Closet case: Solved!

For fashion creatures like us, looking into a fashion professional’s closet can be exciting and daunting at the same time. Exciting for obvious reasons – we get to glimpse all the goodies these pros have accumulated over the years and get to feed our sinful curiosity to see whether their wares live up to our mile-high expectations. In other words, we get to pry with permission. I’m sure there are few left in this world who haven’t dreamed of peeking into the closets of supermodels, celebrities, designers and other fashion insiders. Imagine an unadulterated tour inside Carine Roitfield’s or the Carolina Herreras’ or Kris Aquino’s or even Ben Chan’s apothecary cabinet! Geez, they could make extra cash just by charging people an entrance fee — the longer the look, the higher the price.

On the other hand, witnessing how a pro manages her own wardrobe can be very intimidating. For one thing, it may only confirm how pathetically amateur our closet organizing skills are. Our laughable wanna-be collections of Jimmy Choos or that our skimpy our assortment of vintage brooches are so not fun. So when I took on this assignment, that’s exactly how I felt– simultaneously giddy and anxious.

But what I discovered was far from what I had imagined. I was half-hoping, half- expecting to see walls of hyper-organized shelves and racks filled with envy-inducing clothes and accessories, everything labeled and arranged in its rightful place. But what I found turned out to be a bite of reality – because the closets looked, well, just normal. However, after some time and closer inspection, my disillusionment evolved into genuine admiration for these women and how they play dress-up.

Here are three of the most stylish gals in the country (with top editorial posts at leading publications to prove it) and they each have their own "skeletons." Just like you and me, they have their own gripes – budget limitations, time constraints and that eternal closet tragedy… not enough space! This is probably the reason it wasn’t easy getting them to allow us into their private forts de fasyon. I’m sure they’re aware of the unreasonable expectations the public has of them. How many of you would allow a prying photographer and a curious kitty of a writer to sniff inside your boudoir? I know I wouldn’t.

But in spite of all their closet issues, they all manage and make-do quite nicely (as demonstrated by their constantly cool attire). And I was delighted to know that none of them let their own issues get in the way of enjoying the occasional shopping spree. Feeling totally inspired, I headed straight for the nearest mall to do my own version of panic-buying. After being on maternity leave for what seems like an eon, I felt like I was on some kind of shopping diet and I just had to get some sweets in my system. So I did what any self-respecting fashion beast would do – binged! Now I have even less space in my closet! But it’s all good, because with all that I’ve learned, I’ll know exactly how to stuff every inch of it.

Describe the personality of your closet.

DONNA CUNA-PITA: My closet’s personality is in transition. I just moved into my house this year and we still have a lot of fixing up to do – including having cabinets and shelves made.

PAULINE SUACO-JUAN: I've got the typical condo closet, which means it's teeny weeny. Everything I've acquired over the last three years is crammed in there. I suppose if it were a person, you'd say she would have lots of issues.

LIZA ILARDE-CUENCA: Schizo. One week it's perfectly organized, everything is color and sleeve-coordinated, piles are in order, and I can find what I need. The next, it looks like a bloodhound dug through, sniffing out for that one perfect black lace tank, only to realize it's in the laundry.

How do you organize (or try to organize) your closet?

DONNA: I evaluate my closet every month and try to weed out items that I know I won’t be using anymore. I also set aside items to put in my "inactive" file. These items include gowns and vintage items I’d like to keep for the future.

PAULINE: Serendipitously. The moment you open the door you see the clothing that I like and use a lot. Everything else is buried at the back of the closet.

LIZA: Shirts and blouses are hung on the same black plastic hanger (collected for years from the dry cleaners), sleeve-coordinated (sleeveless, short-sleeve, long-sleeve). Knits and tees are folded in piles, sleeve and color coordinated. Skirts have their own rack outside my tiny closet. Jackets are in my husband's closet (sorry, honey). The bags are beginning to spill out too and may need their own closet soon. My shoes are all over the house, so I actually catalog them in my Palm!

Do you take extra care of your clothes and other belongings? 

DONNA: I am so guilty of not taking care of my clothes and shoes! Right now, my items are spread out over three houses: my in-laws’, my parents’ and my house!

PAULINE: No, sorry. I'm not anal about storage. Dry clean. Laundry. Hand—wash. The dry clean stuff tend to be relegated to the back of my closet. I hate high maintenance clothing (but that has not stopped me from buying them) – the occasion better be worth it if I'm going to break out my dry clean stuff.

LIZA: Gee, I wish I could say I was one of those women who has Polaroids of her shoes pasted over boxes, but nope, sorry. It's all in my head (on the floor).

How often do you clean out your closet? Do you throw anything away?  Give to charity?  Sell at a garage sale?

DONNA: Every month. I do all three, depends on the season.

PAULINE: Clean: maybe twice or thrice a year.  Throw: no. Donate: I give them to my yayas. A fashionista's got to have fashionista yayas too, you know.

LIZA: Every so often, my mother goes through the clothes I left at home and sells them at a garage sale without my knowledge. Just recently I held a mini ukay-ukay at my office where I sold my "thin" clothes (stuff that don't fit me anymore because I gained weight and I know I'll never be that thin again!). And during Christmas, I give away clothes to charities that request for used clothing.

Do you do have cedar or moth balls, fragranced sachets or paper?

DONNA: Now I do!

PAULINE: I use cedar and scented sheets to store my home accessories, not clothing. I like the scent of Ariel (my laundry soap) and would choose it over cedar any day.

LIZA: I used to have potpourri sachets in my closet, but I threw them away when someone told me it's bad feng shui to have dead leaves around the house. (My luck hasn't changed, though.)

What is the oldest thing you have?

DONNA: A brooch from my grandmother plus lots of vintage clothes.

PAULINE: I have lots of stuff from my mom and lola, who were pack rats. With the exception of one muumuu that I got at the Rainbow Bazaar, every vintage clothing piece that I own came from my mom or lola.

LIZA: That would be my mother's turtlenecks and sweaters from the '60s, and my grandmother's costume jewelry from the '50s.

Any sentimental items...

DONNA: A white Ungaro shift because I lived in it when I was pregnant. I loved being pregnant.

PAULINE: The stuff from my mom and lola. I like wearing their stuff with my everyday outfits. I like the thought of history recalled.

LIZA: It used to be my wedding ring, but I lost that...

Most extravagant and the cheapest thrill...

DONNA: Most extravagant: I’m pretty kuripot so I always try to get everything for a good price. Cheapest: a fab vintage skirt for P20!

LIZA: Most extravagant: Prada bag and Gucci bag, both in leather, bought during a quickie stop in Florence while on a bus trip through Italy. We only had an hour to shop and I was so pressured, I couldn't decide between the two, so I bought both! They each cost millions of liras. To this day, I haven't computed the price in pesos. Cheapest thrill is designer wear at 75 percent off or more. Recently, I bought a pair of Lambertson Truex heels, originally at P18,750, bought for P3,000 at Wish. Sweet!

Worst buy...

DONNA: Green velvet mules in satin with rhinestones. I can’t seem to match them with anything.

LIZA: A clothes rack bought for P1,200 that collapsed after I hung my clothes on it.

Something you love  but have never worn...

DONNA: Really delicate, flimsy tops that look great on waif-ish girls but look really vulgar on me.

PAULINE: I bought a metallic pink pleated dress inspired by Issey Miyake's Pleats Pleats from Tube in Bangkok. You can pin it in different ways so it's a new top every time you wear it.  But I've never found the occasion to wear it in the two years I've had it.  

LIZA: A hot pink silk slipdress edged in black lace by Chloé bought in Rustan's years ago on sale for P3,000. I have a fitting form at home that wears it, though.

Something you'll never throw away...

DONNA: My wedding dress – although it’s hanging "unprotected" in my closet at my in-law’s place.

PAULINE: Like my mom and lola, I tend to accumulate things. Also, I buy pieces that I love, so parting with them is quite difficult.

LIZA: Er, everything?

Whose closet do you envy and why?

DONNA: Alicia Silverstone’s closet in Clueless. It was computerized and motorized! Also Oprah’s because everything is so organized.

PAULINE: I've heard a lot about the closet of Tina Ocampo – all that clothing and the meticulous way they are labeled and organized. I've never seen it though so I've built it up in my mind's eye as kind of having the whole of Mix as a walk-in closet. That would be heaven. 

LIZA: The Vogue closet! It magically changes every season, each time with the best designer wear in the world.

Finally, your professional tips on how to build a good wardrobe.

DONNA: Know your body and find out what works for you. Scrimp on trends and splurge on timeless items. Have the basics like tees, nice fitting pants and skirts and pretty dresses but pair them with high-impact accessories to set you apart. Go for quality over quantity.

LIZA: First, you have to develop your taste (you like neutral colors? brights? prints? pants? skirts?), which leads to discovering your style (classic? minimalist? feminine? sporty?). Along the way, accept what cuts and silhouettes are most flattering to your figure (if you have wide hips, stick to dark-colored bottoms with vertical details). In the meantime, heed what your comfort level and body confidence can handle (can you wear a tube top without constantly pulling it up? a mini without pulling it down?). Then of course there are all the "classic" investment pieces every wardrobe must have: white shirt, black pants, etc, which can be updated every season by throwing in a trendy piece (hopefully you don't spend too much on this) into the mix, like the current uso print or color, or the "it" bag or shoe. Of course it takes years to finally get it right, but that's the great thing about clothes: if it doesn't work, you can always take it off at the end of the day and start again tomorrow.