Being on the brink of Halloween, it seems appropriate to look at a way to store costumes and related supplies.  It is important to note, Halloween and costuming is not just for children.  I have a client who participates in conventions that involve dressing as comic book and movie characters.  If you are a big kid who wears costumes, it is likely you have put a great deal of care into creating your costume. Storing it properly will not only prolong its life, but make it easier to use the costume again in the future.

My client had a pretty fancy clothing drying rack that was not being used (it was still in the package for that matter). The example in the link is not the exact model we used, look for something at discount stores to help keep the cost down. The design of the rack lends itself to hanging items from a horizontal rack and draping items (such as wigs) from a lower rack.  We added a small shelf underneath for shoes.  One of the most influential aspects of this system is the use of oversized storage bags labeled for each character/costume.  In the clear bag are specific makeup supplies, smaller pieces of clothing, accessories and the like.  The bags are hung using skirt hangers that grasp the plastic bag.

As a result of this new system my client has said she is the envy of her friends!  What a relief for her to arrive at an event, and know that all of the supplies she needs will be exactly where she needs them.

This system could be set up in a closet if you are fortunate to have enough space.  Most clients I work with do not have the real estate in existing closets.  Also, this system works well for visual people as it is open and easy to interact with.

Happy costuming!