Lacey McLemore, Valdosta Today Living Contributor
When it comes to bags, shoes, and wallets, most women tend to have so many it becomes hard to organize them all. And then, with all of the different sizes each of these things come in, its hard to find one singular option that can work for every single item in the category. Therefore, I’ve come to the rescue with two fabulously simple organizational options for your bags, shoes, and wallets which you can buy today and have organized tonight!
First, let’s take a look at shoes. For many people, including myself, daily routine consists of coming home, taking off the shoes, and leaving them where they lie. Sometimes this can have to do with the fact that there’s nowhere to put the shoes in the closet, except to pile them on the floor, or it can be, like in my case, pure laziness. Whatever the case, the answer is this: an expandable shoe rack with a cedar touch to keep your shoes smelling fresh! Although they don’t have my exact shoe rack any more, this one is much better and the measurements are about the same. Mine has 4 racks which expand to up to about 45 inches wide while this one has 6 racks which do the same. However, mine is about 24 inches tall, while Wal-Mart lists this one as close to 19. Although you may not believe you need a rack so large to hold your shoes, I can assure you that you will never regret buying more than you need in this area, but that you will forever have to replace it if you buy a rack that has just enough space to hold the shoes you currently own. Murphy’s Law inevitably tells us that if you do this, you will absolutely find an adorable pair of shoes you simply must own at a sale the next day, which means you will have to store these new shoes beside this shelf, and this level of inequality will drop you right back to the place you were before you tried to get organized. Therefore, don’t let your efforts go to waste. Buy an expandable rack which can change sizes to fit your closets and your amounts of shoes; and if you can get lucky, purchase one that has the capability to stack others on top of it should you ever get married, get a roommate, or get a raise (for more shoes of course).
Next, let’s talk about bags, wallets, and clutches. These have forever been a problem in my life and are in many women’s lives. At first, like many, I thought I needed to have a different bag to match every outfit, but now I’m less in a mess of bags that I have a system in place. So maybe this section should be started with a clean out of bags, wallets, clutches, etc. My rules are simple. A woman needs at least 2 medium bags: one black bag and one caramel brown bag. These are for day to day needs and should be fairly low key, not a lot of frills; this isn’t the place to insert fringe or glitter.
Black should be worn to dress up an outfit like a suit, and the brown should be worn with more casual outfits. Both of these bags should offer multiple ways to be carried and be applicable in multiple situations. Personally, I like a bag with a cross-body strap (great for shopping), and I also like a bag with a small hand handle (great for running in and out of meetings, for Starbucks, and for dates).
Next, women should own at least two small bags, like a clutch, for nights out, vacationing, concerts, or any time when not a lot will be needed other than some lipgloss, a phone, and a wallet. Women should own at least one large tote for traveling purposes, long days, and pool and beach trips. Women should also own a book bag, briefcase, messenger bag or purse chic enough to hold a laptop, some notebooks, and some pens. I have a Vera Bradley book bag which has been great for carrying things to and from school (like lesson plans, laptops, and portfolios). Finally, every woman should own a couple of statement bags. These are the bags that truly tell who you are as a person. This is where the glitter, the animal prints, the embossed leather, and the crazy designs all come in. This is a bag you can carry to really make a standard look pop because it’s a fun way to remind yourself, and others, of who you really are.
Lacey Mclemore. My goal is to finally rid the exclamation, “I have nothing to wear!” from every woman’s vocabulary once and for all. In order to do this it’s not only important to understand who you are, but to have the confidence to present yourself accordingly. In my articles, you’ll find reviews of both classic pieces as well as trends, how they can best suit your body type and style, as well as styling ideas. And, soon you’ll find nothing in your closet but loveable, versatile pieces which make you feel luxurious!
