own.  

If there is one type of story I loathe reading, it those ones about celebrity closets.   True, I am a little envious.  But there is something almost obscene, and at the every least, vulgar, about these women sitting in front of their 1000s of pairs of shoes, Louis Vuitton bags in every colour and pairs of jeans for every day of the year.  They may as well have 'I make a ludicrous amount of money' or 'I get given lots of free stuff' tattooed on their forehead.   I have some forgiveness for those who work in fashion, as that is obviously a perk of the job.  But for the likes of Ms Hilton, Carey and Alba, to quote my daughter 'stop it I do not like it'


(a wardrobe by NY designer Robert Couturier)



(Kimora Lee Simmons' closet)

(Roomdrobe of Jenna Lyons from J Crew)

Anyway, taking a tip from the ever tasteful Kimora Lee Simmons (see above), I put all the coloured knits I discovered buried in the deep recesses in a nice little pile.  And to prove the point it is evident to me that I tend to just buy the same pinky coloured knits over and over. 


(bright Jane)



(everyday Jane)




And then I found these Bruno Magli snakeskin pumps I bought in London in 2001 when we went to a friend's wedding. Those were carefree happy days.  These are a bit banged up but still look pretty nice I think.  



And then much more excitingly, I found this croc or snake skin bag which belonged to my long dead grandmother, Olive.  It still has a cinema ticket from 1978 in the side pocket. I can imagine her, fully hatted and becardiganned, off to the city to see something appropriate for an older lady, maybe the film of the Agatha Christie book 'Death on the Nile'.  

That reminds me of the time my aunt took me to see the Bo Derek film '10' when it came out in Australia in 1979.  I should mention that I was barely 11 years old.   I could feel her stiffen beside me when the naughty bits came on. She probably should have checked the reviews beforehand.  But in those days it was much harder!   I think she may have even said to me afterwards 'It might be best if we don't mention this film to your mother, okay?'

So anyway, now my spring clothes are out and proud, and waiting, waiting for some spring weather in rainy, cold Melbourne.

(Images: (1) Robert Couturier (2) Elle Decor (3) Instyle.com (4) via Habitually Chic)







17 comments:

count it all joy said...

Once again, a fab post Jane! Love the story about going to see "10" with your Grandmother. Hilarious. Incredibly impressed with your rainbow collection of knits. You could call it an art installation in its own right! Congrats on getting the job done so beautifully. Meredy xo.

brismod said...

I notice some inappropriate stripes in your everyday Jane pile...your grandmother's bag is fabulous and probably a nice reminder of her when you use it. xx

Jane said...

Anita - inappropriate stripes indeed..... We all have them. It's a case of do as I say not as a I do!

Raina Cox said...

And I thought I was organized - I bow to you.

Your grandmother sounded like one with-it lady. Except for the whole choosing appropriate movies to take youngsters to.

Ann said...

I wouldn't mind a 'roomdrobe'. A few of my childless friends have them. I could have a spring clean and declutter my house of children this year (ebay them or something) and then claim their rooms as a laundry and dressing room? Food for thought...

Jane said...

Ann - I have my son's (adjoining to mine, hence my lack of sleep) bedroom, which is quite small, earmarked as a roomdrobe. Or should that be roomrobe. Anyway there is a small problem namely that there is nowhere else to put him.! It's a nice dream anyway.

Monika said...

Lovely rainbow knits! Your grandma's bag is amazing, I wish I had something like that from my grandma.

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

I do love the Grandmother's bag. It looks as if a whole novel is swirling around it. The photographs of the 'stars' wardrobes are just awful. I think I would prefer my cluttered mess to that. I wish I had more time to read through your back posts, Jane but my daughter awaits me in the bath. I'll be back. xx

Amanda (Small Acorns) said...

If I managed to buy myself something that wasn't black I'd have a much better chance of finding things in my wardrobe. I look and it's just a sea of darkness. Perhaps a roomdrobe where I could spread it out a bit more would be helpful. Love your inappropriate stripes Jane!

Genuine Lustre said...

Completely obnoxious, but I probably wouldn't say no if Jenna Lyons wanted to give me her closet. : )

My main challenge is the giant, husband-built cedar chest that houses all our sweaters and other treasures such as lederhosen in every size. There is no way to see what sweaters I own.

Laura said...

Wow four times a year?! I thought I was doing well cleaning my closet out once a year. I agree with you on the vulagarity of some closets. But oddly some of the most well stocked ones don't annoy me even though others do...perhaps the ones with the best, most interesting clothes are OK? For instance I don't mind Rachel Zoe's closet but agree with you entirely about Mariah Carey's.

Young at Heart said...

am now feeling I need a little autumn cleaning of the closet too.......loving the hand bag!!

Mise said...

Oh I much prefer to see bloggers' things and houses than those of celebrities (that's not to say that you're not a celebrity, Jane...). The 'bright Jane' heap is much more in tune with my mental image of you than the 'everyday Jane', perhaps because you're bright Jane in your profile pic.

And I admire your conspiratorial aunt!

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Oh Jane,
That could have been me talking.... I have a wardrobe just like yours, celebrity closets are obscene and make me feel sick and there is nothing better than a vintage handbag....they make mincemeat of any Louis Vitton !!!!( I don't know how my fingers typed those last two words!!)
Four hours well spent Jane. XXXX

Millie said...

Gosh Jane you are a star! I spent 4hrs. on the w/end doing a massive cull so I could fit everything into the new wardrobe - it was a most traumatic experience, which won't be repeated for some years. That Other Husband had a pair of snakeskin cowboy boots - ooooh the memories have sent me into a a state of catatonia. MOTH called the Jaguar XJS that the man drove the 'Snakemobile'. Made perfect sense really.
Millie ^_^

The House That A-M Built said...

Oh I am envious of all your coloured knits... it means a colder climate. I am so a 'cold climate' person! Saw your comment over on the 'Nate' video site. Isn't she a hoot! I had a good laugh this morning! A-M xx

Artful Kitchens said...

I always LOVE a chandelier in a closet. I also had a grandma whose name was Olive!

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