IT MAY SEEM a stretch to suggest that a life-changing experience can happen in a wardrobe, but a growing number of believers are seeing the light. The light, that is, which was hitherto blocked by an unseemly jumble of squashed clothes and mismatched shoes.
In the realm of home renovation there's always room for improvement - even if that room is no more than a cupboard. Designer wardrobes are the latest thing to come out of New York, and Hong Kong is following suit - not only because it makes sense to keep clothes organised but also, according to the design gurus, for the profound effect it can have.
Interior designer and style coach Anouk Hatzakorzian Chrun, who tailors her business to wardrobe makeovers, says you can tell a lot about a person from the state of their wardrobe. A tidy, well-organised wardrobe not only projects a good image, it also creates a sense of being in charge, she says. 'If a person can handle their own space, it shows they also have control over other areas of their lives.'
Equally, people who hang onto things just for the sake of it send a message that they can't let go, or take the next step, Hatzakorzian Chrun says. Re-organising your wardrobe is empowering, and can help people 'to deal with a lot of things in life', she says.
Wardrobe consultant Eve Roth Lindsay, of Savvy Style, Colour Me Beautiful HK, says modern wardrobes can provide a sanctuary in the home. 'Once a walk-in closet would only be for dressing, but you'll see a comfortable chair, telephone, a television, computer, a mini refrigerator for juices or that odd glass of wine, and even a cappuccino machine in today's closets,' Roth Lindsay says. 'Another factor behind the new, bigger-is-better wardrobe is time. In today's world there's less time to get ready, so the ability to see your clothes easily is important. People are going for a wardrobe that's organised to help them.'
Some prefer to have an all-white closet so they can see the colours of their clothes more clearly, Roth Lindsay says. Some like to have a closet that resembles their favourite store, so they feel as if they're shopping every time they get dressed.
'It's very important to plan and personalise the wardrobe with drawers, trays and racks for belts or ties,' she says. 'Taller hanging areas are needed for evening gowns and wider widths are necessary for men's suits. Most important are sturdy wooden hangers for suits and jackets, wooden hangers with clips for skirts and trousers, padded hangers for lightweight and luxury fabrics, and smooth plastic hangers for shirts, blouses and dresses.'
