Clothing Storage Tip of the Day - Cramped Closets

Don’t overcrowd your closets. Proper air circulation is critical for preserving fabrics. If you choose to store infrequently worn or off-season garments in a guest room closet to avoid overcrowding your closet, be sure to open the closet doors and leave a fan on in the room from time to time and when you go on vacation. Alternatively, Garde Robe provides a Seasonal Clothing Storage Service.

Clothing Storage Tip of the Day - Leather

Leather items (handbags, footwear and garments) are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb a lot of moisture and can take longer to dry completely. After cleaning, keep leather pieces outside the closet for a few days before placing them in the closet. Items placed in the closet too soon could cause mildew and contaminate the closet.

Chuck Horst, Garde Robe's Textile Preservation Expert, on Luggage Cleaning

READ IT HERE

The Quest For "It" finds some extra closet space

If you are not already familiar with the fabulous Tia Walker and The Quest For "It" blog, then you are seriously missing out. If your "it" is endless closet space, Tia's got your back: Clothing Storage is "It."

Clothing Storage Tip of the Day - Clean vs. "Clean"

Never put worn items back in the closet next to clean garments. Even if a worn garment is “clean,” your body oils and perfume/cologne act as a magnet for material-damaging insects such as moths. Putting the worn garment back in the closet is an invitation, and these unwelcomed guests will create havoc and irreparable damage. Don’t kid yourself that a few pieces of cedar and a lavender sachet will keep your closet free from insects indefinitely. Read more here:

Seasonal Clothing Storage Tip of the Day

Never store clothing in the thin plastic bags from your dry cleaner. Always remove the plastic garment bags immediately. These bags do not allow the garment to breathe properly, which leads to fume fading and discoloration. Uggh!! Does your Spring/Summer wardrobe need a safe place to hibernate? Garde Robe does it all. Read more about it...

Seasonal Clothing Storage Tip of the Day

To avoid distortion and stretching, never store vintage, embellished gowns, knits or delicate items on hangers; always store these items flat, wrapped individually in acid-free tissue, and place them in a breathable, archival box. Or let the experts at Garde Robe do it all for you. Read more here: Seasonal Storage For Clothing

Seasonal, Spring/Summer Clothes Storage

Every dry cleaner in NYC will store your clothes, but where do they keep the clothes is the question? In a damp basement? Cardboard boxes? Do they insist you clean garments even if they are clean and send you a bill? If you treasure what's in your closet, Garde Robe is the service for you. Read more HERE

Decades Denim Launches

Garde Robe congratulates Cameron Silver of Decades on the launch of Decades Denim.

Read more here

Garment Care 101

Garment care is an essential aspect of clothing storage. It is immensely important that you treat your clothing with respect and protect it from a wide array of elements that could potentially damage your wardrobe. This is the heart of Garde Robe as a business. We ensure, as a luxury organizer and clothing storage operation that your garments are protected and kept in archival condition.

It is vital, however, that every individual know how to properly care for the garments they have in their closets, drawers, and boxes within their homes and businesses. FabricLink's Fabric Care Center is a great online resource that teaches users the ins and outs of different fabrics, how to care for them, and how to understand their behavior. Fabrics have a mind of their own and can be pretty tricky!

Check out FabricLink's Care Center here and take a few minutes to educate yourself about caring for your wardrobe.

Transitioning Your Wardrobe From Summer to Fall

Fall is upon us and it is time to bring out that fall wardrobe to complement the weather change. Check out "The Fix Edition" article below quoting 2 Garde Robe employees' suggestions on how to gradually transition your closet and wardrobe from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter.

"Pre-Fall Prep

There’s a little known secret to looking stylish: preparation. Focusing your energy on tackling the smaller details allows less room for expensive mistakes or wardrobe mishaps. Here’s a rundown of fixes for transitioning into the new season that will prepare you for next week’s fall-fashion item.


Closet Organization

Doug Greenberg, VP of sales, and Damion West, wardrobe manager and stylist, of Garde Robe, a premier clothing storage and valet service suggest the following ways to get your wardrobe in order:
• Update your closet in two stages: Right now begin storing summery dresses and beachwear. Then, in late-October, do your lightweight layering pieces or silk garments. Always try to clean clothing before storing it.
• Clear plastic hanging bags from the dry cleaners are the worst – the plastic emits a gas that can cause discoloration (in particular, they turn white shirts yellow).
• Store your clothes in muslin and canvas hanging bags or acid-free archival boxes for folded items. Garde Robe uses highly recommend supplies from Margaret’s Cleaners.


Pre-Fall Prep


• Shoes should always be stored in boxes that allow you to easily view them. You can find options at containerstore.com or shoetrap.com.
• Elizabeth W. Shoe Inserts help to deodorize and retain shape of shoes. Always make sure to have shoe trees.
• Get dust bags for storing and protecting your bags and shoes. Online at bagadocious.com.
• Elizabeth W. Drawer Liners in cedar or lavender will help deter material-damaging insects. Moth traps are also effective as they attract and kill adult moths, which prevents them from laying the larvae that actually chomp your clothes.




• Always replenish your stocking drawer. Use the elastic for pony tail holders.
To inquire about their services, call 212-255-3163 or go to Garderobeonline.com. The Fix Edition members will receive a complimentary storage for up to 20 pairs of spring/summer shoes, a complimentary in-home closet/wardrobe consultation, and a welcome gift with moth-prevention sachets. Just mention the The Fix Edition when you call or enter TFE in the "referred by" box at the become a member link."

Check out The Fix Edition here

Get It Together with Garde Robe's Personal Valet

Chris McKenry started Get It Together LA! with the desire to help people overcome their clutter and benefit from a more organized life. Now he's blogged about Garde Robe's fabulous service that's available in southern California.

"Heading to your Sun Valley residence and don’t want to pack? Let Garde Robe know what you need and the items will arrive to meet you cleaned and ready for a night on the town."

Thanks for the shoutout, Chris! Check out the rest of the blog post here.

Shop Share And Compare - On Your iOS Device

It seems like Apple is considering getting in to the emerging trend of combining fashion and technology. On Thursday, the iDevice maker extraordinaire file two patents - one describing a virtual closet with social connectivity, allowing "friends to see each other's Virtual Closets, recommend outfits to one another, recommend fashion items to buy, recommend fashion items to get rid of, recommend outfits to wear at a particular event, share and borrow each other's fashion items, or can otherwise suitably provide a social networking environment through the Virtual Closet," according to the patent application.

The other is geared towards high-fashion, describing "an integrated [app] available on an electronic device [that] can provide information for promotional and invitation-only events, allow a user to browse and search through fashion items, recommend fashion items to purchase based on outfits desired by the user, check for the availability of particular fashion items, and view or providing ratings or reviews for stores or fashion items."

With Gilt Groupe popularizing the concept of invitation-only online sales, Apple could really be on to something. After all, clothes are all about social expression and with the ubiquitous nature of iDevices, these two seem like a match made in heaven! I can't wait to see what these patents turn into - in the mean time, check out NY Mag's list of Top Ten Fashion Apps here.

Apple Developing Social Fashion Shopping Technology - Information Week

How To Mix High And Low Fashions

Check out this great clip on NBC New York! You don't need to wear designer clothes head-to-toe to get a great look...

Style expert Constance White shows how to pull off mixing designer labels with chain-store basics.

The Streamlined and the Fantastical Meet

From the haunting beauty of Ricardo Ticsi’s creations for the house of Givenchy, to the more demure cropped looks donned on the runway at Valentino, Fall Couture 2010 seemed to be where modern reality and wild musings shared the same creative consciousness.

This season included silhouettes that were derived from experimental layering, like those seen at Alexis Mabille, and dramatic draping as observed at Christian Dior. Designers emphasized textiles as well. Sumptuous organza, structured gabardine and beautifully crafted Chantilly lace were all on display.

Here is a sampling of some particularly striking designs:

An embellished skeletal-like gown at Givenchy

A dramatic and demure cropped look at Valentino

A well layered suit ensemble at Alexis Mabille

Simple cut-out elegance at Bouchra Jarrar

An Edenic creation at Christian Dior

Bold ruching at Elie Saab

Classic and modern at Chanel

A structured and whimsical look at Jean Paul Gaultier

A profusion of sequins at Armani Prive

Just Luxe Finds Just The Right Luxury Travel Service

Affluent lifestyle guide reviewed our services and added us to the list of Just Luxe City Guides for Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Diego. They noted that our

"unique and convenient luggage-free valet system is the first service of its kind to hit the market and has been endorsed by celebrities such as Ivanka Trump, and utilized by fashion designers such as Oscar De La Renta."

And a great service "for any trendsetter, who is in constant pursuit of the latest fashions."

Check it out here.

L.A. Times Finds Endless Closet Space In Cyber Closet

Wooo! The L.A. Times wrote us up in their blog on Tuesday!

"Trying to stay well-dressed is hard work, especially when you open your closet door and out tumbles an avalanche of wire hangers, stilettos and a precariously placed box that clocks you in the head.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have an infinite closet and a valet to handle it all for you?"

Yes it would!!! And that's what Garde Robe is here for =)

Clothing Production Done Democratically

I just stumbled upon (no, not using StumbleUpon) a post about a new site called Garmz.com, an Austrian-based startup that allows designers to upload designs, voted upon by readers, with the most popular designs being produced by the website.

It seems the most difficult part of breaking into the fashion world is transforming ideas into products, and that's where Garmz.com comes to the rescue.

"Starting a fashion label is a long and expensive process with a wicked learning curve. Add a lack of adequate outlets to begin production and it becomes even more of a daunting task. In fact, the difference between the successful designers and never-weres can be traced to this stage in development. [...] The one crucial difference we see in Garmz is that they seem to already have their production chain mapped out with promises that they will produce winning pieces through their vendors in Eastern Europe and sell finished items on the site. As well, fashion designers can set their own selling prices, margins, and cuts per sale; an open model that favors the creator." - Afingo.com

I can imagine a site like this helping to launch successful designers who otherwise
might not get that break they so desperately need. The site is still in preview right now, but promises to be up and running in August. Garmz.com

San Diego and Las Vegas get Luxury Wardrobe Storage and Valet Service

I just found some more coverage we've recently received online!

San Diego Modern Luxury highlighted our partnership with Margaret's, "whose garment care is so legendary we know at least one NYC editor who mails her clothes to them for cleaning." Check it out here!

The Las Vegas Review-Journal called our service a "godsend" for those who travel frequently and "loathe the packing process, no matter how well-coordinated their system."

I think our vice president puts it best: “Our clients are definitely passionate about what they have in their closets,” Greenberg says. “You wouldn’t buy a Bentley and park it in a cheap garage.” Find the full article here.

Wardrobe Management Service Helps Well-Dressed Texans

"Does your passion for fashion exceed your closet space? Is packing a chore when you’ve got a black-tie event in Miami one week and skiing in Gstaad the next?" The Star-Telegram asks these questions in the feature, Things We Love for June and July. If you answered yes to either (or both!) then the Telegram has the solution for you: Garde Robe.

They always say everything's bigger in Texas - wardrobes too! Thanks for the coverage :)

San Diego Stylist Shares Luxury Wardrobe Storage Service

Mahjuba Levine is San Diego’s own reverent personal and fashion wardrobe stylist. With Mahjuba’s extensive background in fashion and styling, her work for print has appeared in various local and national publications. In 2002,Closet Therapy was launched and since continued to help many women and men build there confidence through creating a wardrobe that is essential to their everyday life.

Mahjuba recently had a chance to check out Garde Robe in San Diego, one of our four new locations. "This is a dream come true for fashion devotees with extensive seasonal wardrobe, priceless evening wear and accessories," says Mahjuba. "I am often working in closets with limited space and amazed at what people can fit into these spaces. Garde Robe will be the future in how we store and take care of our cherished wardrobe." Well, it looks like the future is here!

Check out her blog here.

Want a diva wardrobe but don't have the closet storage for one?

That's what Candice Shih @ The Orange County Register asked. Her answer? Garde Robe!!! Highlighting our partnership with Margaret's Cleaners, OCR has a nice little rundown on what we do, with our services now available in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

Thanks for the coverage Candice!

Online co. promises 'endless closet space'

Hop On To Your Cyber Closet And Request Your Chanel Suit

The Daily Basics put up an article yesterday titled Just how far are you willing to go to organize your wardrobe? A good list for those looking for a solution to their closet chaos - and last, but not least, on the list? Garde Robe!

To quote The Daily Basics, "It might just be worth it. [...] As a matter of fact, it might be downright practical." I couldn't have said it better myself; although I would have said it's definitely worth it ;-)

Garde Robe Turns Endless Closet Space Into a Reality!

I just found a nice little write-up of us over at TheLuxurySpot.com.

Thanks, Corinne, for the good word! While we do make endless closet space a reality, we try not to break the laws of physics in the process. :)

Garde Robe Turns Endless Closet Space Into a Reality!

Suprising Things You Can Rent Online

Bobbi Dempsey over at MainStreet.com recently posted a list of the more unusual things available to rent online. Our favorite? Closet space via Garde Robe!

Check out the list here.

Garde Robe on Better TV

Garde Robe was featured on a recent Better TV segment highlighting high tech fashion fixes. Lifestyle expert Judy Goss talks about the wardrobe "that does everything for you."

Check out the video here!

Garde Robe featured on MSN in Spain - BUENO!

Garde Robe no sólo te guarda la ropa de la temporada anterior, te la cataloga y lleva a la tintorería. También dispone de un servicio de primera clase para los viajeros y empresarios con espíritu de Willy Fogg. A través de tu cyber armario (te diseñan un catálogo virtual de tu guardarropa), escoges la ropa que quieres para ese viaje, y ellos te preparan la maleta, la envían a tu hotel o residencia, la deshacen, cuelgan y cuando te marchas, repiten el mismo proceso. ¿Quién quiere maletas cuando puedes prescindir de ellas?