Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Tights Storage

I have received a request to discuss the best way to store tights.  I also happen to be in the market for better storage myself.

If yours are in a jumbled mess in a drawer somewhere, please stop it.  It's just mean to your tights and it must take you forever to find what you need.  AND there are so many easy and inexpensive ways to organize that crazy mess.

I think your best option will come down to two things: 1) whether you have more available drawer space or closet space; and 2) how aesthetically pleasing you want your storage solution to be.

Here is pretty much what I currently do:


I have one pair per baggie in a drawer.  Each baggie is labeled with a general description of what is inside, and each baggie is closed.  The labeling helps when trying to distinguish among black, navy, and dark grey when the sun is barely out.  Keeping the baggies closed prevents the pairs from falling out.

Upsides: protection from snags, separated from other pairs, easy to find and grab what I need

Downsides: baggies do not stay put (they slide around and quickly become a jumbled mess inside the drawer), not aesthetically pleasing, extra steps to put them away (if I don't fold, roll and put each pair back into its baggie immediately after washing, I end up with a jumbled mess anyway), storage in sealed plastic may not be best for tights in the long run
 
Here are 6 more options to consider:

1. Tights on hangers (idea found here)


Upsides: attractive (especially if you have a range of colors), save drawer space, easy to find what you need in the same place as the rest of your outfit, tights can breathe

Downsides: extra steps to put them away (you will have to put them away immediately or end up with a mess on your bed/dresser/floor/dusty treadmill), takes up hanging space, may not be as attractive with 15 pairs of black and grey tights

If you want to do this, here's some good advice from a Vogue Australia commenter on how properly fold tights on a hanger (similar to scarves): "Fold the tights in half over the hanger (not so there is one leg on each half but lengthways). You will have the waistband of the stockings and both feet hanging over one side, and the other side will be a loop. Pull the stocking feet and waistband through the loop. Pull gently on the feet/waistband and voila you should have them hanging in a nice knot."

2. Tights in organizer cubes (found here)





Upsides:  can easily see what you have, could be stored in a drawer or on a shelf in a closet or wardrobe, could find some that match your decor, fast and easy to put away each pair in each section

Downsides: could snag tights if material is rough, takes up drawer or shelf space, may not be attractive, limited by the number of available cubbies


3. Tights in drawer dividers


Upsides: can easily see what you have, frees up closet space, fast and easy to put away each pair in each section

Downsides: takes up drawer space, could snag tights if material is rough, limited by the number of available cubbies (though they are often customizable)

4. Tights in a hanging shoe rack


This one is attractive, and is meant for over a door, but they also come in clear plastic can can hang from the bar in your closet.

Upsides: save closet and drawer space, easy access to each pair, protection from snags, could find attractive option, easy to put away

Downsides: may not be able to easily see what you have, most options aren't that pretty, may have to put holes in or scratches on a door, limited by the number of available sections

5. Tights on scarf hangers

This one is from Ikea:
This one is from the Container Store:


Upsides: save drawer space, can easily see what you have, easy to put away

Downsides: risk of snagging when pulling through loops, takes up closet space, looks slightly old lady-ish

6. Tights in plastic drawer organizer (found here)

Upsides: can easily see what you have, could be stored in a drawer or on a shelf in a closet or wardrobe, could find some that match your decor, fast and easy to put away each pair in each section, protection from snags, more options with different sized cubbies

Downsides: limited by the number of available cubbies, plastic looks a little cheap

This one is the clear winner for me. It has the right number of cubby sections for the pairs I have, I can put it in a drawer or in my closet, it's easy to put each pair away quickly, each pair can breathe, and I can easily see what I have.  I may even put small labels on some sections to help distinguish between black and navy in the morning.

Tell me: How do you store you tights?  Are any of these options appealing?

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