I invited Rachel Harrison and Jennifer Scott from A Good Chick To Know design  to my Yaletown apartment for a little chat and a quick facelift of my desperate-looking, overstuffed closet.

Jennifer Scott and Rachel Harrison

Let me explain: I’m not a shopaholic but my closet is simply too small. It doesn’t help that my husband’s wardrobe takes up half of it. I didn’t really have a system — closet organizing gives me anxiety — and everything was just randomly placed all over the place. Case in point: this photo.

Before (Don't judge me)

I picked up a few IKEA boxes and some new hangers beforehand and the Chicks went wild with the garments, putting things into ‘no’ and ‘winter’ piles, re-hanging, re-folding, going through my accessories. Needless to say, the place was a disaster! But the good news: I didn’t have to do any work, other than saying: “yes” and “no.” Here’s the result!

After: colour-blocked and organized

And the Chicks themselves? They are stylish, bubbly and brutally honest (when they need to be). And if they can give my closet a quickie facelift in just a couple of hours, imagine what they can do with a whole day or to your entire apartment. While they worked, I got to know them better, and about some of their influences. I also got a couple of useful wardrobe and decorating tips!

Who are some of your style icons?
Rachel Harrison: Chanel.
Jennifer Scott: Stella McCartney (huge shout out to cruelty-free designs) and Sienna Miller.

In a case of emergency, like a fire or flood, which item would you rescue from your closet?
RH: My collection of vintage Chanel bags. They are irreplaceable.
JS: My perfectly well-worn denim jacket. It took forever to find one that fit just right, had the right wash and already looked loved.

 Our hanging accessories

What are some items that every woman should own?
We find that many women have a solid collection of "special" pieces in their closet, yet are lacking when it comes to nailing the basics.

1. Slim-fit dark denim;
2. Classic black pumps;
3. Cute flats;
4. Thin, longer t-shirts in neutral colours (white, grey, black);
5. Fine-knit longer cardigans for layering;
6. A black cocktail or evening dress. It should be figure-flattering and showcase your best assets; and
7. Fabulous bags. Every woman should have a few bags that make her feel special.

What are some of your favourite places to shop in Vancouver (for both fashion and home design)?
For fashion, we love Aritzia, Front & Company, Block, Obakki and, for work wear, Jacqueline Conoir.

RS: For home design, I love beautiful, classically-inspired special pieces. My fave boutiques are The Cross, Living Space and Vancouver Special.
JS: For me, it's about the thrill of the find. I am largely inspired by unexpected vintage pieces and can always be found treasure hunting at ReFind and Space Lab at 3rd and Main.

Our small accessories neatly placed in compartments

What is the number one mistake women make when selecting their wardrobe?
Surprisingly, the biggest mistake we encounter is that women are buying their clothes too big. Most women have certain "issues" with their bodies and allow those issues to cloud their judgment when shopping. Women tend to blow their insecurities out of proportion and are often shocked at how incredible they look, and feel, when we get them into a garment they never thought they could wear. The key to successful shopping is to highlight your best areas. Confidence is everything, so show off what you love the most about yourself and forget about imperfections.

It's always a struggle to get rid of some our favourite pieces following weight gain or pregnancy. What is your stance on keeping some of the "just in case I lose the weight" items?
We are all guilty of keeping those "just in case" pieces! The thing to remember is that these items can easily drag down your confidence if they make up too much of your wardrobe. So keep those "skinny" clothes to a minimum. If you have more than three, you have too many!

Not my home (I wish!) but a great A Good Chick To Know project in White Rock 

Many people in Vancouver live in tiny condos with tiny closets but they have huge wardrobes. What are your top five space-saving tips?
1. Closet organizers: there are so many companies in Vancouver that can create a custom closet in any sized space and they are designed specifically for what you own.
2. Good hangers: there are ultra-thin, velvet covered hangers that not only take up no space so you can fit more, but also prevent your pretty things from slipping onto the floor.
3. Purge! Many of us tend to overstock our closets. When you actually go through what you have and weed out what you don't wear, you will find so much freed up space for your favourite pieces to be hung.
4. Set up your closet seasonally. In the summer, tuck away all your winter garments in bins under the bed so that you have easy access to the right clothes. It will also force you to take inventory of what you have and, likely, purge!
5. Invest in a good dresser if you have the space. Many mid-century dressers look incredible, are well-built and offer generous drawer space for your clothes. Check out the local vintage dealers for chic alternatives.

I love these frames!

They really are great chicks to know.

To learn more about Rachel and Jennifer and take a look at their amazing interior design work, visit their website agoodchicktoknow.com.