STEP 3: TAKE CARE
YOU FOUND YOUR WARDROBE HERO PIECES: A CRISP BALLOON- SLEEVED TOP, VINTAGE- WASH JEANS AND A PRINCE OF WALES- CHECK BLAZER THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE TESS MCGILL AFTER SHE LANDS A CORNER OFFICE. NOW TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES SO YOU DON’T END UP ALL THE WAY
LINDSEY BOYD, CO- FOUNDER OF LUXE GARMENT- CARE BRAND THE LAUNDRESS, ON HOW TO…
Not overdo it. “You don’t need to wash your jeans and sweaters after just one wear (or even two).” Try: Spot-treat stains, and spray with an antibacterial fabric refresher.
Take care of that fancy Equipment blouse. “Silk items will say ‘Dry clean only’ when they can, in fact, be washed at home.” Dry cleaning natural fibres can set in odours and stains. Try: Wash in a gentle cycle, and skip the dryer. When it comes to heat, it’s the dryer, not the water temperature, that’s most damaging to clothes.
Deal with pilling on knits—yes, it happens to expensive sweaters too. “Pilling doesn’t mean the sweater wasn’t manufactured properly; it’s just a natural quality of the yarn and happens from wear.” Try: Brush knits with a pumice stone, and use a scented wool-and-cashmere spray to refresh between washes.
Make your blazers meeting-ready again. “You have to get suit jackets cleaned professionally because of the shoulder pads and interfacing in the garment, but the fabric itself is washable.”
Try: Treat the inside lining with antibacterial spray, and spot-treat stains—they might not come out on the first try, but that’s okay. “Don’t get defeated. If a stain sits for a while, you may have to do it twice.” Finally, steam—never iron—a blazer. (It can break down the structure.)