Expressive Accessories

I’ve compared my shoe collection to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and, at the risk of offending the psych majors, I think the analogy can be broadened to include all of one’s wardrobe. Self-actualization is in the accessories and I have quite a collection at my disposal.

How do I keep it all organized and make use of its full potential?

Necklaces. I’ve hung three key racks on the back door of one of my closets to handle the necklace accumulation. I aim to keep the finer chains and smaller pendants at the top and the chunkiest, longest pieces at the bottom. I use a few of the existing coat hooks to hang belts and bangles.


Earrings (and Brooches and Rings). I’ve always had a large earring collection. When I was younger, I kept each pair in its own mini, zip-top, plastic bag and housed the entire collection in a decorative tin. These days, there isn’t room for baggies. All my earrings, brooches, and rings are organized by color in a tackle box. I’ve placed the tackle box inside something a bit more decorative. Large pieces, watches, and some of my bracelets, are crammed into the space between the tackle box and the outer container. The color-coded organization doesn’t last longer than a few weeks as I dig through the sections, looking for something that has filtered to the bottom.



Scarves and Belts. Most of my scarves and belts are hung on the back of the door of the second closet. It’s kind of a mess. (Maybe this is why I don't wear many of my scarves.)

With so many options, it can be hard to find just the right jewelry, scarf, or belt to complete an outfit. When I plan my week’s outfits (on Saturday or Sunday), I also choose the accessories I’ll wear with it. I drape necklaces, scarves and belts around the hanger holding the outfit. Earrings and rings are stacked on and around this incense burner and saucer. (Also pictured below is the ten-day weather forecast. I print it on Fridays and use it to plan my ensembles.) The combination of organization and planning enables me to sort through this mountain of stuff and select the options that express my style best.



Edited 2/5/09: I've begun keeping a photo set of my accessories (jewelry, scarves, shoes, hats, etc) on flickr. Click to enjoy!