Style Buzz: Easy Tips for Looking After Your Clothes
- Eugene Stylist
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"So you're saying if I never try on hats, I'm never going to find the style that suits me?!"
This was said with a lot of sarcasm, of course. A friend was complaining that they can't find a hat they like. They've got something in mind, but haven't had any luck actually finding it. So I asked the obvious question: where have you been looking? What styles have you tried on? What efforts have you made to find this perfect hat? They just laughed when they realized that just like clothes, you never know what suits you until you actually try stuff on! Yes, it takes time and energy, but it's a necessity.
xxx rachel
LOOKING AFTER YOUR CLOTHES
(the easy way!)
One of the easiest ways to save money on your wardrobe is simply to look after the clothes you already own. Most clothing doesn't wear out because it's old; it wears out because it's stored incorrectly, washed too often, or treated a little too casually. A few small habits can make a surprising difference.
As a general rule, structured pieces like blazers, coats, dresses, button-front shirts, and trousers are happiest on hangers. Use sturdy, shaped hangers rather than thin wire ones to help garments keep their shape. The velvet ones are great for keeping items on the hanger and not slipping off and onto the floor in a wrinkled heap. Knitwear, heavy sweaters, and anything with stretch should be folded instead. Hanging these causes shoulders to droop and fabrics to stretch over time. Even if you fold it over the hanger, there's a chance of causing a permanent crease due to the weight of the fabric pulling it down. (And yes, you see all sorts of knitwear on hangers in the shops, but that's because they won't be there for long.)
Not everything needs washing after every wear. Jeans can often go several wears before they need a wash, as can sweaters if you've worn a layer underneath. Jackets and blazers usually only need occasional cleaning unless they've picked up stains or odors. Washing less frequently helps fabrics retain their color, shape, and softness for much longer.
It's also worth giving your clothes a chance to recover. Rather than wearing the same favorite pair of shoes or jeans every day, rotate them. Shoes (and your feet!) especially benefit from a day off to allow moisture to evaporate, helping them last much longer. You don't necessarily need a shoe tree for every pair, but if you've got shoes that tend to crumple on the shelf, they're worth using. I've seen people use pool noodles to help taller boots maintain their shape, so it doesn't need to be a big investment to have a big benefit. I've also heard suggestions to hang boots up using clips in the closet like pants, but that just leaves marks in the leather and who wants that?
Some simple tools can make older clothes look almost new again. A fabric shaver or comb removes pilling from knitwear, a lint roller keeps dark clothing looking fresh, and a clothes brush is ideal for removing lint, dust, pet hair, and surface dirt from wool coats and jackets. You can use makeup wipes to remove deodorant or dirt smudges before they set in. I'm also a huge fan of the Snag-Nab-It tool, which pulls loose threads through to prevent a further run in the fabric.
Finally, don't let small problems become big ones. Sew on a loose button, repair a tiny hole, or have trousers hemmed before the damage worsens and causes a fray.
Looking after your clothes isn't a waste of time or a nuisance. It actually takes longer to find a decent replacement, plus you'll get more enjoyment and value from the wardrobe you've carefully built. So be kind to them and they'll keep you looking polished and stylish (until you've worn them completely out or you're ready to send them to their next home).
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
The overcast mornings mean I'm dragging out mid-season clothes: it's too cool for shorts but too warm for jeans. Enter capris! Capris don't always mean frumpy and boring. It is possible to dress them up so you feel put together and a little more polished. The danger of capris is that they cut you off at your leg's widest point, but these have a slight flare to them which actually makes calves look smaller. I've paired these with a tonal blouse (note how the lace chevron detail draws the eye in) and cream accessories in the oversized earrings, handbag, and hat that brighten and complement the cream floral print in the blouse. The neutral heels elongate my legs and elevate the outfit (literally!) without drawing the eye all over the place and competing for attention. Now all I need is the sun to come back out and warm up the day!
Shirt: Loft
Capris: Joe's Jeans
Shoes: BC
Hat: Kooringal
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