Hang it all.

• Position: What's New? - Line of Ultimage clothes hangers from Contico International - Product/Service Evaluation

* Of all the things commonly found around the house, the humble hanger might be expected to be the one least subject to change. Nonsense, say the people from Contico International, St. Louis, Mo. What they have done is taken the basic concept and refined it to fit specific tasks, rather than applying the accessory to all purposes, no matter how ill-suited the shape might be.

The workhorse of the line is the Ultimate Hanger ($4.9t3) with its elongated oval shape, punctuated with a pair of internal smaller ovals, a straight bar, and hooked notches at top and bottom. The top notches are designed to hold items with shoulder straps, like a dress; the bottom ones to grip belt buckles. The bottom internal oval serves as an anchor for clothing draped over the horizontal bar, such as pants, then tucked through the oval. The small top oval, meanwhile, grips scarves, ties, etc. That leaves the top--the part most familiar to people who use hangers--to drape a jacket or shirt over. As a companion piece, the Ultimate Suit Hanger ($3.99) is cut wide at the top so jackets are assured of hanging crease-free, with a wide horizontal bar at the bottom to drape trousers over, a small top oval to slide ties into, and bottom notches for belts.

Slightly narrower and a bit more delicate, but with the same general design, is the Ultimate Clip Hanger ($2.99), aimed more for the distaff occupant of the closet, with a pair of adjustable, sturdy sliding clips on...