It's Marketed as an exclusive storage service, but in truth, it's much more than that

With space increasingly a premium and wardrobes overflowing with clothes and accessories, that extra closet space has to be found elsewhere.

Garde Robe is a wardrobe storage facility that will pick up off-season or infrequently worn garments, have them professionally cleaned, stored and redelivered when re-quested. It also offers a wardrobe management service for more efficient use of closet space at home.

All clothes entrusted to Garde Robe are photographed and catalogued on a customized Cyber Closet, accessible day or night with a simple password.

To collect stored items, customers simply access their virtual closet, select desired items, delivery date and time, after which they are delivered in ready-to-wear condition. The service also invites frequent visitors to the Big Apple to think of Garde Robe as their personal closet in New York.

Their clothes are delivered to their hotel, retrieved again at the end of their stay, professionally cleaned and stored in a state-of-the-art loft until their next trip. In addition the company can provide customers with an image consultant, make-up artist, hairdresser, personal shopper, and even offers a luggage packing services to ensure cases are packed to perfectly suit the trip, the destination and the weather.

New York-based Garde Robe, the clothing storage company known for solving the space-constrained closet crises of New Yorkers, has expanded to include several more services. In addition to picking up and delivering clothes; photographing and cataloging your wardrobe in either a leather-bound portfolio or a password-protected "cyber closet"; and cleaning, repairing, and altering items, Garde Robe now goes beyond mere storage. New services include customized organization solutions for accessories, bags, and shoes (think luxurious velour toe shapers and breathable canvas garment bags); a professional image consultant to shop and/or create a new look for you; a top hairdresser and makeup artist on call; and perhaps most importantly, travel wardrobe consultations and packing services.

Wardrobe Master

A bespoke company in New York offers the perfect clothing solution for when space becomes the final frontier in your wardrobe. Jumeirah learns a better way to pack its bags

When you're a billionaire global nomad zipping between New York, London and Dubai often spending weeks in each, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your couture is going to get crumpled or your Savile Row ripped.

Fret not dear fashionista. Thanks to US company Garde Robe Online you could basically duplicate the western European wardrobe you keep in London (and Dubai for that matter) and let this innovative firm do the rest. Alternatively, buy a completely new wardrobe designed just for New York.

The way the concept works is simplicity itself. Rather than letting your clothes clutter your wardrobes at home or you panic over designer-wear crumple zones in arrival lounges, let Garde Robe empty your apartment/mansion/villa of all those limited edition dresses and bespoke shoes, photograph them for their digital database and catalogue each item.

The company then whisks them away to be carefully stored in 'cotton garment bags', 'acid-free tissue' or 'breathable archive boxes' in a very fashionable Manhattan loft space that is completely climate controlled, extensively insured and packed to the rafter with high-tech security.

Then, before you arrive in New York, you search across your newly formed online database of clothes, shoes and accessories, ask for them to be delivered to your hotel at a certain time and viola! When you arrive in your Essex House suite overlooking Central Park, your clothes are waiting for you in all their freshly pressed glory.

Adam Gilvar, president of the company, says that many of his clients store their off-season wardobes with Garde Robe because space is such a premium in New York. He knows what he's talking about. It was a similar domestic storage dilemma that prompted him to set up his business.

"I used to store my off-season clothing at the dry cleaners, but I often lost track of what was stored and what was in the closet at home," says Gilvar. "I also wasn't comfortable with my wife's delicate outfits and expensive evening wear being stored in less than desirable conditions in a warehouse somewhere. Garde Robe was born out of sheer necessity."

Of course, the service is not simply limited to jet-setting fashionistas and the Hollywood A-list. Harassed trans-Atlantic executives who don't need the hassle of airports, lost luggage and extra baggage to handle are also heavy users of the Garde Robe serice.

The company has also naturally diversified into cleaning and repair, as well as professional 'customised' advice on wardrobe organisation and efficiency, in addition to luggage-packing services. In both cases professional clothes experts will visit your home and show you how to get the most out of your wardrobe/travel trunk.

And, should you need them, there are herds of professional Garde Robe image consultants, personal shoppers and stylists constantly on hand who can't wait to get their finely manicured fingers on your new look should you ever arrive in town in a dishevelled hurry.

Prices for Garde Robe's services start from $350 a month which feature one 'rack' of 50 garments, a large 'canvas breathable box' for accessories and 10 shoe boxes. That's your clothes entry point, there is actually no limit to the amount of clothes, bags and shoes you can store with the company.

"Garde Robe is much more than simply a storage facility," says Gilvar. "Essentially, it is similar to having a personal wardrobe valet, only more affordable and technologically advanced. Imagine travelling without packing or unpacking, lugging heavy suitcases or waiting in overcrowded baggage areas."

Yes imagine. Now with Garde Robe aiming to set up another base in Tokyo, as well as potentially other cities around the world, you may never have to use a strange room service laundry again. What a relief.

Into the Closet

Frequent business travelers to New York City know the hassle of constantly toting luggage filled with suits, shoes, accessories, and other accoutrements needed for dressing your professional best. A better way: Leave your "work" clothes here. Garde Robe, a sort of pied-a-terre for your wardrobe, can keep winter coats, ball gowns, tuxedos, and other apparel that you only wear in New York (up to 50 garments, 10 shoe boxes, and an accessories box), in a climate-controlled loft. Each piece is digitally photographed and catalogued. When you're in town, simply go to your online "closet," select an ensemble, and arrange for hotel delivery in less than two hours. Before you head home, Garde Robe picks up your clothes, has them professionally cleaned, and rehangs them...until next time.

Fancy eliminating the hassles of packing, unpacking, waiting in crowded baggage claim and customs lines? New York-based Garde Robe stores and delivers clothing to a flyer's desired destination prior to arrival in ready-to-wear condition, reports Debora Toth.

Mark Twain once commented that clothes make the man. Another famous adage says, "You only get one chance to make a first impression" Garde Robe believes in both.

Garde Robe is New York's only luxury wardrobe storage and valet service, offering a unique and convenient luggage-free travel service for business and leisure travellers.

"Imagine travelling without packing or unpacking, lugging heavy suitcases or waiting in overcrowded baggage claim areas," says Adam Gilvar, Garde Robe's president. "Imagine arriving at your destination with the clothes, shoes and travel accessories you selected already in the closet, ready to wear. That's Garde Robe."

Since its inception in 2000 Garde Robe, which is French for 'wardrobe', has given all of its customers the sort of celebrity treatment it lays on for clients Dan Rather, the former CBS news anchorman, and Iman, the supermodel wife of David Bowie.

Clients can look their best and travel without fear of losing their luggage, arriving with wrinkled clothes or having the wrong ensemble for constantly changing weather by choosing their wardrobe from a computerised inventory of their items stored with Garde Robe. What you want, when you want it and where it goes is all taken care of by the company.

"Service is our forte," says Doug Greenberg, vice-president of sales and marketing for Garde Robe. "We recently had a customer who was travelling to Florida for her niece's party. She called us at noon, three hours before her flight was to leave New York, to deliver a new wardrobe for her trip. The weather had changed in Florida from warm and sunny to cool and rainy and she needed different clothes for the trip. Within one hour, we were able to quickly identify, re-pack and ship her Yves Saint Laurent suit, her Prada skirt and her gold silk coat, all in prefect condition and ready to wear."

To initiate the service, Garde Robe sends a representative to pick up the items to be stored and discuss the client's individual needs. If necessary, they will arrange for professional cleaning or repairs before transporting the client's wardrobe to its newly renovated, climate-controlled storage loft.

Once there, all items are photographed and catalogued. The customer can view their individual wardrobe on a secure, customised 'cyber-closet' at any time of the day or night. Each stored item is accompanied by a photo and detailed description before being placed with similar items in one of 18 categories, such as black tie, evening wear, leather, outerwear and pants. Even so, some items manage to avoid categorisation.

"We have a wedding gown in storage for a Hollywood actress," says Greenberg. "We have a collection of baseball caps for a professional baseball player.

One customer has gathered all of their ski clothes into one category named Aspen; we have all of their bulky jackets, sweaters, ski pants, helmets and goggles for the entire family. Everything is cleaned and ready to be shipped out west when the customer goes skiing."

Garde Robe cares for all items with white silk gloves - literally. Since fabrics can be stained with oils if touched by hand, the firm tucks a little white glove into each museum-quality, breathable archival container. When the boxes are opened, the employee can easily slip the gloves on before touching any of the clothes. Stored items are either hung in imported cotton garment bags or wrapped in acid-free tissue.

One international fashion stylist, who travels frequently between his homes in Honolulu and New York, has made Garde Robe his wardrobe hub. With just a few shorts and T-shirts in his Hawaiian residence, and jeans and sweaters in his Manhattan residence, this jet-setting stylist keeps the bulk of his designer clothes in his online cyber-closet with Garde Robe. When he's on location at a fashion shoot in Morocco or Bhutan, he orders everything online from Garde Robe and finds it neatly arranged and in ready-to-wear condition at his hotel suite.

"Another customer has taken our concept to the next level," says Greenberg. "This couple has just left on a two-year trip around the world; we're activing as a satellite closet for them. As they fly from Tokyo to Thailand and then to Australia, we ship their pre-arranged wardrobe to their hotel and ship back the clothes that they've used. We even have clothes already packed and ready for when they visit the Scandinavian countries, like Sweden and Finland. Rather than trying to bring clothes with them and having to think of luggage restrictions, this couple can bypass the airport baggage claim while their desired clothing, accessories and toiletries are being delivered to their hotel room in ready-to-wear condition."

Busy executives travelling around the country or around the world praise the firm.

'It's a brilliant service,' writes one on the company website. 'I have homes in Naples, Florida and Napa Valley, California, but I visit my company's main office in New York City often. I have suits and overcoats and my wife has furs, eveningwear and dresses. When we come to New York, we just show up at our hotel and everything we need is there. When I travel for business, I can choose which suits I need and have everything sent to that location."

Some executives that are too busy with work forget that they need to replenish their wardrobe.

"One of our customers, a banker based in New York City, has us ship his suits and toiletries all over the world," recalls Greenberg. "Our wardrobe manager," recalls Greenberg. "Our wardrobe manager noticed that a few of his shirts were getting worn. Since we knew his size and tastes, we went to Duncan Quinn, a very stylish men's clothing store in NoLita and bought him two custom-tailored shirts and two ties, which we added to his inventory. He was so appreciative of our extra service."

"Garde Robe also offers other services, such as personal shopping and luggage-packing services, as well as providing image consultants, make-up artists and first-class seamstress services for fittings and alterations in the client's home or hotel room.

Like many niche companies, Garde Robe was born out of neccessity. Its founder Kim Akhtar was invited on a mid-winter Caribbean vacation when she realised that her warm weather wardrobe was in storage at a local cleaner's. When she tried to retrieve select items, she was told that they were not being kept in New York City and would be nearly impossible to retrive. In 2001, Akhtar and her partner Adam Gilver create Garde Robe.

The company quickly attracted other New York residents who were already short on space and needed a service to keep previous pieces of their wardrobe easily accessible. In January 2008, Garde Robe opened a new operation in Tokyo, another city known for its lack of closet space.

Rates start at $350 per month for one rack of 50 garment, one large breathable canvas bag for accessories and 10 shoeboxes. It also includes storage space in Garde Robe's climate-controlled loft, security and insurance for all items, complimentary pick-up and delivery service, and creation of the cyber closet.

A client's needs are not always routine. Take, for example, the customer living in an exclusive, high-rise apartment complex along Manhattan's Upper East Side. In October 2006, a small plane piloted by a pitcher for the New York Yankees crashed into her building one floor below her condominium. Smoke fumes and water damage rendered her valuable clothing and accessories unwearable, but within hours of the crash, with the police and fire departments' approval, Garde Robe was able to enter her apartment, gather her clothes and take them to be refurbished for future use.

"We had one customer with an unexpected flood in her apartment complex along Park Avenue and she needed us to refurbish and catalogue her clothes," says Greenberg.

"Then there was an unexplainable dust explosion in one customer's apartment in the West Village. Their entire wardrobe needed to be cleaned."

What has been the most challenging piece of clothing? "A well-known clothing designer created a wedding gown for his sister," says Greenberg. "The train alone was four metres long. It was very difficult to photograph the entire gown, and it took three people to lift it and fold it correctly, but we succeeded."

It's that sort of attention to detail the helps Garde Robe stay a step ahead.

If you'd rather let someone else deal with storing your clothes, there's Garde Robe. Based in New York City, Garde Robe maintains a climate-controlled, air-purified, secure loft where you can have your out-of-season or old clothes and shoes stored. Each item is professionally cleaned, catalogued, photographed and added to your personal online wardrobe portfolio. Should you be hit with a sudden urge to wear that mink coat tomorrow night, just visit your Cyber Closet, and Garde Robe will deliver it to you. The company will also sell your unwanted items on a consignment basis, and if you find yourself pressed for time before that big trip to Maui, they'll even pack for you - for $100 an hour. The fee for wardrobe storage (50 garments) is $350 per month, while storage for 30 pairs of shoes is $225 per month. With all of that extra room, you might be able to turn your walk-in closet into a guest bathroom.

Many services will ship your travel clothes, but Garde Robe, the Manhattan wardrobe seasonal storage provider, even packs your bags. Along with keeping and cataloging your clothes, it will now ship them to your destination. Before traveling, customers visit the Web site to view photos and garments and other sundries in storage and simply click on the selections they would like delivered. When the luggage is shipped back, Garde Robe's valet service takes care of cleaning and repairs.

Just when you thought that air travel hassles had reached their peak, airlines began charging fees for second suitcases and putting new weight limitations on carry-on bags. So what do you do when you want to make a weekend getaway to Lake Tahoe? Travel without a suitcase, of course.

Garde Robe is a New York-based company that will pack and ship your wardrobe via UPS or FedEx (they keep a selection of your travel clothes in a storage loft) anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. When you arrive at your destination, your belongings will be waiting for you. At the end of your visit, just place the clothes back in the box in which they arrived, stick on the return shipping label provided by the company, and drop it off with your concierge to have it sent back to Garde Robe. Upon receipt of your items, the company will take care of unpacking and cleaning your clothes. As investment banker and longtime client Thomas Wajnert says, "It's a pleasure to find exactly the right wardrobe items where you need them, when you need them."

What's included? Garde Robe will store and digital catalogue 50 pieces of clothing, plus toiletries. Additional services, such as seasonal fur storage, are also available. And if you need a visit from a tailor to adjust the fit of, say, a new suit, that, too, can be arranged. The company will even have unwanted items put up for sale on eBay or donated to charity. Monthly rates start at $350 plus tax.

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to worry about packing... ever? Frequent travelers to New York may want to check out Garde Robe, a service that stores, cleans and repairs clothing and transports it to your New York residence of choice. To initiate the service, a Garde Robe rep picks up the items and takes them to Garde Robe's HQ, a climate-controlled storage loft. Everything is photographed and cataloged on a "cybercloset," which customers can access 24/7 to select the date, location and time of their next Big Apple arrival and the clothing they want waiting for them. The company will also ship stored items worldwide. Rates start at $350 a month

Only a New Yorker with too many clothes and too little space could think up the perfect way to store your swimsuits and minks in the off-season. In 2001, Kim Akhtar founded Garde Robe, which has recently expanded its services to appeal to the frequent New York visitor. It's called "luggage-free travel" -as you step on the plane with only a book in hand, your wardrobe is waiting in ready-to-wear condition at your residence or hotel. Globe-trotters enjoy same-day and rush services, as well as tailoring, dry cleaning and steaming.

When your belongings are delivered to Garde Robe's climate-controlled Fashion District loft, each item is photographed, cataloged and uploaded into your personal, password-protected online "closet." Access your "closet" 24/7 to piece together the perfect ensembles for your weekend in New York. Garde Robe's valet service extends worldwide, as items can be shipped to any and all international destinations. It's no wonder celebrities and fashion heavy-hitters trust this clever company with their most precious haute couture.

Kids enjoy packing. For the rest of us, there is Garde Robe, a wardrobe storage service that delivers stored clothes anywhere in the world - in freshly pressed condition. At the end of the trip, Garde Robe representatives retrieve the items, clean them and return them to the storage facility.

The New York-based service also creates "cyber closets," so clients can visit their clothing online and choose the items to be packed. It gives new meaning to "traveling light."

If you love traveling in style - and stylishly - but hate the strain of organizing, closeting and maintaining a large wardrobe, Garde Robe might have the solution. Based in Manhattan, Garde Robe (French for wardrobe) will pick up, photograph and catalog clothes for people in the New York area, and place them digitally into a cybercloset that can be accessed online and physically in a temperature-controlled storage loft in mid-town Manhattan. With the click of a mouse, you can arrange to have items delivered to any location, saving you the trouble of packing and unpacking suitcase, hauling luggage and waiting for baggage claim in airports. And if your itinerary should suddenly require additional stops, your clothes will be packaged and shipped to the next location. After your trip, your clothes are shipped back to the loft, cleaned and returned to cotton garment bags or wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in breathable canvas boxes.

Designed originally for New Yorkers who have run out of closet space at home, Garde Robe has expanded its services to include people who travel to the Big Apple frequently and would like to keep a wardrobe, accessories and toiletries on hand in the city. After their hotel is booked, they can log into their cybercloset (or call) and choose the items they want delivered to the hotel. Their clothes arrive in garment bags and boxes, and are hanging in the closet in perfect condition when they arrive. Today, many of Garde Robe's clients come from England and appreciate the convenience of going through customs without luggage.

To complete its wardrobe service, Garde Robe offers tailors, image consultants and makeup artists who will come to a home or hotel, as well as packing and laundering services.

People who have ample closet space may still find Garde Robe's cataloging service valuable - especially for insurance purposes. A representative will come to your home, anywhere in the country, professionally photograph your clothing on mannequins, add a detailed description and log it into an online account. The catalog can also be put in a leather-bound portfolio.

The service starts at $350 a month, which includes storage space, pickup and delivery service and use of the cybercloset.

- Marianne Cotter

Still can't part with that blouse you haven't worn in ten years? Let Garde Robe do it for you. Its staff will evaluate your wardrobe, store and catlogue off-season items, clean, repair, pack, ship - you name it. And they'll help you donate castaways to worthy charities like Dress for Success and Housing Works.

By Christina Stewart

Fashion & Style: For any trendsetter, who is in constant pursuit of the latest fashions, having somewhere to store all their fab finds is crucial. With Garde Robe, a luxury wardrobe storage, organization and valet company, you can now have endless closet space and a personal wardrobe valet at your disposal.

The New York-based company, which was founded back in 2001, has recently expanded its reach by offering services throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Members can take advantage of the company’s wide range of benifits, including first-class storage for off-season garments; archiving and preservation of evening wear, couture and vintage collections; luggage-packing and shipping worldwide; and much more.

Members also receive around-the-clock visual access to the company’s Internet-based Cyber Closet, worldwide access to all items in Garde Robe’s care, as well as the convenience of traveling without having to pack or carry a suitcase.

“Imagine traveling without packing or unpacking, lugging heavy suitcases or waiting in overcrowded baggage claim and Customs areas,” says Adam Gilvar, president of Garde Robe. “Imagine arriving at your destination with the clothes, shoes and travel accessories you selected already in the closet, ready to wear. That’s Garde Robe’s Luggage-Free Valet.”

The process begins when Garde Robe sends one of its highly-trained wardrobe consultants to a members’ home or hotel room. After the consultant inspects the clothing, it is photographed and cataloged, and then carefully transported to one of the company’s climate-controlled storage lofts. When a member decides they want to wear a cataloged item, they simply login to their secure Cyber Closet, and Garde Robe delivers the garment in ready-to-wear condition.

This unique and convenient luggage-free valet system is the first service of its kind to hit the market and has been endorsed by celebrities such as Ivanka Trump, and utilized by fashion designers such as Oscar De La Renta.

“I store my favorite couture gowns with Garde Robe without hesitation, knowing that they are in safe hands,” says Ivanka Trump.

While Garde Robe was designed with the jetsetter in mind, this unique service is also ideal for those fashion-forward individuals who not only value their clothes, but also value the luxury lifestyle.

By Jess Wangsness

So you outfit a client's master bedroom closet with all of the latest amenities, add that extra flourish in architectural details and take stock of his/her wardrobe to include the right balance of shoe shelves and hanging space. But then your client asks you for a few tips on how to store garments properly. Perhaps you readily supply a list of suggestions. Or, perhaps you struggle to settle on an answer.

Either way, we asked garment storage specialists at New York City-based Garde Robe to offer a few tips for storing garments, shoes and specialty items such as beaded blouses and fur. With an additional outlet in Tokyo, Japan and plans to expand into other key markets, Garde Robe provides professional storage services for its roster of clients who need extra closet space. Once a client calls, the company retrieves his/her belongings, has them professionally photographed and then creates a "cyber-closet" the client can reference when preparing for a trip or an event. Garde Robe staff members personally deliver garments and accessories to the client's doorstep or expertly pack a suitcase and ship it to the client's destination.

But the company also stores the archives of fashion designers such as Oscar De La Renta. While Garde Robe's vice-president, Doug Greenberg, maintains that one could earn a PhD in garment care, he suggested an abbreviated list of tips that custom storage professionals can share with their clients.

Proper Cleaning and Insects: Because many Garde-Robe clients store their seasonal items at the company's state-of-the-art storage loft, Greenberg says that the most important element of proper garment care is appropriate cleaning. Even if someone has only worn a dress suit once, the pieces must be dry-cleaned before storage. Otherwise, they risk an infestation of Clothes Moths, whose larvae feed on the bacteria that insidiously grows on garments that have not been cleaned. To help combat the potential problem, Greenberg advises clients to invest in lavender sachets or cedar blocks, especially for fine knits.

"Let's say you have a cashmere sweater, and you're going to put it away for the summer," Greenberg says. "First things first, make sure it's properly cleaned, fold it with acid-free tissue in the crease and then place a cedar block wrapped in the same acid-free tissue before you put it away in a breathable, canvas box." Because cedar blocks and flower sachets have oils that can stain garments, Garde Robe staffers advise clients to wrap them in tissue paper before placing them in proximity to clothes.

They also recommend using acid-free tissue in the crease of folded garments, such as sweaters and cotton shirts because it prevents the fabric from breaking down every time. "If knits aren't folded with acid-free tissue, then it's very much like bending a straw in half," Greenberg maintains. "The fabric will eventually break over time."

Footwear: With a slew of shoe care products available on the market, Greenberg tells clients to care for shoes from the inside out. He recommends toe shapers for women's shoes, boot trees for boots and shoe trees for men's loafers, all of which shape the interiors of shoes and prevent creasing on the outside. Creasing and insufficient support diminish the longevity of all shoes, no matter the cost. But shapers also have a side benefit: They soak up the perspiration left in our shoes after a day's wearing.

Storage Conditions: While the vast majority of custom closet clients could probably do without an advanced air purification system, they can certainly promote the longevity of their garments by considering a few issues:

**Light: Natural light in a closet is a beautiful feature, but, over the long haul, sunlight actually causes color fading and fabric damage. If a client's closet does have a window, then Greenberg recommends a pull-down shade that blocks out the sun's rays when the closet is not in use. Also, he advises closet-owners to rotate their garments so that the same pieces are not always in direct line with the window.

**Temperature: If clients live in areas that experience four distinct seasons, then the temperature of their homes can vary widely. Because temperature fluctuation is a frequent culprit in garment decay, the Garde Robe storage loft is kept at a consistent 70 to 71 degrees. To avoid to unnecessary fabric damage, closet owners should maintain a steady temperature in warmer and colder months.

**Humidity: Whether custom closet clients have expensive duds or prefer thriftier fare, a small air-purifier helps to regulate himidity and promotes the longevity of garments and shoes. As an added benefit, air-purifiers also eliminate dust.

Handbags: Women's purses, totes and clutches requre significant space in a master closet, and, to help keep them propped up, Greenberg says that company founder, Kim Akhtar, used to employ a sturdy set of bookends. When bags are piled on the closet floor or haphazardly arranged on a shelf, they often develop deep creases that eventually become permanent. Just like sweaters, women's handbags also benefit from acid-free tissue stuffing that maintains the shape and should be kept in breathable bags that ward off dust. Alss, remember that leather bags are made from animal hide and need to be moisturized monthly with specialty lotions that prevent drying and cracking, while fabric bags benefit from the occasional swipe of a baby wipe's gentle cleansers.

Hangers: Type the word "hangers" into the Google search box, and you end up with over nine million results. With a slew of possibilites, Greenberg says that it is important to pair the right hanger with different types of garments. "If you have a heavy winter coat, for example, it has to be on a wide, padded hanger with more shoulder support to maintain the shape," he suggests. "If you put the same coat on a small shirt hanger, it will leave a crease that-on a leather or delicate piece-can be very hard to remove."

Specialty Items: If your custom closet clients are fond of beaded attire, then make sure to inform them to fold such garments. When draped over a hanger, the weight of the beads succumbs to gravity and will stretch the garment out over time. Furs, however, require cotton or silk bags for proper storage, and Greenberg strongly recommends clients to keep them in reputable fur storage facility during off-seasons. Unlike other garments, furs prefer a room temperature of 40 degrees, with 40 to 45 percent humidity. In addition, a furrier cleans coats by placing them in a drum with cleaning solution and sawdust, which absorbs the dirt and oil. On a side note, many people believe that furs should only be worn in dry weather; but since, animals are waterproof, so, as it turns out, are fur coats and jackets.

Breathable Storage Items: While garments often come sealed in plastic after a trip to the dry cleaners, Greenberg strongly emphasizes the importance of trading plastic for breathable bags. "Always use breathable supplies," he notes. "It doesn't matter what your [closet] ventilation is like if your storage supplies are choking your garments. When you get your stuff back from the dry cleaners, and it's in those plastic bags, that's actually the worst thing for your garments to be in long term."

Plastic bags emit gases that mix unfavorably with the oils that collect on clothes, ultimately causeing white shirts to stain yellow and garment fibers to weaken and break over time.

In addition, he advises clients to store leather and suede items in breathable garment bags and in a seperate zone within the closet. When a red leather jacket, for example, is hung next to a white blouse, the dyes from the leather will eventually rub off on and stain other fabrics. If, on the other hand, certain leather or suede pieces are in rotation every day, then Greenberg suggests hanging them on a valet rod for easy access.

Why Such Details Are Important: Armed with a few tidbits about proper garment storage, closet professionals can leverage their industry expertise by discussing with their clients how to properly care for a variety of belongings. As the old adage goes: "If you build it, they will come." If you show them how to maintain it, they might come back for more.

The perfect gift from a CEO to his traveling minions, the New York City-based Garde Robe service will pickup, photograph, store and electronically organize the customer's wardrobe. Garde Robe keeps vintage and collector's items safe in their climate-controlled storage facilities, creates virtual wardrobes accessible online where photographs of client's clothing are organized in 18 categories, including "Black Tie" and "Leather" and even-- best of all -- sends pre-ordered clothing items, washed and pressed, to meet a business traveler, wherever the trip may take him. The service caters to high-profile actors and actresses, rock stars, supermodels and even plain old businessmen.

For New Yorkers who fantasize about infinite closet space, Garde Robe is a dream come true. They offer "museum quality" garment and accessory storage, and extensive auxiliary wardrobe services. Founded in 2001, they have become an invaluable resource for those with overflowing closets. Clients rave about their "Cyber Closet" service, through which they photograph and catalog your entire wardrobe, making it viewable on their website. Customers choose the pieces they want, and Garde Robe delivers them, usually on the same day. Travelers who wish to avoid baggage claim can choose items to be packed and shipped directly to their destination.

Garde Robe recently built a new secure storage facility which features air purification, climate control, and refrigerated fur storage. Their clients, which include major fashion houses, trust them to safely store delicate, couture, and vintage items. Garde Robe's garment care services go beyond the imagination of traditional storage companies, including arranging professional cleaning, alterations, and repairs. For those wishing to build up or pare down their wardrobe, Garde Robe offers in-suite wardrobe consultation services, fashion styling, closet organization, and consignment services. In a city where time and space come at a premium, Garde Robe gives customers more than any New Yorker could ever wish for.

Client Comments:
"I find Garde Robe to be indispensible for my busy life." "Super responsive and extremely flexible." "Their organizational efforts keep my valuable couture pieces in perfect condition, and easily accessible." "They offer so many services." "We are very satisfied with Garde Robe." "Highly recommended."

Click here to read The Franklin Report rating on Garde Robe

Simplify Right
By Mark Jolly

First, American Airlines threw down the gauntlet. Then United, US Airways and, just last week, Continental followed. Now, checked bagged fees - $30 round-trip for one item - are virtually set to become standard policy among most major airlines. Which means with the growing legions of passengers armed with just hand luggage, you'd better get used to an intensified battle for the overhead bins and phalanx of new "carry-on-police" station at security lines.

Or you could just circumvent the carry-on chaos altogether.

For Ultimate style, though, the folks at Garde Robe have really caught our imagination. Billed as the world's first luxury wardrobe valet service, the new company delivers your desired closet contents to your hotel so that they're ready-to-wear on arrival. Clothing is packed and sent in tall wardrobe boxes so they hang naturally. Garde Robe -whose core business is clothing storage in New York - will even retrieve any items on departure, handle the dry cleaning and send them back to you. Wrinkle-free.

Garde Robe, Manhattan's ultimate wardrobe storage service, recently expanded to Tokyo. The company's inclusion of the Asian super-city solves the perennial problem of fitting occasion-appropriate style in a carry-on bag - a solution for the business traveler, dual city resident or fashionable jetsetter. While the obvious advantage is avoiding lost baggage, an added plus is you'll never worry again about a wrinkled suit or damaged dress. The service made waves when it initially opened in New York by offering space-challenged fashionistas a place to stow out-of-season attire. Using the Cyber Closet function, clients can search clothing they've stored (each filed with a photo and description) and select which pieces they want available and when. To start your closet in Tokyo, visit Garde Robe's website.

Henley Holmes Vazquez 07/31/2008

Calling Carrie Bradshaw! If you live in New York, chances are your closets are full to bursting, but there's a more stylish option to dim, dusty storage centers. Garde Robe is like having a walk-in closet with endless space and an on-call valet. Its staff will collect your rarely-used or seasonal clothes, shoes, bags and any other accessories, have them professionally cleaned, and then store them in a secure, loft-like wardrobe facility that's custom-designed for climate control and air purity. Clients have access to their belongings through personalized online "cyber closet," which has a detailed pictorial inventory of each item, and can request that certain pieces be delivered back home at any time. In addition, the innovative service can help you organize and categorize your closets, and, if you're really looking to downsize, its staff will sell your unwanted clothes by consignment on ebay. Garde Robe is ideal for frequent travelers to the Big Apple who don't want to carry heavy luggage each trip; just leave your things with them and they'll deliver it to your hotel the next time you're in town. They can arrange a seamstress or tailor for alterations, and can even send someone to unpack and pack for you. For a full overhaul, they can also set you up with an image consultant and a hair and make-up artist. It may not be Narnia, but that's some magical wardrobe!

Your closet isn't always the first thing on your mind, but as it gets chillier, you're going to be spending a lot of quality time up to your elbows in summer wear, digging for that v-neck.

Might we suggest a more efficient solution: Garde Robe is here to make your closet a little more virtual. First, they'll relieve your unfortunately sized closet and take everything you don't need down to their loft. Then, if you feel the need to gaze upon those white pants one last time, you can browse through all the items they're holding for you on their website, divided up by category. And if you decide to wear the seersucker hoodie to Thanksgiving, just give them a call and they'll bring it straight to you, wherever and whenever you want.

You can also do a little off-season prep with Garde Robe's staff seamstress and professional image consultant, and their packing service will make sure nothing gets too wrinkled. There's even French hand-laundering, if you're worried your shorts are getting dusty in storage.

And the Garde Robe loft has round-the-clock security, so you can be sure your flip-flops won't fall into the wrong hands.

Or on the wrong feet.

Fashion Bites

Iman has revealed the secret of her wardrobe. Apparently she stores all her dresses on mannequins with a company called Garde Robe, which is archived online. When she wants one, she simply logs on and chooses it, then waits for it to be delivered.

Travel Deals on Campaign Trail

New York's Garde Robe (French for "wardrobe"), provides storage service for travelers' clothes, shoes and accessories. The items can be ordered and delivered for your next trip; at the end of the trip, the items will be retrieved, professionally cleaned and stored. Rates start at $350 a month. Set up your cyber closet at www.garderobeonline.com.