Sometimes a dress code can feel rote – more like a uniform than an expression of personal style. This is especially true if you’ve built up a wardrobe of rewearable pieces and they’ve each made appearances at several occasions. Here are a few ways to make sure your outfit comes together and feels fresh:
Accessories: By this point, you’ve picked the perfect outfit. You will look great no matter what. But if you have the time and means, consider the distinguishing details. Have you thought about jewelry? What tie you’ll wear? How you’ll carry your necessities? Whether you’ll need a coat, and which one to wear? These questions are best addressed at least a week prior to the event, so you have time to shop or borrow from a friend if needed. Or maybe the answer is in your closet. If you always sport a silk tie, for example, you could try that knit one you got as a gift but haven’t worn yet.
Hair: Maybe you show up to work with wet hair every day. That’s O.K.! But you probably don’t want to do it on your best friend’s wedding day. Special occasions can present an opportunity for a haircut (at least a couple days in advance), or a hairdo (likely the day of). As long as your hair doesn’t appear visibly slept-on, greasy or otherwise unkempt, you’re doing fine.
Buying clothes built to last is one thing — but there's a lot you can do to make them endure. We polled designers and the dry cleaners they trust for tips on how to take care of our clothes. And our biggest takeaway is that first and foremost, everything we wear should be enjoyed — accessorized with a joie de vivre and not a fear of getting ruined. Here are the experts’ tips for wearing, storing and even cleaning your clothes correctly to prolong the life of your favorite items.
Intimates and Swimwear Treat Your Delicates Like Delicates Araks Yeramyan, the founder of Araks, is beloved for her line’s underthings and swimsuits — which she says to wash by hand and never put in the dryer. “On a few lazy occasions, I have tried putting intimates in the machine, and the elastic is never the same.” Even while traveling, she’ll pack light and hand-wash items in the shower. Yeramyan’s method for washing delicates at home: Wash like colors together. Fill a basin with cool water and a gentle detergent (she uses Ecover delicate wash). Or in a pinch, fill the sink with water and shampoo (Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap, in her case). Swirl the laundry a few times over the course of an hour.
Shine LeggingsGently squeeze out excess water. Dry on a drying rack. Rinse After Taking a Dip “Swimwear always needs to soak in water after every use; the saltwater or chlorine breaks down the fibers and the elastic. Your suits will last much longer if you follow this rule,” said Yeramyan. Let Everything Air Out “Everything with elastic in it should be in a rotation, especially bras. The elastic needs to relax. In general, no matter what you do, elastic has a shelf life, but the better you take care of them the longer they will last.”
Yeramyan also recommends storing lingerie with space around it, for a little breathing room. And slipping empty perfume bottles into lingerie drawers: “The idea is it leaves a little scent behind.” Tops Dress Shirts "The width of the hanger should not overpass the width of the shirt shoulders." —Anne-Marie Colban, who co-owns and operates Charvet, a shirt-making company. Anne-Marie Colban, who co-owns and operates the legendary shirtmaking company Charvet, suggests these tips for taking care of your button-down shirts: Pay Close Attention to the Insides of Collars. It’s here that stains can creep up from skin products, like lotion or makeup. Be sure to wash them immediately, especially before hanging shirts in the closet (scroll down for tips on how to remove stains).
Avoid Dryers. They will break down the fibers of the fabric and cause the garment to shrink and age prematurely. Instead, Air-Dry on Hangers. Colban prefers wooden ones. “The width of the hanger should not overpass the width of the shirt shoulders. Make sure the shoulders are well laid on the hanger and more generally, pull a little bit the fabric of the shirt to limit wrinkles (this will facilitate ironing).” When storing hangers in the closet, she suggests leaving space between them — to keep the pressed shirts smooth. Rewash Stains. “Before ironing, it is important to check that there are no more stains. If there are, wash the shirt again.” Iron With Water. Colban advocates for steam or no steam, whatever you prefer, but cautions against completely dry ironing. “It is better to iron the shirt when it is still humid. If necessary, a spray with water can make ironing more easy.” Iron in Order. The correct ironing order is: collar, cuffs and then the rest of the shirt, says Colban.
