Leslie Christen April

I’m not gonna lie - I love clothes. I don’t discriminate; I adore clothes of all styles from various eras. In fact, I love them so much that over the past few years, I’ve collected them. And collected them. And… you get the picture.

I stuffed them in all four closets of my home. Not even the coat closet was spared. At one point IKEA’s giant floor-to-ceiling storage options were suggested. Like your typical addict, there was no problem. Denial can hide any problem lurking behind closed closet doors.

So I was just as surprised as the next person to find myself researching closet-organization options last month. See, my boyfriend Paul moved in a few months ago, and I was forced to share my two-bedroom house with another person.

As we unpacked, I poked fun at the bazillion books, CDs, DVDs, comic books, art supplies, and sports memorabilia Paul brought along with him. Of course, all of the comments directed at his “things” were really a distraction from the real problem: my clothes. I could no longer deny that if there were more free storage space, he could unpack and we could co-exist with equal space for our things.

Before I began my search for assistance, I asked a friend of mine – someone who is a style guru, of sorts – for a recommendation or at least some direction. Without hesitation, she told me to call Leslie Christen. She pointed me to her website and the first thing that caught my eye was the clean look of the site – no clutter. That was a good sign. Then I noticed that she was on top of trends – she blogged regularly and it struck me she posted something about designer Alexander McQueen’s death. Many had glazed over his death, but she, in her own way, expressed her sentiments with grace and brevity. I liked that. In fact, I liked it enough to call her.

And I felt almost immediately like we had known each other forever. She told me all about her background – I was chatting with a FIDM graduate who had earned honors and awards in addition to degrees for her work there. She explained that she had spent more than a decade in the entertainment industry as a stylist and costumer, and that if we worked together, she would not only help me get organized, but also find the pieces to keep and those to let go of (*cringe*). There was something about her tone, and her confidence in her ability to help me, that allowed me to take the next step and invite her into my home.

I must admit, I was nervous. We had picked a time that was convenient for me and she arrived with a rolling rack and a crate with 150 matching black velvet hangers. At that point I knew – I was working with a pro.

I’d like everyone to believe me when I say that the process was seamless, but I know there will be skeptics (trust me, I was one of them), so I documented the entire process with before, during, and after photos.

After assessing the situation, we began emptying out my closets and putting the clothing on the rolling rack. Then, we went through each piece of clothing and decided whether to keep it or “put it away for now.” Of course, by the time we finished our first of two closets, I realized that my attachment to the clothing was unfounded and, although she let me keep pieces that held some sentimental value (yes, I still have my prom dress and an old shirt I used to steal from my father’s closet), I was more than happy to donate the rest to charity.

As we sifted through clothing, I tried on pieces to see if they fit and she even started an alteration pile for me so I could wear things that I haven’t because of a missing button or broken zipper. Before we placed everything back in the closets, Leslie magically switched out my mismatched mess of plastic and wire (yes, even wire – take that, Mommie Dearest!) hangers with beautiful new ones (a service she offers to her clients: 50 for $15!). Before long, the closets were clean and organized and I felt as if I had just played dress-up with my best friend.

As we took our “after” photos, I could see why Leslie was such a treasure – not only was she knowledgeable and willing to lend expertise, but she used a direct, honest, and collaborative approach to empower and improve my closets and, more importantly, my life, in a matter of hours.

If you’re ready to get organized and make a change for the best, give Leslie a ring. Her talent is not limited to closets; she’s a personal shopper, stylist, and image consultant. If nothing else, she’s a great conversationalist, so you’ll have a nice chat whether you decide to invite her into your home or not.

Next week, Leslie and I will tackle the rest of my house – my office, my cabinets, pantries, filing cabinets… yep, she’s a pro at all that too!

Leslie Christen Lifestyling services all of Orange County and its surrounding areas. If you are interested in contacting Leslie directly, you may email her at Style@LeslieChristen.com or call her at (310) 866-1026. Online, check out her official site and blog at http://www.lesliechristen.com/ and keep in touch on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/Leslie.Christen.

Good luck! If I can do it, anyone can!

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