“It’s far too easy to slip into the boyhood habit of tossing your clothes into a corner of your bedroom at the end of the day, but this will do far more harm over the long haul than anything else to your clothes.”
It often takes a younger man several years (and a few tattered shirts) to learn the basics of wardrobe maintenance. Other men have simply developed bad habits over time. Don’t worry, The Style Bible has all you need to keep your threads in top condition. Here is a brief look at what you need to know right now about preserving your timeless wardrobe to look your best for the rest of your life.
Rotate your clothing
The natural fibers of finely made clothes need to rest and breath in between outings. Sweaters, shirts and trousers need a break, but men’s suits always need a vacation. The Style Bible strongly suggests that suits get a day off before being worn again. This will prolong the life of any suit no matter the thread count. Wool suits, in particular, stretch and move with you, but continuously wearing a suit causes tension in the weave. Rotating suits and blazers also helps the stitching remain strong. A single day on a cedar hanger lets the fibers relax and regain their shape — this also lets your clothing breathe and expel odors picked up along the way. If at all possible, you should try to hang your suit outside for an hour. The fresh air and circulation will do it wonders, and this won’t cost you a dime.
Hang your clothes
It’s far too easy to slip into the boyhood habit of tossing your clothes into a corner of your bedroom at the end of the day, but this will do far more harm over the long haul than anything else to your clothes. Even if you haven’t been out in the rain, your clothes pick up moisture from you and they need to be hung up immediately to hold their shape and dry without becoming musty and disfigured.
Wash your clothes properly
Our next fashion tip on how to maintain your wardrobe involves learning how to wash your clothes the right way by separating colors and materials into groups. Water temperature is another factor. Yes, you should read the labels, but more importantly you also need to close zippers and turn the clothes inside out. This little step protects the outside from being bruised and scuffed by the machine. Next, fill the machine with water and a liquid detergent and allow it to mix thoroughly before dropping in your clothes (while this might not always be possible with front-loading washers, a top-loader works perfectly for this technique). These are quick little steps that, over time, pay off in a big way.
Do Your Clothes Look As Good As They Could Be?
“Before you put iron to cloth get ready first. Have a clean ironing board and cover it with starch, and read the clothing labels and symbols.”
Dry cleaning and clothing care symbols
One of the most comprehensive sections of The Style Bible is the collection of clothing care symbols and their true meanings, along with suggestions about when to dry clean shirts and trousers, when to just do it yourself at home, and when to take your suits in. All of these are important things to know and provide you with a lifetime of great tips and advice. However, you must remember that all dry cleaners are not the same.
Ironing dos & don’ts
Before you put iron to cloth get ready first. Have a clean ironing board and cover it with starch, and read the clothing labels and symbols. If you’re like most readers of AskMen, you purchase your clothes from international vendors that use universal care symbols. Once your iron is ready, turn your clothes inside out if you haven’t washed them this way. Always begin with the collar and cuffs on a shirt, and the waistband on trousers. Never leave an ironed garment on the board or across a piece of furniture even if you are about to wear it. Hang it up until you absolutely need it; this preserves all of your ironing hard work.
don’t let your clothes wear you
As you’ll discover in the pages of The Style Bible, there is much more to looking your best than buying the right clothes. You have to maintain your investment for both financial and sartorial reasons. You will spend money on a variety of items throughout your life, but none will have a greater daily impact than your wardrobe. Like it or not, we are often hired, hit on, seduced, and judged by our appearance. Having the resources to buy the best clothing means nothing without the knowledge of how to preserve your wardrobe. And a less expensive closet full of clothes carefully maintained will always trump the expensive but rumpled ensemble.
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