Thread: Storing and Organizing Costumes

Greetings!

Ok, so I haven't slept on my bed for weeks...because it's covered in my costume stuff and I don't know what to do with it! I'm probably the world's worst at organizing and housework though--I'd rather be dancing or outside with the fur kids.

Does anyone have tips for organizing dancewear that keeps it handy and accessible, but out of the way?

Do you hang your hip scarves? Box your bedleh?

And make up..? mine is in a conglomeration of ziploc bags and microcentrifuge tubes (for sterile eyeshadows) and it's impossible to find anything quickly.

Help please!

In an ideal world, my costumes would live in one section of a walk-in wardrobe/dressing room WITH A DOOR, with the bedlehs individually stored on their own shelves and their skirts and accessories in a little drawer underneath. I hang circle skirts but everything else I fold or roll - I haven't got room and anyway, most of my skirts are stretch and I don't want to hang them.

I have a covered garment rack like this Walmart.com: Whitmor White 36-inch Clothes Closet: Storage & Organization in my dance studio for costumes. I hang the bedlahs and skirts with these types of hangers Bed Bath & Beyond - Blonde Suit Hangers With Clips (Set Of 5). I know some people don't like to hang lycra beaded skirts because of stretching, but I've never noticed a problem with mine. If a costume has accessories like armbands or headbands, they go in a ziplock sandwich bag which gets clipped to the hanger.

I also have a small dresser where I store all of my practice/teaching wear, hip scarves and veils.

I keep my coin belts folded up in a draw... I would love to have individual clothe baggies for them with a pic of each one on the outside (or a see through panel) but I haven't seen anything like that yet.

What I'm planning to get for my bedlah are some cloth shoe boxes from ikea, they are collapsable, stackable and have a clear panel at the front to see contents.

My lycra dresses and skirts I just hang... I haven't found an alternate way of storing that doesn't result in creases or crinkles.

So I either hang, put in a draw and compartmentalize or put on a shelf and stack.

My makeup is a mess too, so can't help you there

If you have space for more furniture I used a cabinet from Ikea. My boyfriend saw this ikea hacker: emily's gorgeous shoe storage so he bought a cabinet. He realized it was the wrong size so he gave it to me. I store all my BD stuff in it. The best part is that you can put the shelves really close together so you can jam a lot in there.

Oh, here is the link to the cabinets. the best part is that they come in so many sizes!

IKEA | Built-in kitchens | AKURUM/RATIONELL system | AKURUM | Wall cabinet with 2 doors

(Warning! I have, at times, been called OCD.) ..l;,

I live in a little one bedroom and everything is in a trunk I snagged at a yard sale. I store my costumes in the plastic zippered bag-thingees in which sheet sets are sold; I use the smaller bag-thingees for skirts/harem pants/tops/etc. My hip scarves are individually in ziploc bags and then combined into one large bag-thingee. My jewelry is bagged with the costume to which it belongs or with like pieces, i.e. all coin jewelry is in one bag - and of course! the earrings are bagged separate from the necklace from the bracelet and then they are placed in one bag.

To be frank, this has evolved as I have gathered more pieces; everything used to be in a jumble and it worked fine for me but then I kept adding to my bd collection and I would become frustrated bc I couldn't find what I needed, especially if I was in a rush. Or my coin jewelry would all be stuck together when I needed to wear it and I would have to take precious time to detangle it. Thus, my now anal-retentive nature. ,r:;

PS- my makeup is in a box I bought at Target. I couldn't find the exact match but this one looks way better anyway, with all its neato compartments:
Caboodles Black Pro Cosmetic Case - 12.0'' : Target

I don't bring the whole case with me usually as I do my makeup at home- I only bring what I need for touch ups.

I store all my bedlahs in round hat boxes... A different color and design for each costume. They only cost$4 and they have nice rope handles for transporting, and look pretty stacked up( I.e. They can be used as decorations!). I can put sachets in the boxes to absorb moisture & keep my costumes smelling nice. I also keep safety pins, accessories, and sometimes matching thread in the box with the bedlah. I've found this storage method to be an awesome way to keep things organized and in good condition.

Now, my hip scarves are another matter entirely... Sine I rarely wear them except to class, I just pile them up in a pretty basket in the corner... Where they've totally begin to overflow!

Originally Posted by maranajla

PS- my makeup is in a box I bought at Target. I couldn't find the exact match but this one looks way better anyway, with all its neato compartments:
Caboodles Black Pro Cosmetic Case - 12.0'' : Target

I don't bring the whole case with me usually as I do my makeup at home- I only bring what I need for touch ups.

I have this case! It is a great way to keep your makeup organized. They also have smaller ones that you can use for transporting the few pieces that you may need to bring with you. I just got one for my lil sis for christmas since she was drooling over mine.

I keep my skirts folded inside out in a big tub, cholis are neatly folded in stackable plastic drawers that fit in the closets, silk skirts are loosely folded in those hanging sweater comparments, and costumes are in the phantastic clear-plastic-front shoeboxes from IKEA. I love these boxes.

Just got an enormous metal foldout-tiered toolbox that I need to spray paint (once it gets warm again, so that I can go outside) as a makeup box.

For makeup I bought a plastic Stanley toolbox - about 9x13 - with 10 movable compartments within and a clear lid. It cost me somewhere around $15.

I have clear plastic totes for my costumes and bedlah. I don't hang my lycra stuff. I don't hang my bedlahs. I hang circle skirts and veils and I keep a large tote for hip scarves and other misc stuff. I keep all the accessories for each costume with the costumes in it's tote. I can stack all the totes easily on top of each other and they are clear so I can see through them. I have a hanging roll up make up bag with 4 separate zipper compartments for my makeup. I got that from Mary Kay but I think Avon has something similar. Other make up stuff I have a shoe box size tote for.

Right now all my bedlehs and such are in their own plastic bags ( sorry) or the plastic garment bags they came in. I do need to organise everything a little better though! I was thinking of checking out the Container Store to see what kind of options there were.

I have a large sweater drying rack that I got a Target with three levels of mesh shelves. I usually end up laying all of my bedlahs on the shelves so air can circulate around them. I did try to keep them all in rubbermaid totes in a neat stack, but I was afraid they would start to smell stale if left in there for too long. I hang my skirts and veils. I keep all of my other dance stuff in ziplocks in these totes now.

I was told by a fellow dancer once to buy dessicants for the totes to absorb moisture. I have never found them. Any one know where to buy dessicants??

I always feel so happy when I get to organize all of my costuming. I just love to look at it all! Thinking about it makes me want to run upstairs and refold hipscarves.... but I gotta go back to work!

I use clear plastic shoebox sized containers for bedlahs, cholis, hipscarves and accessories...they stack nice and you can see what's in them. Silk and chiffon items get hung and complete dance costumes that have lycra or stretch skirts go into larger plastic containers that I put on one of those hanging shelf systems for closets.

Bedlahs and dresses are stored in individual packaging - usually bags which I have made out of sheets which have a zipper on the top, sometimes the bags bed linens come in - and then into large, stackable rubbermaid bins.

Skirts and veil are hung. At least circle skirts. My lace Abla trumpet skirts and the like go into a bag and then into a bin.

One thing I always insist on is that after I wear a costume, I spritz it with something to deodorize it and then lat it air out for at least 24 hours. More is I am living some where damp.

{{{HUGS}}}

I have a wide Elfa cart from Container Store with 8 1-runner mesh drawers (with liners so beading doesn't snag on the mesh). The drawers can hold one or two costumes each. The cart rolls inside my closet. I like this solution because my costumes are protected & organized but still get a lot of air flow around them as opposed to being in boxes. Circle skirts & veils hang on hangers.

I use an over the door thingy with pockets for my hip scarves and some veils. I just roll them and they fit nicely. (Silk veils I hang.) For most everything else, I have a wardrobe like laura2 mentioned, but wider. Mine is from Target and came with hanging shelves. It was about $40.

I store all my scarves and veils in a hanging shoe organizer.

For makeup, I use an insulated lunch bag with multiple compartments. It keeps everything from turning to mush in a hot car and keeps it organized.

To keep my coin belts from tangling, I lay them flat on a piece of fabric and then roll it all up (jelly roll fashion) then tie with a piece of ribbon.

Originally Posted by erindances

I was told by a fellow dancer once to buy dessicants for the totes to absorb moisture. I have never found them. Any one know where to buy dessicants??

Of course! They are the free gift whenever you buy a new purse or pair of shoes! ..l;, So if you have 6 costume totes you have to buy, well then it's time for 6 new purses...

I *swear* I didn't get divorced just so I'd have a whole second closet... but it was a nice perk! As closets go, it's a crappy one, tucked under a staircase and weirdly shaped, but I'm still grateful to have it.

I hang my coverups, folkloric dresses, and most of my skirts (along with any related vests or u-tops). Dresses and heavily beaded lycra get their bottom halves draped over a second hanger, padded with a pillowcase or dishtowel.

Bra/belt or bra/belt-with-attached-skirts are in plastic boxes on the shelves. The top shelf just for hairpieces and wig care items!

Under the shelves are my Shamadan and other props.

I have a hanging thingy, meant for shoes, that I keep sleeves, headbands, teacher sandals, slippers, accessories, and tummy covers in.

I also have some hanging jewelry organizers that hold zills, extra beads, safety pins, etc.

In my practice room I have a hanging over-the-door shoe rack for zills, slippers/teaching sandals, rolled up hipscarves, etc.

All my jewelry goes into my regular jewelry armoire.

Originally Posted by _Sarai_

Of course! They are the free gift whenever you buy a new purse or pair of shoes! ..l;, So if you have 6 costume totes you have to buy, well then it's time for 6 new purses...

That's what I was going to say, except I love shoes!..l;,

Erin, I am SURE Evan would understand the need to purchase shoes/purses for the dessicants - really, it's an investment in the investment (cossies)! Six purchases would not equal the cost of one replacement costume, right?
..l;,..l;,,r:;..g.:

Originally Posted by _sarai_

of course! They are the free gift whenever you buy a new purse or pair of shoes! ..l;, so if you have 6 costume totes you have to buy, well then it's time for 6 new purses...

love it!!!

Stackable ventilated cheap plastic boxes in my closet-lots of them, all in danger of falling on my head and killing me at any moment.

I use fabric drawers from IKEA in stackable wooden racks. I didn't want to use plastic; I wanted to let the costumes breathe and I was afraid keeping them in plastic would allow odors and stains to "bloom."

The drawers are lined with white cotton flour-sack dish towels. After I air the bedlah, each is placed in its own drawer. Accessories like armbands, wristlets, etc., are rolled and placed in the bra cups to keep them from getting crushed, then the bra is folded in half. Belts are folded in a way that works around the beading and rhinstones as best I can. The dishtowel is folded up and over the top.

Stretchy skirts and things that would grow if they were hung also go into the drawers. Everything else is hung. Hip scarves go on multiple-hook belt hangers. Most veils are hung; the silk ones are organized in plastic baggies. And I have a cool leather-look hatbox for my hair flowers.

Originally Posted by BrynjaBuhund

Ok, so I haven't slept on my bed for weeks...because it's covered in my costume stuff and I don't know what to do with it!

I'm just curious about where you sleep?

PS. For make-up I use this:
1791 - ClearView 3 Drawer Organizer
They are really cheap at Big lots and the Dollar General.

But now I want this because the drawers snap shut, so in theory you could grab a tray and go: 3-Tier Scrapbook Chest

Thanks everyone for the organizing ideas!

Maranajla and KDizzle--I bought the Carboodles case. It's perfect! Thanks for the suggestion. :)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I'm just curious about where you sleep?

In the dog room; each of the furkids has his or her own twin mattress on the floor. (no, I wasn't born in a barn but I crawled there as fast as I could!) Andalee, how funny--I just bought a similar three-drawer unit today and I love it! I'm using it for hair accessories... I think.

Lauren--your closet sounds like heaven!

I soooo wish there was an IKEA in my area, their products are so clever.

I actually have one of those behind-the-door shoe holders that I'm barely using--that will be perfect for my hip scarves, coin belts, etc.

If my collection expands any, I'll probably have to buy one of those free-standing wardrobes, but for now I think I'll look into some storage boxes. I really like the hatbox idea too! A little gift shop here sells really pretty hat boxes, so now I have an excuse to pick some up.