The Truth About Low-Maintenance Loveliness
We all know at least one of high-maintenance woman. She spends half her life at the manicurist, the make-up counter and the mall. “Sure she looks great,” we shrug. “She has nothing else to do”.
The rest of us try to look presentable while we juggle children, household responsibilities, a job or community service roles... We are – of necessity low-maintenance women. This booklet is designed to make the most of the precious moments we CAN spend on looking our best.
One important clarification: “Low-maintenance” does NOT mean “No-maintenance”.
It DOES mean taking care of yourself – even occasionally indulging yourself – but in time-efficient, cost-effective ways. Sometimes it means investing a little more time and money up front to put systems into place that will make your fashion life easier into the future.
I practice virtually all these tips myself, so I can vouch for their effectiveness. Maybe a few aren’t your style. That’s fine. Implement just a handful and I guarantee you’ll see rsults. So investigate, indulge and enjoy!
Wardrobe Wonders -
A wardrobe isn’t just a closet full of “stuff” – it’s a tightly edited collection of pieces in your best colors and silhouettes, all of which fit your life and your body perfectly and coordinate with one another into countless combinations.
#1 – Closet Clean-Out – The first step to a low-maintenance look is getting rid of anything and everything that doesn’t meet that criteria. It’s not new advice, just hard to follow. As Nike says: “Just DO IT!”
If you need help deciding what to keep, or moral support letting go of “losers”, check www.AICI.org for a professional wardrobe consultant near you.
#2 – Color Confidence - If an item isn’t a flattering color it won’t work in your new plan. Not sure which colors are your personal best? A professional color analysis is the cost-effective way to know for sure. Don’t settle for the old “Four Seasons” approach; insist on a fully personalized color chart developed just for you. Find a consultant at www.Color-quest.com.
#3 – Consistent Colors – Maximize coordination options by keeping all new wardrobe purchases in a unified color theme. From your color chart (above) select 2 neutrals and 3 or 4 accent colors you like best.
For example:
Black/Charcoal --- Red/Royal/Jade/Fuscia
Gray/Navy --- Cream/Rose/Cadet Blue/Celery
Rust/Olive --- Teal/Coral/Goldenrod/Plum
Brown/Camel --- Aqua/Peach/Butter/Lime
#4 – Color Correction – If some current items are less-effective colors, consider dyeing them to more flattering shades. It’s easy – just follow the package directions. For best results, dye a lighter item to a darker or brighter color. Or dye a cool color to a warmer (more yellow-based) color.
You can even dye prints – especially black-and-white ones. The white areas take the color, the black one’s don’t. Throw a white T-shirt into the same dye so you’ll have a coordinating piece to wear with the “new” print.
#5 – Year-Round Yardage – Some fabrics work year ‘round, minimizing the number of garments you need to own. Be sure your wardrobe includes a generous assortment of these:
Silk blouses and shells Challis skirts or dresses
Raw silk suits Cotton knit tops
Rayon twill separates Cotton shirts
Sueded silk pieces Shantung vests, jackets
Microfiber separates Silk sweaters
#6 - Purchase With a Plan - Get over “markdown mania”. The cheapest price or the biggest markdown doesn’t necessarily represent the best buy. I’ve seen too many so-called bargains hanging in the back of clients’ closets with the sale tags still on the garment. Invest your wardrobe dollars wisely in pieces you’ve chosen with the big picture in mind. THEN if they happen to be on sale, so much the better.
#7 – Dark Solid Bottoms – No, I’m not talking about a firm, tanned derriere (though that might be nice too). I mean selecting your skirts and pants from the darker neutrals in your chosen color group. They’ll work into more combinations, show soil and wrinkles less and make your hips seem smaller too.
Don’t limit yourself to black.- it really isn’t more slimming or versatile than more interesting neutrals like navy, gray, brown, deep rust, olive, burgundy and forest green .
#8 – The Fearsome Foursome – To really maximize the mix/match in your closet, build a Core Four in each of your key neutrals: skirt, pants, jacket and matching blouse or sweater. You’ll look sleek and elegant in the monochromatic ensemble with special jewelry or a great scarf. Or your can vary the look with a contrasting blouse or item jacket and still maintain a slenderizing column of color from head to toe,
#9 – Twin sets – Of recent fashion trends, twin sets take the prize for wearability. A shell and cardigan is the traditional version; a camisole and bolero combination is more youthful and fashion forward. Triple the value by splitting the set, pairing the shell with other over-layers or use the cardigan over other blouses or dresses.
Or tie the cardigan over your shoulders. Here’s how:
· Button the cardigan and fold the upper portion toward the front at the armhole point.
· Place the button side of the sweater against your back. Sleeves draped over your shoulders
· Place the sleeve edges together and roll back in a cuff.
#10 – Formal & Functional – A few fabrics and styles are so un-defined in formality that they do double duty in your wardrobe. A washed silk pantsuit is one great example. Pair it with a cotton T, push up the jacket sleeves and head out for a movie and pizza. Substitute a sequin top, glitzy earrings and strappy high heels and you’re dressed for the symphony or cocktails.
#11 – Versatile vests – A fitted vest can work 3 ways:
· As a shell under a jacket or cardigan
· As a bare little top on its own
· As a sleeveless “jacket” over a T or turtleneck
#12 – Be a Fit Fanatic – With the infinite variety of females shapes, you can’t expect a garment to fit you perfectly right off the rack. Often a simple adjustment like shortening a sleeve or tapering a skirt can make the difference between a look that’s “ho-hum” and one that’s “haute couture”.
If your favorite store doesn’t offer alteration services, you can find a top-notch dressmaker through PACC ((Professional Association of Custom Clothiers) 541-772-4119.
Clothing Organization & Care
#13 – Hang It All – You won’t wear shat you don’t see. Items hidden away in drawers and boxes are easy to forget, so hang everything in your closet in plain sight. Invest in quality hangers; they’ll help your clothes keep their shape for years. I prefer the swivel plastic type for bodice pieces and dresses and the clamp type for pants and skirts. But even the inexpensive tubular hangers are better than wire ones, and you can find them for as little as eight cents each.
#14 – Sweater Smarts – Even sweaters can by hung if you’re careful. A hanger with a foam edge or foam cover will grip the shoulder area of the knit and hold the garment without distortion.
#15 – More Sweater Savvy – For heavier sweaters, try this:
· Fold the sweater in half through the center front/back and place it flat.
· Place the hanger over the sweater with the hook at the armhole
· Fold the body down over the hanger then fold the sleeve down over the body.
#16 – Over the Rainbow – Organize your clothing by garment type – pants together, blouses together, jackets together, etc. Within each category, group the items in color sequence: black, white, brown, then rainbow order … red, orange, yellow, green. blue, indigo, violet. It looks lovely and you can find any item at a moment’s notice.
#17 – Make Room – Avoid over-stufing your closet and you’ll also avoid unwanted wrinkles and creases. If you’re genuinely short on space, try a two-tier system. Organizing stores sell extra rods you can attach to your original rod – no tools required – and hang blouses above jackets, for example.
#18 – The Steam Scene – When you take off a garment (assuming it doesn’t require laundering) hang it in the bathroom before returning it to the closet. It will have a chance to air out, and the steam from your morning shower will coax out wrinkles.
#19 – Pants Position – Hang pants from the hem edge rather than the waistband. The weight of the heavier body portion will pull downward on the garment, removing sit-down wrinkles more quickly. Speed the process even more by clamping a second hanger onto the free edge of the pants for added weight.
#20 – Wrinkle Prevention – Clothes wrinkle less if you sit correctly. Sit down while wearing a slim skirt and the fabric will pull into tiny folds (future wrinkles) across your lap. Fold that fullness into one deep pleat across your tummy – magic: far fewer wrinkles!
#21 – Prevention for Pants – Minimize pant wrinkles with a similar technique. Sit down and slide slightly back in the chair instead of leaning back and sliding your fanny forward as most of us tend to do. Rather than pulling the fabric tight into the inseam area, loose fabric will appear. Smooth the excess into a deep pleat as described above and you can stand up – even hours later – wrinkle free.
#22 – Button Up – Stop buttons from popping off with some preventative action. Fray Check – sold in fabric stores – is a clear liquid sealant. Apply a drop to the threads holding your buttons on and they are far less likely to work loose. A thin bead of Fray Check along each buttonhole will prevent raveling there too.
#23 – Cleaning Cue – Dry cleaning can add hundreds of dollars to your wardrobe costs. Cut way down on expense by using a home dry cleaning kit like Dryel (available at Target and elsewhere). Place soiled or wrinkled garments into the large plastic bag with a special moistened cleaner sheet. Tumble in the dryer for the specified time, remove promptly and hang. Also removes perfume and smoke odors.
#24 – Rapid Repair – Get acquainted with Stitch Witchery - a fusible bonding agent sold by the yard in fabric stores. Cut it into ¼” strips for a variety of uses. Hem coming loose? Tuck Stitch witchery between the fabric layers and steam press to fuse into place. Also great for tacking floppy facings.
#25 – Get the Hang Of It – When reorganizing your closet at the start of a new season, hook each hanger backwards on the rod (back to front instead of the usual front to back). At the end of the season, any garment still hanging backwards clearly announces that it wasn’t worn even once.
