Monday, April 18, 2011

Storing scarves

The most important thing for me is to see and feel my treasures, and to have them easy at hand. For a neat and tidy look I keep them in shallow drawers and in their boxes, which stops them from sliding around. The lids of the boxes are tucked under, which allows me to see the content of each drawer at one glance.

The key for this storage solution is to find deep, wide and shallow drawers, in the esprit of artist's or architect's storage cabinets. The shallower the drawer, the more economical, a shallow drawer allows storing up to three times more scarves than a conventional one


An artist's storage would make a fabulous centrepiece in a dressing room, but I have my drawers fitted into a cabinet with shelves, where I also store my bags, scarf catalogues, books and boxes. Years ago, I found an excellent system at IKEA, which had cabinets with flexible shelves and perfect sized drawers, measuring 90 x 53 x 6 cm (35.43" x 20.86" x 2.36")


Unfortunately, the shallow drawer has been discontinued (their current one is almost three times the height), so now I have them made by a carpenter.

Here is one of the drawers containing smaller silks (holding eight 70 Carrés, plus five Gavroches):


and one with 90 Carrés (six per drawer, plus two Gavroches)


If space gets tight, one can add a couple more scarves as a second layer, while maintaining a clear view to all that is underneath...

or even add three, making it nine 90 Carrés per drawer


Below three drawers fully stacked, all layered double and holding almost 50 scarves, while taking only 30 cm (11.81") of cupboard height..
1st drawer: twelve 70 Carrés + five Gavroches = 17 scarves
2nd drawer: nine 90 Carrés + two Gavroches = 11 scarves
3rd drawer: nine 90 Carrés + one Plissé + nine Twillys = 19 scarves


 lavender sachets add a fresh and delicate scent



An open storage solution can just as easily be achieved without special drawers, at the same time economising on space in an even more efficient way. Take your scarf out of it's box..


fold it once over ..


and arrange in a loose overlapping way like they do in the boutiques


My storage luxury is H's drawer lining paper, delicately perfumed with the 'vetiver' scent from the Hermesessence line. When I bought it for the first time, I actually left the store empty handed. I was abroad, and spotted it decorated in a tall vase. Without checking the price (something I normally always do, but thought how expensive could they possibly be!), I asked for a box and proceeded to the caisse, where I was presented with a bill for 300 EUR. At this point I very much regretted not having checked the price first, as there was no way I 'd justify spending more than the equivalent of a 90 Carré for five sheets of scented paper. The SA's attempts to explain the virtues of the sheets fell on deaf ears, I apologised giving the reason I could not take them after all, and left the store a little embarrassed. Half a year later, abroad again but in a different place, I spotted the very same box of lining papers in the window of the local H, and was very happy to see a price tag of 30 EUR. It turned out to be the correct price, but still felt like the best bargain ever.

The scent is incredible long lasting and discreet, and each sheet is embossed with H's clou de selle

A couple of years later I revisited the first boutique (glad not having bought the paper there), and the sweet SA was hugely relieved to see me again, and apologised for the faux pas in style, with a glass of champagne. A story both of us will always remember!

43 comments:

  1. My oh my, and I thought I had a lot of scarves! LOL The more I see the Fleur de Indiennes, the more I love it as I prefer the styles that are a bit more "borderless."

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  2. Your storage solution is both practical and very elegant!

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  3. MaiTai. I love the way you have organized it. It definitely gives me inspiration for my own closet and growing collection of scarves. I just have them stacked in their boxes right now!

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  4. It's a pleasure for eyes....and as i'm used to say:I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet;)Can't wait for your next post!!!

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  5. MaiTai... Hello Thanks again for sharing :-) Your scarves are beautiful. Have a great week. Blessings -P

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  6. Your storage is just as impeccable as your style MaiTai and your collection a feast for the eyes!

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  7. Your closet, MaiTai: sublime. Such perfection. I want a closet like yours. ;-) Hugs, CS

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  8. I can admit it, I have complete scarf envy. And what a beautiful presentation. I will have to keep this in mind when I'm designing our closet.

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  9. OMG! You do have superwoman powers!
    I cannot believe you organized this amazing post after what I am sure has been a dizzying weekend selling the gorgeous horn bracelets!
    I will go back and study these very useful tips. This post just confirms what I have suspected all along. You are SUPERWOMAN ;) Happy week ahead and I hope you get to take a break! Warm hugs, T xx

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  10. I've been looking for other ways to store my growing collection of scarves since my scarf drawer is now too small...(or maybe it means I bought too many scarves... ;-P ) This post is very inspiring and I love how everything is organized in a very elegant and practical way.
    Thanks for this post and have a lovely week ahead dear MT

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  11. Dear MaiTai, thanks for this presentation. I have a question related to the packages themselves - we get acid free paper in the box and my understanding was they shall be stored in a closed box, covered with acid free paper, to protect them. Now I see you keep them all open...a little bit confused. Is there something that might happen to scarves with time, if kept in the closed boxes? Somehow I feel they are kept protected if stored in their original boxes...Congrats for your storm success with bracelets. Hugs, Lilian

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  12. lifeatmyfingertipsApril 18, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    This post is brilliant! Love the way you organised, I'm really inspired now, will look into shallow shelves when we move this year =) Thank you for sharing xx

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  13. Oh be Still My Beating Heart!!

    All this Wonderful Organisation makes me so happy!

    Good for you embracing Ikea.

    Maitai, please one day post a blog about how your love affair with Hermes began...love K x

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  14. Thank you so much for sharing! Your collection looks wonderful, and how fantastic to have them all at your fingertips like that. Do you ever just open the drawers to gaze at them?
    To answer your question from two posts ago- my first H scarf is the Mots de Soie, in the orange & blue cw. I bought it in memory of my Mother, she was a beautiful, scarf-wearing English teacher who loved words- it's just perfect. Thanks for asking, I was touched (& love to tell the story of my scarf). I am crediting you with the inspiration! P xx

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  15. My dear MaiTai

    Your post is absolutely gorgeous!!!
    What a beautiful collection of scarves! Thank you for these very useful tips on the storage of Hermès scarves. I keep on reading your post, it´s just superbe!!!
    So elegant, as you are!Warm Eastern hugs, Manuela

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  16. Oh, what a beautiful idea, dear Faux Fuchsia - it would be so nice to hear how our MaiTai started her love with Hermes scarves. It is a charming story, for sure, same as all other stories MT is telling us about the things I often do not notice on my own...

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  17. Thanks so much for posting - i've been wondering myself how you store your scarves!

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  18. Dear Mai Tai
    Thankyou for sharing your storage secrets : my drawers are all in old chests , so stacks of boxes is the best I can do.
    I just love the story of the scented paper. and gasped at 300 Eur p box, I would have done the same ! I shall certainly invest in some of that , it sounds divine and I love discreetly scented storage . Now I'm wearing H scarves again I never use cologne or perfume as it seems to make the silk smell strange after a short time, especially if one stores in the boxes

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  19. I must add that I keep coming back to this post. Your collection is a feast for the eyes.

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  20. Dear Maitai,
    thank you for your post on the ranking of your scarves.
    It is very interesting and gives ideas.
    Again, thank you
    Sophie & Arnaud

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  21. Dear MaiTai, what a wonderful way not just to store but to live with your H accessories as art pieces you can enjoy. For this reason, it seems to me that you have actually "curated" your collection! Your care for the accessories shows also a respect for the artisans who make them. Brava! And congratulations on the popularity of your bracelet collection -- and alas, I think I may have been too late to purchase a lovely mushroom one, but I join many ladies here in hoping you might be able to restock in future, barring any insurmountable challenges.

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  22. Well, I think any comment I would've written has been well covered in the other posts. A feast indeed and such an inspiration as always. I need to rethink my storage system. I totally agree, it is best to be able to see them to be able to maximize our pleasure in viewing and using our silken treasures and their accessories.

    Hugs,

    Maisie

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  23. Hello Mai Tai! Thanks for this entry! Boxes are such a greeat idea to have a clean and tidy closet! And what a great collection of scarves, I wish I'll have so many of them like You, my Dear:) Could You make a entrance about how you clean or wash them, iron mayby...? Kisses from Poland

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  24. (Almost) more jealous of your organizing/neatness skills than of your wonderful scarf collection. ;-) I also have a couple of drawers and of course I fold my scarfs and put them away, but I don't think it will ever look as perfect as your lovely demonstration. In any case, Thank you so much for sharing - once again you're the best inspiration, not just in wearing the scarves, but also in keeping those treasures in perfect shape! :D hug, your messy ldh

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  25. This is simply gorgeous. My H scarves, are, alas, all held captive in their boxes and I adore order and beauty like you present here. We are preparing a renovation involving our master closet and I keep thinking, "Dare I?" when I look at the way you have found to live with these gorgeous bits of precious silk. And I glad you bought the liner at the right price!

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  26. Oh my god, I love the way you store your scarves. Because you, I started to love Hermes scarves. They are gorgeous!! Thank you for your sharing.

    Cheers,

    Kate
    www.firstlookbook.blogspot.com

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  27. My dearest MaiTai,
    This is one of the most beautiful presentation of scarf storage I have ever seen. Thank you for indulging us so totally once again and giving us peeks of your brilliant and most ideal storage system - truly solves all requirements, artistic and practical. Absolutely loved your story about the lining paper - as they say, 'all's well that ends well'! Your generosity is truly extraordinary, dearest MaiTai. Hope you are having a beautiful spring week. Sending you my very best wishes to you and yours for a most wonderful Easter weekend, with all my love to you xx

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  28. My dear ladies, many thanks for the wonderful comments on this post, your sweet words and good wishes always mean a lot to me. I hope you will forgive me for saying collectively thank you this time :) With love and most heartfelt thanks, MT

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  29. Mai Tai. Thank you for all your wonderful pictures and information! I am off to buy my first scarf storage shelves! Thank you again!!

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  30. Many thanks, dear Julide, and have a wonderful time shopping and setting up!

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  31. Although it is not scented, a very nice paper used for storing artwork, called "glassine" is available in art supply stores. It might work nicely for scarves and other delicate fabrics. I use it for some vintage table linens, as well as in my studio for my artwork on paper. It is archival, acid free, and nice for many storage uses. And very inexpensive.
    Elizabeth Brinton

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  32. Mai Tai, I am a newer devotee of your blog and YouTube library. I eagerly await each new post because each one is loaded with helpful information, and lovely photos!
    Here is my dilemma...I want a Mors scarf ring! Apparently I would have more success finding the Holy Grail! (she says with desperation :) )
    Can you point me in the right direction..or perhaps give me some tips about HOW to obtain this coveted item?
    Thank you!

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    1. So happy you enjoy my posts and videos, many thanks, dear Babs! Re your question, I have not seen the Mors ring lately, so perhaps they are discontinued. The best way would be to ask your SA to do a search for you, as some boutiques might still have them. If unsuccessful, you could alwasy try ebay or a re-seller. Good luck!

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  33. Thank you for share this ideas, this storage system is such an inspiration.

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  34. Mai Tai..is there is any advise for how to clean scarves? ;( And i getting mine usually in second hands shops (with really bargain price) but they have no boxes..:( so i wondered if Hermes can just give couple of them...?:)

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    1. A post on how to clean scarves is on my list! Congratulations on the silk treasures you've found. Hermès won't give you boxes for them though.. they've already done this when the scarf was purchased originally :-)

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  35. You are really an extraordinary lady! I just found your videos and your blog! WOW! Your collection is amazing and they way you can handle and tie scarves is really great! I am a big fan of silk-scarves and have a huge collection as well (but no Hermès of course) ... it's an addiction - indeed ;-)

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  36. Is it reasonable to store in the basic bias fold? I most often use knots starting from this fold so it would save me time getting dressed in the morning.

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    1. Personally I am not tempted to store my scarves that way... the basic bias fold undoes easily when left unknotted, and then you have a messy starting point. It only takes a few seconds to start from scratch :)

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