It’s so easy to fall in love with the new looks in stores for fall. Some of the trendy stuff I’d love to wear: cozy faux fur vests, velvet jackets, elegant silk blouses, and warm shearling boots.
What’s not so easy is figuring out how much extra those items may cost you in TLC—cleaning, pressing, and other maintenance measures—over the next few months.
Our October story “The hidden costs of clothes” teaches you how to take care of five of the biggest budget-busting fabrics (like velvet and suede—yikes!), plus gives you the 10 tools that will help keep clothes looking great.
One of the biggest fashion mistakes I ever made was not factoring in the upkeep of a suede jacket I coveted and bought a few years back. Somehow I managed to get a blob of ballpoint pen ink right on the front of the jacket, and the sticker shock I got at the cleaner who managed to get the stain out has never left me. So before you run out and buy those Ugg boots or even a plain old white cotton blouse, check out these tips:
• Read care labels before you buy anything. They’ll tell you which fabrics require the highest maintenance.
• Practice simple DIY upkeep tricks. For example, after each wearing, brush suede shoes, boots and jackets with a horsehair brush. And to keep anything velvet wrinkle-free, don’t smoosh it into a crammed clothes closet. Use a padded hanger and make sure the garment has a little breathing room.
• And don’t always think hanger. Some clothes—like anything with beads or sequins—stands a better chance of a longer life if you wrap it in tissue paper and lay it flat in a drawer on a shelf.
For more clothes-saving tips, and tips on shopping smarter, check out the October issue, on newsstands now.
