Every once in a while the stars align and you find a piece that you love... and then wish you bought 3 more!
The idea with a building a wardrobe that you love is to take a little extra time to maintain it. One of the easiest ways to do that is to avoid wearing these specific items every day.
For men: Ties, which are usually made of silk, a delicate fabric, should be rotated as the silk can get a permanent crease in it and can stretch out too much.
It's so easy to wear the same belt every day, but these definitely need a day of rest to come back to their original shape. Plus, the added stress on the leather will mean the belt will wear out and crack must faster.
I suggest all my clients have two brown belts and two black belts for work. I would also suggest at least two casual belts so you're not wearing the same one every weekend.
Just like belts, shoes are made of leather and they also absorb the sweat from our feet so when worn every day, you're not going to have them as long. Wearing your favorite pair back-to-back, will mean you'll have to increase your shoe budget because you'll need a replacement in a few months rather than a few years!
For women: Aside from shoes (see above), items with a bit of stretch in them, like bras and shapewear, definitely need to a day of rest to return to their original shape. A good bra can be expensive so be sure to give it a break and wear it at least every other day.
Jeans can also have some stretch so in order to avoid saggy knees and butt, give your jeans a day off. Your wardrobe will thank you for it and you won't have to go shopping as often!
Keeping Your Whites White and Why Some Get Discolored So Quickly
White jeans are great. They work with anything! However, white jeans are like red lipstick - you have to commit.
I can't wear mine just anywhere as I don't want to get a stain or accidentally sit on something! However there are several things you can do to keep them (and any other white garments), looking clean and new.
The first option is a common household product - hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is the liquid form of OxiClean (Google 'OxiClean ingredient list' and hydrogen peroxide will be listed as the active ingredient! :).
This works great when it comes to getting out stains on your white clothes (you don't want to use bleach since that is very harsh on your clothes and will break down the fibers).
I recommend putting 1/3 cup of hydrogen peroxide in with your load of white clothes (and regular detergent) and then let it soak.
This is my favorite option because it's natural (the only thing I remember from chemistry class is that hydrogen peroxide is H2O2 and therefore turns into water when exposed to light). It's also inexpensive and non-toxic (that's super important to me!)
The second option is a product called White Brite.
My mom has used this on things like sheets and pillow cases when they started to look a little yellow. Again, you’ll need to soak your whites (for about an hour), but it really works! And you don’t need to use this every time you wash something - just when you want things to look a little brighter.
Surprising, the best place to buy this is at the hardware store (I don’t think I’ve ever seen it at Target). Their website lists Lowe’s, Menards and Ace. Amazon is also a good source.
One last piece of advice about white clothes. Remember that many of the inexpensive white clothes are actually dyed to look white. The original fabric may be off-white. This is why many of your white items might look “gray” or dingy after a few washes and wears.
I’m not saying you should pay $200 for a pair of white jeans, but look to see how white something is — is it too bright? The same thing happens with jewelry and hardware on bags that’s too shiny - it looks cheap. Items should be white, but not electric or bright white and don’t go for the cheapest item out there. If it’s only a t-shirt that you don’t mind replacing every season, then fine, an inexpensive one is great. However, spending a bit more on a beloved piece should stand the test of time and these options can help!
Why Designers Don't Make More Dresses With Sleeves
In a nutshell, designers think sleeves look dowdy. It's also hard to construct a sleeve that's flattering and has a good range of motion (as we know, the world is much more casual and comfort is now king!).
However, as someone who has never really liked her upper arms and as a stylist that has fit and shopped for hundreds of women, I can tell you that you still have plenty of stylish options.
- Fall is the best time to shop for styles with sleeves. If you see something, don't hesitate to buy it.
- 3/4 length sleeves are the most flattering since they draw the eye away from the hip and don't stop or draw attention to the bust line (like short sleeves can)
- A blazer (on the shorter side, but doesn't have to be cropped) is your best option for layering - try to avoid the cropped cardigan, which can look "too little girl" and usually matches the color in your dress (that's a no-no as that falls into the category of too "matchy, matchy")
- Even though I don't like my upper arms, even just a cap sleeve is better than nothing because it visually "breaks" up how much skin is being shown and I'm less likely to have armpit skin hanging out (thanks Jennifer Lawrence for being so honest about this!)
- I like a short, structured sleeve as it has the same effect as a strong shoulder on a blazer - it makes your waist look smaller
- A cardigan is another option, but I prefer a blazer because it adds a bit more structure and looks a little more put together than a cardigan