Where we get dressed: New York stylist Kendra Porter talks to us about organizing closets, dressing areas, and wardrobes
An arched dressing area in a New York Prewar apartment. Styling: Time & Place Interiors
The New Year rings in the season for renewing ourselves and our spaces. It’s a good time to make an honest assessment of what’s serving our current goals, and what’s needed to improve the quality of our everyday living.
To help guide us, Time & Place Interiors has brought in New York image consultant and wardrobe stylist Kendra Porter, founder of HonorYourStyle, for a Q&A on all things closet-related. Here, Kendra shares with us her expertise on how to plan a wardrobe, set up the most organized closet, and dress the part we want to live.
Woven throughout our interview is a selection of beautiful dressing area and walk-in closet designs, illustrating that we should dress our spaces like we would ourselves: with intention. The dressing area or closet is the setting for what can be a luxurious everyday ritual of getting yourself ready, or winding down in the evening. It’s an intimate space that deserves a design level as elevated as any other in your home. If you desire to keep your wardrobe organized, having a well-planned dressing area or closet will set you up for success.
Some tips on closet design: To add classy style to your dressing area, try introducing good quality drawer hardware, lay down a small Persian rug, or hang a vintage light. If you have wall space available in your dressing area, put up art or photographs. Use cabinet surfaces to place an attractive catch-all for accessories, or a vintage tabletop vanity mirror. A side chair or an interesting side stool offer a spot to put on shoes. Have some fun with it!
-Ksenya
Founder, Time & Place Interiors
P.S.: Join me on January 12 to hear Kendra speak at a multi-disciplinary TEDx Talk in Irvington, NY: Reading the Changes
About Kendra Porter:
Kendra Porter, HonorYourStyle
With over a decade of experience backstage at New York Fashion Week, Kendra has dressed for designers including Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Hererra. Creating fashion presentations for Westfield & Simon mall properties across the country, and managing the Personal Shopping Offices for Bloomingdale’s & Lord & Taylor, she’s styled thousands. Kendra also created ShopWestchester, an initiative to support small local fashion and beauty retailers in the Westchester County area of New York.
In 2021, Kendra moved into television signing with NBC Sports working with on-air talent, and joined the wardrobe team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. Recently, Kendra has been producing events for retailers like Neiman Marcus, teaching at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and facilitating private workshops on style.
T&P: Hi Kendra. Tell us about what you do and how you do it.
KP: As an image consultant, I help people align who they are with how they show up in the world, using fashion as a tool. And as a wardrobe stylist, I use clothes to tell a story for branding purposes. I help my clients, whom I refer to as “honorees,” get clear on what they are trying to say and how they want to be perceived. And we laugh along the way. Shopping and getting dressed can be fun, I promise!
A small Persian rug is a great way to add softness and character in a dressing area. Bonus for the cute vintage chair. Design: Martha Mulholland / Photo: Laure Joliet
T&P: What's the biggest mistake you see people making with their wardrobe choices?
KP: I see a lot of people buying clothes that are either ill-fitting or don't flatter their natural shape. Men's shirt sleeves are often too long, or women's tops are too big. My goal is to educate my honorees on what works best for their bodies, personal coloring, and lifestyles. A properly fitting garment in the right color can make you look younger, taller, leaner, and more polished overall.
A vintage shelf designed by Le Corbusier serves as an island in a walk-closet. The light is vintage Dutch, and the stool is the iconic Méribel model by Charlotte Perriand. Design: Cliff Fong / Photo: William Abranowicz
T&P: What are some of the nicest walk-in closets or dressing areas you've seen?
KP: I’m a minimalist at heart, so for me, less is more. The nicest walk-in closets all have one thing in common: they are open spaces, free of clutter, organized, and have good lighting. But, closets are just as personal as your wardrobe, so it’s best to create a space that reflects your aesthetic and that you’ll enjoy using.
In this tiny NYC dressing area, there’s no room for anything but great design: a Mid Century Brutalist dresser by Lane, a Moroccan vintage rug, Danish modern chair and mirror, and contemporary French light are just the highlights. Design: Charlie Ferrer / Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson
T&P: What are your tips for keeping closets and dressing areas organized?
KP: I honestly just got through cleaning out my own closet for the end of the year: organization is key. You want to be able to see all that you have, so that you can wear all that you have. If cleaning out your entire closet seems daunting, take on the challenge each season. Clean out what you are no longer wearing and what no longer serves you to make room for this current chapter in your life.
Next, tackle your accessories, belts, shoes, and jewelry. Belt and scarf hangers are great additions to a closet. A hanging shoe bag is good for heavy winter scarves. When possible, get everything off the floor, including your shoes.
And lastly, determine how much jewelry you have and how often you wear it. Out of sight, out of mind. For some, hanging jewelry organizers might be an option; for others, a jewelry box works better.
A gallery wall of family portraits adds personal warmth to functional open shelves in a New York City apartment’s walk-in closet design. Notice the interesting little mirror and candelabra pair. Design & Photo: Noe DeWitt
T&P: Any suggested scents to keep the closet fresh and moth-free?
KP: Be sure to clean all your winter items regularly, and definitely do it at the end of the season. The mix of sweat, perfume or cologne, and dirt attracts those buggers. Moth repellant sachets and cedar wood chips or hangers are great compliments to warding off moths.
A delightful antique distressed chair in the closet dresses up a simple shoe rack whose view is exposed to the bedroom. Design: C&J Katz Studio / Photo: Justine Hand
T&P: How do you know what's worth holding on to? And what's worth giving away?
KP: If you haven't worn it in a year, let it go. It's that simple. If you're holding onto something because you're in the process of losing weight, give yourself 5-10 pieces max, and let go of everything else. By the time you hit your goal weight, you'll want to reward yourself with new clothing, as you should.
Japanese silk kite lights add whimsy to a dressing area off of a main bedroom in Riverdale. Design: Livia Cetti / Photo: Kate Mathis
T&P: Any advice on sustainable ways to part with clothing and accessories?
KP: I'm a fan of re-selling. There are many apps like Poshmark or The RealReal that offer ways for you to make money on your clothes. Plus, you can use that to fund your shopping for fresh new pieces. As a plus size woman, I like to donate my clothes to the local YWCA or Dress for Success. Lastly, for t-shirts that have holes, animal shelters are a good option as they use these types of items as makeshift bedding for animals. MOM’s Organic Market in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester recycles denim and shoes, and is a great place to shop.
A dressing area has a vintage glass ceiling light above and a vintage rug below, with fun accessories rounding out the middle. Design: Avery Cox Design / Photo: Lindsay Brown
T&P: How do you advise us on making dressing and accessorizing a more enjoyable, intentional routine?
KP: Choose three words that describe how you want to feel, your sense of style, and how you’d like others to perceive you. For instance, if you’re a marketing director, you might choose “powerful,” “edgy,” and “intelligent” as your words. Next, select items to create a look that exudes those three words. Keep rotating an item out if it's just not right. You'll know when everything comes together. When you feel good and look good, you stand a little taller, and smile a little wider. It's a feeling.
If you have a dedicated closet for accessories like the one in this Tribeca home, it merits having a vintage Halabala chair and marble side table to enjoy the splendor. Design: Corvino Design / Photo: Ori Harpaz
T&P: What would you challenge us to do differently with our wardrobe in the new year?
KP: My challenge always is to dress intentionally. Do the exercise above each day when you're getting dressed and see what a difference it makes. Then, take a picture and tag me on Instagram @HonorYourStyle with your three words. I’d love to know how it works out.
To contact Kendra Porter about styling and fashion services, email honoryou@kendraporter.com
What’s your design goal this year?
Time & Place Interiors designs homes to serve as the background for living your best life. Get a jump start on making space for your personal goals through a professional interior design consultation. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with founder Ksenya Malina. We’ll explore ways to make your home the best version of your personal expression:
