Women's Health
Keeping a Well-Stocked Wardrobe
By
Aug 6, 2012 - 4:48:27 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Developing and caring for a well-stocked wardrobe takes effort – but results in a look that gets better with time, says Marian Frances Wolbers, a fashion industry veteran and instructor at Albright College in Reading, Pa. She’s author of the book, “Uncovering Fashion” (Fairchild-Condé Nast, 2009).

She offers this advice:

Go gray. “For fall/winter and into spring, shop for shades of gray that are not only fashion-forward and complement your coloring and hair, but can mix and match with separates and stripes,” she advises. “Buy at least one high-quality suit or dress or other item that can last for two to four years, since gray (unlike yellow, purple or apricot) will always have a home in any working wardrobe.”

Update seasonally. Expect to add some fun, affordable pieces to your wardrobe every season, she says. “Have some fun shopping for looks that are currently stylish and hot, like the lacy tops that everyone seems to be wearing over various undergarments this summer. Don't shell out a lot of money for these, but do buy fabrics that you can clean yourself so you won't be investing in cleaning costs outside the home.”

Hang on. “Old-fashioned wooden hangers are wonderful for heavier woolen coats,” she says. “Plastic hangers are smooth and look trendy, but they bow under the weight of winter wear. But wood hangers can snag and ruin lighter items, like blouses made of silk or rayon. So, when it comes to hangers, use different types for different weights of clothing and types of fabrics.”

Wash properly. “When deciding whether to dry clean or wash or hand wash an item, consider the two C's: cost and class,” she says. “A pair of slacks from a classic line of Bill's Khakis or Anne Klein, for example, should head to the drycleaner for longevity and beauty.” However, you can – to an extent – get away with hand washing and ironing some of the costlier, long-lasting items in your closet. “Pilling doesn't happen quickly with high-quality fabrics used by the best designers, so you can hand wash and hand iron certain standards.”

Take care of the clothes that take care of you. “If a garment has served you well for over five years, and people are still saying how good you look in it, make sure you treat that garment like a king--and let the experts clean it for you. Keep that mileage going!”

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