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Hit the slopes.
Get the most out of expensive ski wear. Check for salt, grit or food spills après ski. Close zippers and release tension on drawstrings or elastics, dry thoroughly before storing. Specifically follow care instruction tags: high tech fabrics need special attention, sometimes more sophisticated than your home washing machine. We’re your garment cleaning and care experts—even…
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Bridal tips, part 2
Expert tricks to get more from a budget wedding dress, shared by Brides magazine. Style your silhouette with undergarments that correspond the lines of the dress with the best features of your figure. Use accessories to add panache to even the simplest dress. Add a beaded belt or shrug and get two looks for the…
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Bridal tips, part 1
Making the most of a budget wedding dress takes a few tricks, shared by Brides magazine. Start by choosing a white, ivory, champagne or blush color that flatters the undertone of your natural skin tone. Next, splurge on tailoring to make sure the dress hugs every curve. It’s easiest and cheapest to take things in,…
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Cuffs?
Back in the 1890’s, King Edward VII popularized sewn-in “turn-ups” as an alternative to rolling up pant bottoms in rainy weather. Cuffs were a sign of elegant tailoring until WWII wartime clothing restrictions banned cuffs and flaps on pockets to save fabric. Today, cuffs are recommended on trousers with wide or long legs, double pleats…
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Powder explosion.
When powder makeup gets on dark clothing (always when you’re in a hurry) ignore the instinct to brush it away. Rubbing spreads the mess and pushes the powder into the fabric. Blow instead, using canned air, hair dryer or your breath. Makeup remover on a cotton ball should pick up what’s left. We can remove…
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Charge it!
The latest from scientists is a wool fabric woven with solar cells and “triboelectric nanogenerators” to actually create enough electrical energy to power your phone while you walk. The fabric, as reported on Thrillist, is slightly thick and rough, but could lead the way to integrated wearable technology, without bulky power supplies or recharging cables.…
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New suit time.
Nothing adds polish and power to your attitude like a new suit. Making a good 2- or 3-piece investment can be tricky. Valet magazine offers a few tips: Choose fabric according to how often you’ll wear the suit, the higher the “super number,” the more delicate the fabric. Check the build: squeeze the fabric, it should bounce…
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Winter hazards.
Deicing products, like salt, are a welcome relief from slippery sidewalks and driveways. But when salty slush and water splash on your clothes, the chemical solution can pull color, leave rings and create permanent stains on your winter clothing and shoes. Before your snow-spattered trousers, skirt or outerwear show the signs of damage, bring them…
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Cold season.
When a forgotten tissue in the pocket hits the washing machine, tiny shreds of linty paper get everywhere. Pick off the bigger pieces before letting the dryer’s lint trap do its job. Remove while damp and shake out remaining scraps, use a clothes brush or lint roller to finish.
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Glittering holiday.
Here’s a very tiny tip: When the shine comes off, and the carpet’s covered in glitter from ornaments, decorating and celebrating, grab a ball of Play-Do. Roll it over the mess to pick up the loose bits of shine. That’s about as much housecleaning as we’re going to do today.