I look as Janus, the two-faced Roman God, at the same time to the past, as to the future. Eyes on the horizon, I look back.
Now that the trauma of decorating your Christmas tree is over, as “tree with lights”, some using a method I call, “Keep wrapping the tree in lights in a haphazard manner until you can see it from outer space and they look kind of even” (Trademark pending), the time draws closer to tenuously brave our next challenge, The New Year’s Resolution.
The new year wasn’t always celebrated in January, as the ancient Roman calendar followed the lunar calendar. Sosigenes, an astronomer, convinced Julius Caesar to follow the solar year. Thus from 46 B.C. on, the new year begins in January.
Starting the new year in January was also done to honour Janus, for whom the month was named. The tradition of the New Year’s Resolution dates back to 153 B.C.with the Romans honouring Janus, the two-headed deity who had the ability to look forward and backward at the same time. This then became the symbolic time for the Roman to make resolutions for the New Year, as well as forgive their enemies for past transgressions.
He also presided over the beginning and ending of conflict; hence war and peace. The doors of his temple were open in time of war, and closed in times of peace. Thus he was the guardian of beginnings and endings, gates and doors.
It might have been him, in his eternal wisdom, that coined the saying, “Where one door opens, another one closes.”
Or is it the other way around?
The kinds of resolutions we make can tell a lot about us. Some may be lofty, like learning to fix your leaky faucet or reading all seven parts of Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past.
Some may be easily enough achieved, like cutting down on extramarital affairs.
And some are like hammering the ‘close door’ button in an elevator when you see your arch-enemy approaching. There just is no point. It won’t close any faster by continually punching it. It only gives you the illusion of control and stops you from remembering that you’re in a metal box dangling from a wire 57 feet in the air.
However arduous it might be, it is a good idea to be honest with oneself.
It is of note that most people have a lamentable track record on keeping their resolutions. Like what Samuel Johnson said of second marriages, they represent “the triumph of hope over experience.”
Maybe then, we should keep it simple, like a resolution to be kinder to others (and ourselves), or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people.
Which opens the door to continue this lucubration, on doors.
We have a multitude of doors in our lives: front doors, back doors, side doors, cupboard doors, cabinet doors, basement doors, cat doors, shower doors, pantry doors, sticky doors, distressed doors, crooked doors, battered doors, worn doors, damaged doors, closed doors, locked doors…and closet doors. Behind which are clothes and a surfeit of various and sundry – often overflowing and unorganized.
So in true New Year’s fashion, I surmise that right after your resolution to eat more vegetables this year, you have vowed to get those closets organized, once and for all.
Yes. Yes. You gaze in the bathroom mirror and ask: Why in my brief existence on this planet, does that closet have to be mine?
So in my vow to be kinder and open more doors, (including your closet doors, should you thus choose), I offer this.
What is the fashion crowd’s favourite hanger?
I love the simple black velvet hanger. I practically revolt if I spot a plastic or (gasp) wire one. And don’t even talk to me about the ones crocheted in pink and green Phentex. You know the ones.
This thinner hanger is not only more glamourous, but you can fit more clothes in your closet.
You can use another type of hanger, like a wooden one if you have room, but remember to only use one hanger style in each closet. Exception – suit jackets. See below.
Be sure to buy all the hangers from the same manufacturer, as at first glance they may look the same, but they could be slightly different, hanging at a different level.
Do I have any other “go-to” hangers?
Wooden hangers are recommended for suit jackets and tiered hangers for skirts and pants. Tiered hangers are an especially efficient choice if you are short on space.
Where do I stand on organizing clothes?
Usually in the middle of the closet.
All you need to do is Keep It Simple, just like authors William Strunk and E.B. White wrote in your high school English text, Elements of Style.
“A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reasons that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts, This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subject only in outline, but that every word tell.”
Arrange clothes in colour blocks from dark to light.
Keep similar items together: suits, shirts, pants, skirts, long garments
If you prefer and/or have enough space, you may choose to separate long sleeve garments from short sleeve garments, or hang sports clothes, evening clothes, etc, in their own section
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