Didn't catch it the first time around? Browse through our Newsletter Archives for further learning! 

• August 2010 - Developing Personal Style
• September 2010 - Clustering Your Clothes
• October 2010 - Evaluate Your Wardrobe
• November 2010 - Clothing Wear and Care
• December 2010 - Fashion in the Fast Lane
• January 2011 - The Power of Personal Apperance
• February 2011 - Art in Everyday Dress
• March 2011 - Line in Design
• April 2011 - Shape in Design
• May 2011 - Color in Design
• June 2011 - Fabric and Texture in Design
• July 2011 - Pattern in Design
• August 2011 - Developing Your Personal Style
• September 2011 - Which Fashion Trends Work into Clusters for You?
• October 2011 - Timely Tips for a Successful Wardrobe Evaluation
• November 2011 - 7 Ways to Find What You Need In Your Closet
• December 2011 - Love Plus Logic is the Key to Great Shopping
• January 2012 - Where Have All the Nice-Looking People Gone?
• February 2012 - Judith Rasband's Fashion Rule of ONETM
• March 2012 - Discover Which Fashion Lines Work for You
• April 2012 - How to Keep Your Shape in Shape
• May 2012 - Color: Don't Believe Everything You Read
• June 2012 - The Denim Dissent
• July 2012 - What Matters With Pattern
• August 2012 - Tricky Trends for Fall 2012
• September 2012 - Strategy for Shopping With A Plan
• October 2012 - Is Your Wardrobe Killing You? 

As a wardrobe specialist, I receive frequent requests for a list of suggested clothing to include in a 72-hour emergency kit.  From the get go, I like to recommend that you don't store old, worn-out clothing for emergency purposes.  People have learned, the hard way, that if you don't want to wear it now, you won't want to wear it then.  And in the event of an actual emergency, old clothing may not be durable enough for the work needing to be done.  

I also suggest that it's practical to think of clothing on hand for an unexpected emergency as clothing on hand for your everyday expected needs.  That way all items eventually get used and rotated, an essential consideration, especially where children are concerned.

If, indeed, you ever have to grab and go in a hurry, clothes on hand might include:

• 1-3 pairs underwear
• 1-3 pairs socks
• 1 knit cotton short-sleeved T-shirt
• 1 woven cotton or cotton/poly long-sleeved shirt
• 1 cotton or cotton/poly sweatshirt
• 1 pair durable twill-weave pants or jeans
• 1 pair canvas shoes and extra shoe laces
• If you have a baby in your home, don't forget the disposable diapers!

If the emergency situation was to continue for longer than 72 hours, the durability and protective ability of your clothes would become more important.  If you were required to walk for some distance, socks would be the first to wear out.  Three pair of wool socks and a pair of mittens are stored by some people.  Others report storing thermal underwear and a nylon rain poncho in their emergency kits when not otherwise in use.   

To store in the smallest space possible, lay all of the clothes flat on top of one another, roll tightly and secure with a belt or rope.  Store them in a nylon bag near or with your other emergency supplies.  Some people report they like to keep an emergency set of clothing at an office or parents' home in case of disaster.  Especially for women who wear high heels at work, having a pair of sturdy walking shoes will be helpful to keep on hand at the office.  Others keep their supply in a closet near an outside door, behind the couch, or in the trunk of the family car. 

Having your 72-hour kit and clothing in order in case of a disaster will give you and your family an added sense of security and preparedness.  While we all hope there won't come a time when emergency preparedness gear is needed, if it does come to that, grab your supplies and coat at the door and God bless!

To read related information about clothing storage, with instructions and examples regarding people just like you, order Conselle's Wardrobe Strategy Book #11, Closet Organization & Clothing Care at $27.97.   You'll find charts that will summarize the information and simplify your learning and application.  Order through Conselle's Store or call 801-224-1207 and order directly through Kathy.  Order Closet Organization & Clothing Care.

Photo: Homestead Revival | Conselle | Buy Emergency Foods 

We're all in a hurry.  Spills happen and stains may result.  With our busy schedules, it's not uncommon to leave soil or stains to sit on our clothing fabrics for days, even weeks.  Studies by the Dry-cleaning and Laundry Institute show that after aging for only one week, 20% of stains cannot be removed satisfactorily.  After three weeks, this increases to 47%.  Since heat is another factor that makes stains more difficult to remove, don't steam or iron soiled or stained clothes.  Before putting any clothes away for storage, wash or dry clean them to remove stains first.  This also prevents insects from causing holes in fabrics and stains from aging and discoloring.  This way when you open your closet in the morning, the only clothes you see will be clothes that are clean and ready to wear. 

Photo: Lovelyish

A fact you may not know, dry-cleaning means to clean with chemical solvents rather than with water.  Fabric or materials that should not be dry-cleaned include rayon, acetate, modacrylic, suede, leather, and anything with sequins on it.  They require special professional attention.  It's also a fact that knits can be hung in the closet.  If there are shoulder pads in the garment, they can be hung.  If not, they can still be hung over a padded hanger bar.  Yet another option for sweaters is to fold them in half vertically, then place the crook of the hanger at the angle of the underarm.  This will distribute sleeves on one side of the hanger and the body on the other and prevent warping to occur in the garment from hangers. 

Photo: Conselle

Judith Rasband

Conselle Institute of Image Management

Check out our blog at http://conselleimageconsultant.wordpress.com!