After years and years (dare I say, decades? Cause then I feel really old haha!) of cultivating my current wardrobe, buying and selling all different types of fashion-related items, and a brief stint assisting a photographer on editorial shoots, I’ve come across several items that I consider must-haves for any well-stocked closet, and in case any fashion emergencies should arise. Some things are more specifically helpful during photo shoots, others are great just for keeping your closet in tip-top shape, and others are geared for comfort.

For photo shoots
Garment steamer – Mine is actually on loan from my boyfriend, and it’s infinitely easier to manage than an iron. I’ve been looking in to getting a portable version for shoots but it’s just the best for getting wrinkles out in a hurry while prepping everything up.
Portable fan – a MUST for temporarily cooling yourself off during a photo shoot in summer. It also will give your hair some movement for a close-up/headshot. I don’t recommend the ones with water reservoirs because they can mess up your makeup and cause your mascara to run.
A repair kit – You always want to have a small kit on hand, regardless of the situation, although this can particularly come in handy when travelling. This kit should contain safety pins (for fastening necklaces, etc), spare buttons of varying sizes, a needle and thread kit (which I usually grab at the dollar store), invisible/fashion tape (double-sided) – this stuff is great for fallen hems and low or gaping necklines; a lint roller, a small pair of scissors, and a suit brush. The brush I didn’t know I needed, but I’ve used it frequently to clean off shoes, pet hair and the like.

For maintenance/comfort
Fabreze Fabric Spray – I’m a fan of limiting the laundering of clothing until necessary. While this isn’t exactly the easiest feat in summer time, I find that if I’ve only worn an item for a few hours, a few spritzes of Fabreze makes them smell all nice and fresh again.
Fabric Shaver – This little guy is indispensable in autumn and winter, when it’s time to break out fuzzy scarves and nubby sweaters that have just gotten a bit too pilly. A little pass-by of this handy tool will remove all of those dreadful little balls that accumulate under arms and where necklaces rubbed.
Dr. Scholl’s everything- I use from this line the insoles, the moleskin-like tape to add to shoes with rough spots, the arch supports to tuck in to heels, and the no-rub balm if I can ever remember to use it, on my heels before a night out. I’ve also read a tip from Katie Maloney of Vanderpump Rules to wear a maxi pad inside your heels for long nights spent dancing and scheming.. I’ve yet to try this out, but it makes total sense!

When it comes to storage, I have a few invaluable pieces from IKEA that I highly recommend, not only for their functionality, but because the prices truly can’t be beat. This clothing rack, the Rigga, is a life saver when prepping for shoots, but even if I didn’t do what I do, I would still use it just for getting outfits figured out for work/weekend/trips, etc. The other is the Mulig, a clothing valet which is great for planning your outfit the night before. It’s got a tray for accessories and hooks for hanging clothing or your handbag.

For clutches, I’ve converted an old entertainment center of Mark’s that has 2 short shelves and one larger one, and it’s perfect because it has built-in bookends, so everything just stays put when I place it in there.

Moving on to my actual close configuration, I have my dresses and skirts hanging in our master walk-in closet, along with Mark’s things. In the closet room, which Mark has awesomely let me name our spare room, I have hanging my coats, blazers, tops and belts. Folded on the shelves above are jeans, sweaters, and cardigans, and I have two baskets with tights and rolled tank tops.

Sorry for the picture quality here, I do plan on video soon to show everything at the same time, so be on the lookout for it! But here you get the general idea of my set-up.
My scarves and hats are on a metal utility cart (also borrowed from the boyfriend), and shoes are in the closet, on a metal shoe rack, and on the floor wrapping around the guest bed and under anything that will have them! 😉

My jewelry is mostly on wooden hangers, hung across one of my closet doors, turned sideways. Not ideal, but it’s what I came up with in a pinch.

Lastly, I will say that a surprisingly useful tool I’ve found is the garment bags from Rent the Runway that come with my unlimited shipments! Garment bags can be purchased at a number of places, but these ones are lightweight and free, and so useful when traveling to a shoot or on vacation when I’ve got something fancy that I want to keep wrinkle-free and protected from the elements.

I hope this gave you some ideas on how to organize your closet, or some helpful additions to make getting dressed a little easier. I’d love to hear about your closet set-up or anything that I may have missed! 😀