Q: So tell me again why you're sitting here and asking questions to yourself?
A: Well, arbitrary voice inside my head, after bragging about my ability to pack clothes into very small spaces my friends started to ask questions about my new "system" that is not really that new and I've seen in many other places. I decided a Q & A blogpost would be the best way to direct them to the information while actually answering all the questions I've received.Q: You brag about your dresser organization?
A: Kind of.Q: And you still have friends?
A: It's complicated I guess.Q: You won't after writing out your actual thought processes, that's for sure.
A: That's not a question.Q: You were never really good at multiple choices...
A: SO recently Luke & I decided to free up some space in our room by using one dresser and one small side of average closet. I had previously had a lovely wardrobe that served its purpose but there were not enough drawers and the thought of having both a dresser and a closet taking up space really annoyed me. After a surprisingly fruitful virtual jaunt on to Kijiji we were able to get it out and then get locked out of our house on the coldest day of the year.Q: Why didn't you bring the keys?
A: I thought Luke had them!Q: Stop blaming Luke for your mistake!
A: I'm not I just...! ...Anyways, the wardrobe sold faster & for more money than we expected. After looking at some lovely pieces, I pined for my old dresser still in my old bedroom at my parents' house. It was very flexible of them to give it to me; the highboy was part of a set that had been handcrafted in the 1960s with lots of adorable details like French swear words pencilled lightly inside and a slightly off centre branding. Reunited, Luke & I started to divvy up the drawers.Q: How much space do you really have?
A: Neither a small cool studio apartment in a major city nor one of those overreacting House Hunters on HGTV who wants a walk in AND a master bath PLEASE!, our closet has theoretically been used as a well small reading room in the past. It is deep but narrow and slightly too small for two people. The dresser is not as tall as me, with five deep enough drawers. As constant stuff purgers (it's what I'll be doing later today during this blizzard) neither of us has all that much clothing (seriously!) but...
Q: No, no you have a crapload of clothing. I've seen you. Wait, I am you. You're always wearing different stuff.
A: I worked at Elsie's for a few years and still do the odd Saturday shift. That store has got me through every job interview I've ever been to and every formal occasion I could ever need. Between that & Value Village, there isn't much I buy elsewhere other than really special pieces. I really hate buying new clothes because they haven't been washed before; you can't see how they wear. The best clothes are the ones that are clearly worn but still look amazing; those are the ones you'll have until they really can't.
Q: You're bitter that the fancy new work dresses you got new are pilling already, aren't you?
A: What a waste of money.Q: Continue.
A: With these resources, I frequently get rid of items a few months after I get them because they were 4$ so who cares? Between lifestyle changes, weight loss, and boredom, a lot of people are actually surprised by how few clothes I own.Q: So that's a long way to say you don't have that many.
A: I don't, but I do have formal dresses with emotional attachments, some of my grandmother's old pieces that I won't part with, Luke has a suit he seldom wears.. we're human I guess.Q: Enough talking. What do you do?
A: This.
Q: That?
A: Yep.Q: What.. is that?
A: It's everything rolled.Q: Why would you roll it instead of folding it?
A: It doesn't crease! It's ingenious; it takes up an eighth of the space.Q: So you roll your clothes and lean them against each other?
A: I do for shirts, skirts, dresses, and cardigans. I fold pants and hang anything that's really structured.Q: Isn't it hard to maintain?
A: If you have a hard time putting your clothes back where they belong, this won't change that. But I find rolling easier than folding.
