Thread: How do you store your costumes?

I've recently organized my belly dance wardrobe (at least a lot of it) and was wondering; how does everyone store their costumes?
I bought a few plastic bins a little larger than a shoebox and put each bra and belt with it's accessories in there. he skirts I may divide into groups of colors and put into similar boxes. I like the concept for the bras and belts, but not so sure about the skirts. And then I have a couple costumes consisting of a bunch of parts that I may put into a larger version of the same box (like a filebox size). I like that they are see-through.

I store my bedlahs and egyptian costumes in a plastic storage tote (generally one costume per tote). I make sure they're completely dry before putting them into the tote. I also save all those little dessicant packs that seem to come in everything and throw one of those and a dryer sheet in with the costumes. The dryer sheet keeps it smelling nice. My tribal bras and other odds and ends I store in shoe boxes. Most of my skirts, harem pants, beledi dresses and ghawazi coats are on hangers. I think it would be better to store the skirts flat to avoid the bias stretch, but I don't have the room.

I liked the see-through aspect of the plastic boxes, but found my costumes to be nicer smelling when I started storing them in canvas (breathable) boxes. Actually, my SO just put up a bunch of girly coat/towel hooks on one wall so I could hang all my bras out in the open. I love seeing them like this everyday! And the belts are stored in the boxes below them (the more delicate ones in their own little pillow case). Skirts and veils are hung in their own closet and I have a separate chest of drawers for accessories, jewelry and practice gear.

But I don't really have a space issue since I've taken over the guest bedroom.

I have these drawers; they're made of canvas so the costume can breathe. I always air out my costumes after using them, but just in case there's any leftover moisture I just felt better knowing that air is circulating around them :)

Bed Bath & Beyond Product

I keep 2 in each drawer because they're deep enough. I have a drawer or two reserved for hip scarves, veils, and odds and ends. I keep jewelry on the top! It's worked really well for me.

When I went to my photo shoot I just pulled the drawers out and put them in my car so they transported nicely!

I have zippered bags which I made out of sheeting. Each bag has a bedlah or a dress in it along wiht all the accessories. Then they all go into large plastic bins, but not the kind which seal tightly.

The other thing I use when I can get my hands on them is the plastic bags which sheets come in.

Skirts, etc depend on what they are. Circle skirts and my LRose skirts hang. The lace ones go into the bins.

{{{HUGS}}}

I have some boxes for bra and belt sets. Got them at ACmoore. I think they were meant for scrap booking stuff.

some skirts get hung up, inside some cheap plastic garment bags.

Go go go organization!

Flattish plastic bins: all bras (used to) spoon upright in one, all belts (used to) overlap and lay on top of each other in another.

Hanging elements (skirts, dresses) in a closet with loads of little baggies of fresh lavender.

In the plastic bins, old knotted stockings filled with fresh lavender.

For long skirts/dresses, you can double hang them: 1 hanger for the top edge (clipped or draped) and the bottom part of the skirt draped on a 2nd hanger right next to the 1st hanger. This is how my vintage clothing dealer (sounds like my candyman, he is!) hangs long dresses. Excess costume parts and matching accessories in another container.

I keep my lycra costumes folder up in a dresser/chest of drawers and my full skirted costumes in a cedar chest at the foot of my bed! They are completely out of sight, but close at hand!!

Pillow cases so they don't snag on each other, or get stinky at work, at home I use the clear storage bins, that are on wheels and have 3 drawers each. Garage has garment racks lining the walls for skirts, folklore costumes and anything that needs hanging!! Needless to say, I can barely squeeze my car into the 2 car garage I have!! I'm also not the most organized person, so sometimes my car has to sit outside by itself,f::

I like to use packing cubes for my bra/belt sets. Here's a link: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F6SZSS]Amazon.com: Eagle Creek Pack-It® Cube: Apparel[/ame]

They have the benefit of letting the costume breathe, I can see through the mesh to see which costume is inside, and they stack neatly in a drawer.

I also use them for my Egyptian lycra dresses with matching accessories.

I used to use plastic bins, but I've come to prefer the packing cubes because when I need to take my costume with me and change after I get there (haflas, seminar shows, etc.) the packing cube is very easy and convenient to just take out of the drawer and pop into my dance tote. I really like the portability.

Originally Posted by Aradia

Pillow cases so they don't snag on each other, or get stinky at work, at home I use the clear storage bins, that are on wheels and have 3 drawers each. Garage has garment racks lining the walls for skirts, folklore costumes and anything that needs hanging!! Needless to say, I can barely squeeze my car into the 2 car garage I have!! I'm also not the most organized person, so sometimes my car has to sit outside by itself,f::

At least no longer with the trunk open! (for some reason that visual tickled my funny bone. Sad lonely car with trunk open...)

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I like to use packing cubes for my bra/belt sets. Here's a link: Amazon.com: Eagle Creek Pack-It® Cube: Apparel

They have the benefit of letting the costume breathe, I can see through the mesh to see which costume is inside, and they stack neatly in a drawer.

I also use them for my Egyptian lycra dresses with matching accessories.

I used to use plastic bins, but I've come to prefer the packing cubes because when I need to take my costume with me and change after I get there (haflas, seminar shows, etc.) the packing cube is very easy and convenient to just take out of the drawer and pop into my dance tote. I really like the portability.

Ooh, Shira, I LIIIKE these!!

Originally Posted by Azhia

At least no longer with the trunk open! (for some reason that visual tickled my funny bone. Sad lonely car with trunk open...)

I know, I'm surprised my car didn't just go find another owner!! Aradia is a sucky car owner, LOL!..l;,

I can't load Shira's cubes on Amazon, but they sound interesting. I didn't think of snugging all the bras up together to save space. Good idea Azhia. I don't have that many costumes right now, so I might enjoy having them live with only all their matching pieces. My bins are actually very portable -- they are small and have a built in handle. I've already used one as a carry around the house holder as I'm working on the costume.
OMG Tabitha, I love the idea of hanging them on the wall, like sparkley art. I don't have the wall space, but I was thinking of doing that with my jewelry.

hanging them on the wall!? sounds dusty! haha... it would be pretty but I cant imagine having to dust my costumes!!

I have a small separate closet. My bra/belt sets are on shelves and I hang skirts & caftans. My dress hangs, with the skirt draped over a separate hanger. I have a hanging shoe rack filled with accessories.

Veils are draped over hangers covered with small towels.

A few things -- like my assuit -- are in pillowcases on the shelves.

For those who keep lycra skirts in bins, cubes or drawers -- how do you keep them from wrinkling?

Lauren,

I roll them up with their matching chiffon veil to prevent snagging, but take them out the night of and hang them in the bathroom while I shower. The steam takes the wrinkles out...I would hang them but most are heavy and I don't want to stretch them out.

If for some reason I don't have time to shower before my show I plan ahead as best as possible and lay the skirt out for a day or two over my armchair. Not all of my costumes wrinkle, but there are several that are really bad.

I am just starting so I only have one costume,f:: . I hang my skirt and I keep my bra and belt in an actual shoe box. I have it wrapped in a cotton towel so the fringe doesn't tangle. Love hearing about how you store all your lovely costumes can't wait till I have a dance closet of my own...g.:

I have bedlah in plastic boxes with holes drilled in them for ventilation. Put accessories like jewelry and box of hairpins and safety pins in each box so they are ready to go.

Nonstretch stuff is on hangers. Velvet and lycra stored in canvas closet storage boxes with see-through fronts and folded in towels. Veils are on hangers in the closet. Shoes in shoe boxes. I have a small plastic set of drawers inside the closet for hip scarfs and miscellaneous. Troupe costumes and stuff I wear while playing with the band get the most use since I am not a professional performer. The other stuff comes out when I am prepping for a show or hafla and decide what type of costuming I want to wear. Some dancers costume themselves pretty casually for haflas but I figure that stage shows and haflas are my own time to wear the fancy stuff so go for it!!!

Souzan

Originally Posted by jetgirl

I can't load Shira's cubes on Amazon, but they sound interesting. I didn't think of snugging all the bras up together to save space. Good idea Azhia. I don't have that many costumes right now, so I might enjoy having them live with only all their matching pieces. My bins are actually very portable -- they are small and have a built in handle. I've already used one as a carry around the house holder as I'm working on the costume.
OMG Tabitha, I love the idea of hanging them on the wall, like sparkley art. I don't have the wall space, but I was thinking of doing that with my jewelry.

I love saying "Hi" to them all day. I just bought a bunch of mix-matched hooks from places like cost plus and it turned out to look really cute and shabby chic! Jewelry would be really cute hung up, esp. ethnic stuff. My partner looooves organizing, so this stuff is kinda fun for him. You should see the makeup and product cabinet he got me because my use (and abuse) of bathroom counter space was driving him nuts!

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

hanging them on the wall!? sounds dusty! haha... it would be pretty but I cant imagine having to dust my costumes!!

Dust! You know...I never thought of it. But I only have 7 costumes and I perform 4 to 5 nights a week, so they're in rotation quite a bit, not hangin' around long enough to get dusty I guess.


I'm now re-thinking how I hang up all my skirts

Gawd, I wish I were better at this, but I live in an old victorian-era house where closet space is at a premium and the basement is damp...so I've comandeered the ONE decent sized closet for my costumes and such (a point of grumpitude at times with the husband) so I dare not kvetch about how hard it is to make it all fit...

So...my answer...long stackable shelves, each about one bra/skirt high in clearance. When I come home from dancing, the costumes I just wore get laid across the top of the shelves to air out (bras hung on hooks over head) and when they're dry, they get folded or rolled up (with chiffon or pillow case snag buffers as needed) and placed on their shelves, two or three to a shelf (the shelves are long, so they are side by side, not stacked.) accessories (gloves, gauntlets, and other little thingies) are stored in boxes on one of the two smaller shelves that hangs from the wall above the shelves in the closet, and dance shoes are stored on the other shelf. Fancy shoes that can be worn for outdoor gigs are on the floor under the lowest shelf. Folkloric costumes, dresses, extra skirts, and other assorted costume bits I don't use very often are either hung on the cross bar or stored in suitcases that are kept stacked in the closet as well. My wedding dress and certain other formal wear also is stored in this closet, hung up. (Seemed only fair....) Costumes for my troupe (aside from those currently issued to troupe members/being kept at their own homes/suitcases) are stored in my attic.

Phew!

Originally Posted by tabitha

Dust! You know...I never thought of it. But I only have 7 costumes and I perform 4 to 5 nights a week, so they're in rotation quite a bit, not hangin' around long enough to get dusty I guess.
I'm now re-thinking how I hang up all my skirts

Haha, well then it might work for you! I don't dance that much and my allergies are unbearable-so I dust my bedroom floor (what you can see of it) every night before bed....and my shelves and other electronics at least once a week.