The Dark and White of Laundry!

 

You invest a good deal of time and money in your wardrobe.  Protect your wardrobe investments by putting into practice a few key tricks:

 

Keep your Dark's Dark.  Dark clothing needs a little special attention to keep it looking it's finest. The advice I gave customers from my days of selling clothing many moons ago still holds true today. Indigo and black dyes are notorious for fading (hello 80's faded denim!) so turn your jeans inside out before washing, wash in cold and avoid the dryer whenever possible. Also remember to zip them up so they don't snag on some other unsuspecting item in the laundry. That goes for anything you wash that has a zipper.

 

Washable darks like pants and button-down shirts need to be treated the same way. Wash inside out, and in cold water. And don't forget about the effects of the iron as well. Keep the garment inside out when ironing to help prevent fading.

 

Lastly, don't over-wash your jeans or other darks. They only need to be washed every third wearing, spaghetti lunch notwithstanding.

 

Keep your White's White.  To prevent those nasty yellow stains from occurring so fast on your otherwise brilliant white shirt, launder it after every use. What you can't see, such as body oil, perfume and even slight perspiration can start to yellow if not removed from the garment soon after wearing. You can also prevent nasty yellow armpit stains by wearing underarm shields.

 

Thoroughly examine your white shirts before laundering. Ring around the collar is easily solved by using a spot treatment with every washing. Also check the tips of the cuffs and other vulnerable stain areas to make sure that you don't set a permanent stain by not removing it before washing.

 

 Tip:  Take a cue from the pros...don't invest tons of money in white tee's and tanks.  If you really love the fit buy two and rotate their use or just plan on replacing these items each year.

Bring out your inner Style Icon!

 

 

Ever wonder how someone has a style so iconic that when you hear their name you get an immediate image in your head?  When I say the names Jackie O, Katherine Hepburn, Diane Keaton, Audrey Hepburn, Farrah, Beyonce', Jennifer Aniston, Heidi Klum or Victoria Beckham it's not difficult to conjure up a mental picture of the person and her style.

 

Who is your Style icon? What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of them?

 

How did they do it?  A style icon is someone who:

 

• Knows how to edit her wardrobe.  She only buys what will flatter her skin tone and body type.

• Is as concerned with how something fits as much as how it will fit into her wardrobe.  She has her tailor on speed-dial.

• Understands how to build a wardrobe that works.  She has all the "basics" and builds from there.

• Has a wardrobe of accessories and knows how to use them.

• Doesn't allow the fashion world to dictate her personal style.

• Mixes high and low.  She effortlessly combines her thrift store shirt with her designer skirt.

• Treats her clothing as a means of self-expression and isn't afraid to have fun with it!

 

Everyone has the ability to obtain style icon status.  Do you have "it"?

 

Words from the Warrior:  If you didn't see yourself in some of these style icon stats, why not?  Get to the root of that "no" and see what needs tweaking to turn it into a "yes"! 

 Style icons did not get there without being purposeful in their clothing choices and planning to make it happen!

An appointment or two with the Wardrobe Warrior and you could have ICON status! Be creating amazing outfits effortlessly.

 

 

What Do YOUR Favorite Colors Mean?

 Knowing the meanings behind colors can put you at an advantage.  If used wisely when getting dressed, color can help you in some unexpected ways! 

The Color White: Wear white if you need a mood lifter.  Nothing says bright and happy like a crisp white shirt.

The Color Black:  Wear black to symbolize prestige, but be sure to wear form fitting garments.  Oversize or baggy clothing will just look sloppy. 

The Color Gray:  Gray is the one color that alone says business.  It should be your first choice for a professional look.  The darker the gray, the more power it connotes. 

The Color Red:  Red is a very expressive color, so much so that people have a biological reaction to red: it gets people all hot and bothered by quickening the pulse and increasing the breathing rate.  Wear read when you want to imbue a sense of ambition or passion.  Hello, lady in red! 

The Color Pink:  Pink is a very feminine, gentle and calming color and speaks of innocent romance.  Women in pink tend to be more attractive to men so wear pink on a first date.  It will exude warmth and tenderness, immediately putting you both at ease!

The Color Purple: Purple has traditionally represented luxury, royalty, wealth and sophistication.  Purple is known to stimulate the imagination.  Wear it when you're pursuing more creative endeavors.

The Color Blue:  Blue is the most popular color. Opposite to red, blue affects us biologically by producing feelings of peace and tranquility.  Wear blue to a job interview if you want to show you have great loyalty. 

The Color Green: A calming and refreshing color, green represents nature. It's also the color of money, and can suggest wealth.  Wearing green will cause people to relax and trust you, also good for someone in a position of selling.

The Color Yellow: Yellow is the most difficult color for the eye to process, therefore it can be overpowering.  Keep your use of yellow to softer colors in the office.  Too intense and you may wind up with an angry co-worker. 

The Color Orange:  A fantastic way to command attention is by wearing orange. Orange shares aspects of both passionate red and happy yellow.  Since it indicates warmth and a strong personality, orange is the perfect color to wear when you need to stand out.

The Color Brown: Brown is an earthy color that is abundant in nature. Shades of brown symbolize reliability and structure, so it's an ideal shade to wear for business. 

Things to think about when it comes to color:  Think of color as your secret weapon!  If it scares you to wear too much color, try adding a few colorful accessories to your wardrobe and work up from there.

I love finding this to be able to share with everyone! It is always nice to know what you are saying with the colors you are wearing.