Unless you are a hard core urbanite, and take everything from your socks to your suits to the place down the street, or you have a loving wife who lives to serve you (like I was!) you probably have to do some domestic clothing maintenance on your own.
I’m sure you have long since figured out how to throw in a load of laundry or have your shirts “done”, but today I’m “pressing” for a higher standard to prolong the life of the quality goods you have invested in.
For those of you who have worked with me, you know that my motto is to buy the best quality that you can, making choices that will become an excellent value as time passes. Time, however, does involve maintenance and unless you are happy to give that shrunken @250.00 cashmere sweater to your 12 year old niece, or toss a 9$95 polo that fits you like a glove, but has a grease splotch on the front…. it’s time to learn a few basics.
A few tips for your casual wardrobe:
1. The first line of defense against damage is when you are undressing.
Don’t put anything in the laundry basket other than 100% cotton gym clothes, yard work clothes and underwear. Everything else requires at least a modicum of special treatment and it is too easy for that stuff to get mixed up in the pile. Next, be rigorous about emptying your pants and shirt pockets of items especially PENS. You may have read in the NYTimes in the “Domestic Incidents” section the 3rd time my teen boys did that.
2. You can be on cautious terms with your washer, but your dryer is the enemy to all items not “allowed” in the basket.
NOT your good jeans, NOT your “good” work-out or athletic wear or anything that says, elastane, spandex, or lycra including those great new jeans or that have a little “give” to them. NOT anything that has wool, angora, cashmere. NOT anything labeled silk, ramie, linen, acetate, rayon or bamboo. Those items all require either line or flat drying. Worried – just check out the little label sewn inside. There are either helpful written instructions or little tiny drawings that were created by some non-English speaking computer somewhere and supposed to be universal. But regardless, if you think of the dryer as the purveyor of fluffy undershirts, sheets and towels and that’s about it, you will be ahead of the game.
3. Knits stretch out easily over time.
Fold anything knit (polos, sweaters) with the sleeves tucked around back and the center front panel flat. Even knit ties are not made to be hung for long periods of time, find a little corner in a drawer for them.
Need help processing all this? That’s the beauty of hiring a professional!
The easiest way to look your best is to make a single phone call. What happens next? A Personal Image Consultant shows up and effectively and efficiently
- transform a disorganized, overloaded closet into a lean, mean business tool machine
- does the shopping you know you need for you – you show up to a pre-stocked dressing room!
- OR, brings the beautiful quality, high value J Hilburn line of affordable custom clothing right to your home or office!
I am a Personal Image Consultant and a J Hilburn Stylist, Trainer and Recruiter
I bring confidence, organization, efficiency to your life.