My Love Affair With Belts { and subsequent storage issues}

Very simply, I have a love affair with belts. Actually I have a love affair with a lot of things; sunglasses, shoes, jewelry, pink lipstick, gift wrap and anything black and white. My latest quandary though is what to do about my belt passion. Let me be honest here. I am not looking for a cure. All I really need is a better way to store them. I keep reading that I should edit my closet and if I haven't worn it for a year I should get rid of it. Really? I have tried this with varying levels of success. Some things, though, either have a way of multiplying or I just can't break up with them and move on. Belts are one of those things that I hold on to for years. They have a rather short life cycle. Waist accentuating or hip slung, skinny or wide,western or urban,understated, or all out glitz - it doesn't really matter. Each of them have a way of reappearing on the fashion front every few years. A belt is never really totally out of fashion and  doesn't seem to take up much space. As a result it is easy to justify holding on to it. Now occasionally I will find something I like waaaaaay more than what I already have. This I call my replacement purchase :) and I can let go of my previous friend rather easily. More often than not, though, my new love becomes another addition to my collection. 

This is the result of too little editing and too much belt love -

I have belts hanging here

 

and here. But that's not all.

 

 I live in a  rambling old house with teeny tiny closets so when we moved in eleven years ago I converted the smallest bedroom - and it is almost too small to even call it a bedroom into my walk in dressing room. Because the house is old I don't have all of the cool built ins of a newer home. I would love big pull out drawers with dividers for all of my belts and jewelry like I saw on The Rachel Zoe project or at Ikea in their big closet models. I would also love a huge wall with hooks so I could see everything at a glance.  Alas, wall space is  at a premium in my vintage space although I do have about three feet floor to ceiling that I could work with. 

These current belt hook bars really aren't cutting it for me. They look a bit messy, they hang one on top of another and the whole thing lacks that inspired touch. I am thinking of maybe putting up a painted peg board. Any suggestions are welcome. I am kind of hitting a creative wall with this. 

 I like to keep my favorite belts out where they are easily viewable. I know it looks like quite a few faves but these really are my chosen go- to belts and they work well with everyday looks. I have others that either don't hang well, are seasonal or total glam for parties and holidays. These I have organized into a great set of Ikea shoe organizers called skubbs. 

 

with the drawer inserts  You can't beat these prices and they are so easy to use. Plus they come in black, white or orange. I, of course, had to go with the black and white but I like them mixed together. Then I labeled each drawer accordingly. 

I am one of those out of sight out of mind kind of people so the tag reminders are a necessity for me. They also keep me organized and nudge me to put things away where they belong. Everyone thinks I'm neat and tidy and orderly. I am so not. That's why I do this.

 

So now this has become my overflow storage of the things I can't part with but still love. I had one drawer left at the bottom that I tagged for receipts. I'm thinking of adding another set or two of these skubbs. I could use them for costume jewelry or tights and leggings. I could also see them used in a craft room. You just need a bar to hang them from.

As for the tags. I printed them on my computer and then used my Making Memories tag maker and rims to complete the look. The tag maker took a little practice and I learned that I need to use card stock not just scrapbook paper but now that I have it mastered this little beauty has almost replaced my label maker.