How to care for luxury goods
There is no use in spending your hard-earned money on something exceptional if you’re not going to look after it. After all, you want this item in your wardrobe for as long as possible - and looking its best!
Storage
A sweeping trick to keep your wardrobe in its best condition is to ensure that you are storing goods in the gentlest way. The last thing you want is for an item to be deteriorating when you’re not even wearing it, which can unfortunately happen if you’re not careful.
I have a few wardrobe rules to ensure that doesn’t happen:
Pick the right hangers
A hanger supports the seams and structure of a garment, so different types of clothing require different hangers. Generally, the wider the hanger the more support it offers, which is important to protect the shoulder of a blazer or jacket, or more delicate fabrics like lace or silk. Hangers will texture like velvet will also grip the clothing via friction, so they are especially useful for strappy tops or dresses that can slip off.Use shoe trees
Particularly important for tall boots, you can get boot trees that will keep the shaft upright and minimise long term creasing that can occur from folding them in a box.Store delicate items in bags
This goes for anything sequin, beaded, you name it. The more delicate the item is, the more likely it is to get caught on other pieces in your wardrobe, so keep eveningwear in garment bags. The same can be said for your handbags or shoes, so hold on to those dust bags they come with so that the leather or suedes don’t discolour or build up dust in the nap.Wash denim as infrequently as possible
The fastest way to fade the wash or extend the rips is to put your favourite jeans in the washing machine. Try spot cleaning when possible if you get a mark on them. If there isn’t a mark and you just want to freshen them up, place your jeans in a bag and then into the freezer for a few days. The cold will kill any bacteria or odours and they will be good as new! If you absolutely must wash them, turn them inside out and use cold water on a gentle cycle.Brush your fibres
This is specific to knitwear and leathers, as these fabrics can show wear over time like pilling or bobbling as well as dust and dirt. If you have the right tools you can brush these flaws out and bring new life to something well loved.Spot clean the surface
The easiest way to pick up any dust, lint or hair off the surface of fabrics is with a lint roller. Pick up a multi pack and keep them on hand to ensure your blazer or coat is fluff free.The perfect fit
Sometimes you pick something up and though it’s close to fitting, it may not be perfect. For items that cannot be tailored like hats, shoes or belts, there are some tools you can pick up to fine tune their fit. Punch some extra holes in your favourite belt or strappy shoes so they are more secure. Add some foam tape under the grosgrain of a hat so that it doesn’t blow off on the beach. When something fits you correctly, you will feel more comfortable wearing it!
Fabric specific needs
Suede
A very delicate fabric, suede requires protection before you wear it. Pick up some weatherproof spray that will help moisture wick away from the suede which will minimise watermarks should you get caught in the rain. If you unfortunately do get a mark on your suede, you want to brush the nap up to lift any dirt out. When this mark is a result of any type of grease, try applying some cornstarch locally and leave it overnight. This will draw out the oils so that you can brush it out the next day.
Leather
Perhaps the most common in anyone’s wardrobe, leather still requires some TLC as it’s a breathable skin that like the skin on your body can get dry or scuffed up. Before wearing your leather, I’d recommend two layers of waterproof spray to protect it from unwanted moisture that might stain. You should repeat this every 3 or 4 months, depending how often you wear it. If you notice any scratches on the surface of your leather, a conditioner like mink oil can be used to buff into the leather in small amounts. The oil should make the leather more supple - beware this may also darken the hue slightly, so try to keep your application light and even.
Silk
Everyone’s favourite slinky fabric can actually damage quite easily. Some compare silk to your hair, where it fair better the less it is washed and when treated very delicately. Silk really requires dry cleaning in most instances, as it can easily take on water marks and should be spot cleaned. When it comes to wrinkles, the fabric is also much more responsive to a gentle steam rather than ironing. If you do not have a steamer, ironing should be done with an intermediate towel or fabric, so that the iron never directly touches the silk to avoid burning or permanent damage.
Cashmere
If you’re lucky enough to have some cashmere in your wardrobe, you know that it can still wear and bobble like their wooly counterparts. Dependent on the mix of cashmere, even varying qualities of 100% cashmere will break down differently. The key thing to know is that you shouldn’t wash cashmere on your own, it needs to be dry cleaned - or you can pick up a cashmere spray that will freshen the fibres and kill any bacteria between cleanings. To tackle the bobbles you will need a cashmere brush, which can also be used on other jumpers. Gently brush the knit in one direction and you will see the texture smooth out.
Though it may seem like a lot at first, once you have these tools to care for your garments, it makes it much easier to care for them and keep them in good condition. If anything is not listed above, do your research first on how to care for the item. Sometimes a splurge isn’t worthwhile if the care required doesn’t suit your lifestyle or intended use.
Some of my tried and tested options are linked below.