Tips # 49 – #1
by Perrie Samotin
Shared by Melrose Fisher
March 15, 2016
49. How to care for fur at home: “Pass the fur with a hairbrush and steam it for added bounce, volume, and shine.”
— Eran Elfassy, Co-Creative Director, Mackage
Photo via Caroline’s Mode
48. “Marquise ring shapes help to create the illusion of longer, more slender fingers, even on small wide hands. Pear or oval stones are also flattering.” — Carol Brodie, Fine Jewelry Designer, HSN’s Rarities: Fine Jewelry with Carol Brodie
47. Everyday bras should be replaced every three to six months, as that’s when they start to lose elasticity and support.
46. Ideally, a pencil skirt should hit just at the top of your knee. Any lower and it will start to shorten your leg.
45. Pants a bit too tight? Let them air dry and stretch the waistband by hand (or with a hairdryer) while they’re still damp.
44. Still look chic while showing some skin: If you’re wearing a miniskirt or shorts, cover up on top. If your top is skimpy, go for full-coverage bottoms.
43, Don’t underestimate the power of a well-fitting, stylish winter coat. You can be wearing pajamas underneath, and you’ll still look perfectly put together.
42. Windex restores the glossy sheen on patent leather without doing any damage.
41. Fold jeans like a pro: Lay jeans on a flat surface, fold in half from left to right. Grab the stacked jean legs and fold them in half, so the hem of the jeans lines up with the waistband. Fold the jeans in half one more time.
Peggy Wong/Citizens of Humanity
40. The power of a silk pillowcase isn’t a myth: Not only do they prevent “sleep crease,” they’re much, much gentler on your skin and hair.
39. “The best way to store fashion jewelry, including Sterling Silver, is in Ziploc bags. This helps pieces retain luster and reduces tarnishing and scratches.”—Jordann Weingartner, Founder, I Love Jewelry Auctions
38. If the garment you’re ironing has delicate buttons or detailing, cover them with the bowl of a metal spoon and press the surrounding fabric.
37. Don’t buy items you know you won’t properly care for. For example, if you know you’re never going to hand-wash that delicate cami or beaded sweater, don’t buy it.
36. “Pair flirty, feminine dresses with masculine spectator shoes for an effortless and unexpected look.” — Gabriella Perezutti, Designer, Candela
35. To achieve the perfectly effortless cuffed sleeve, keep the top button (which is called the gauntlet) buttoned while you roll.
Photo via M.D. Lawson
34. V-neck sweaters and tees give the illusion of a longer torso.
33. Spritzed a bit too much perfume on yourself this morning? Use unscented, oil-based makeup remover to remove excess perfume.
32. Tend to wear certain leather shoes without socks? Always stuff them with a soft cloth when you’re done wearing them. This absorbs moisture and help the shoes keep their shape.
31. “Hoop earrings are a classic style that every woman—regardless of age—should have, but the type depends on your face. If you have a thin face, go for a larger round or embellished hoops. If you have a round face, an elongated hoop or drop style is best.”
—Elena Kiam, Creative Director, Lia Sophia
30. Freeze jeans inside a plastic bag for two days to zap odor without running them through the washing machine.
29. Looking for an easy trick to make your bare legs look longer? Try pumps the same color of your skin, which gives give the illusion that your legs extend a few extra inches.
28. Wrap an empty bottle of your favorite perfume in a handkerchief and tuck it into your underwear drawer for a subtle scent.
27. Heat can warp your glasses frames, so always keep them in a hard case and never wear them on your head on a hot day.
26. Spray shirts prone to sweat stains with lemon juice before washing. The natural acid dissolves alkaline sweat reside that could cause yellow discoloration.
25. “It’s a myth that loose styles flatter a large bust or a plus-size woman. The area just under the bust is a woman’s smallest torso measurement, so emphasizing it with a structured waistband that hits higher than your natural waist will make you look a size smaller
—BG Krishnan, President, eShakti.com
24. Use shaving cream and a washcloth to remove liquid makeup from shirt collars.
23. A modern trick to looking like the most effortlessly stylish girl in the room: Pair dressy bottoms (a velvet maxi, leather or beaded skirt, silk pants) with a worn gray crew-neck sweatshirt or T-shirt.
Photo via The Hipster Style
22. “Never dry a wet shoe with heat. Let it dry naturally in the open air. Heat will dry out leather and the lifespan of the shoe will be cut in half.”
—Jordan Adoni, Designer, Modern Vice
21. The easiest way to make your closet look organized: Buy all the same hangers for everything–same color, same shape.
20. Before bed, pour two or three tablespoons of baking soda into sweaty workout sneakers and tilt the shoe to distribute the soda evenly. This will eat any odor and absorb perspiration.
19. “For guaranteed weight loss, I advise people to follow my A, B, C’s – no Alcohol, Bread or processed Carbs.”
—David Kirsch, celebrity trainer and fitness guru.
18. To prevent clothing from wrinkling in a suitcase, fold everything in plastic dry cleaning bags.
17. If you can’t fit two fingers underneath your bra band comfortably, it’s probably too tight.
16. Pile on good accessories—scarves, sunglasses, hats, statement jewelry—to instantly transform even the most basic outfit.
Photo via Elle.com
15. Confused about laundry settings? Remember this: The hotter the water; the cleaner the clothing will be. While warm water is fine for most clothes, linens, and dirty white clothing are best washed in hot water to remove germs and heavy soil. Cold water is usually used for delicates.
14. A structured hat should rest about 1/8 to a 1/2-inch above the ears.
13. A good tip when cleaning out your closet: Ask a friend whose style you admire to come over and help. She/he might offer new insight on how to wear certain items before you toss them.
12. It might sound “budget,” but a hot glue gun works amazingly well to hem skirts, pants and even jeans in a pinch.
11. Looking for uses for all the single socks you’ve amassed while doing laundry? When you’ve got aches or pains, fill a sock with dry beans or rice and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Voila, an instant (and free) heating pad.
10. Wear your new real leather jacket in the rain to break it in. Water will soften up the leather and allow it to stretch and crease at specific points on your body.
Photo via FOUREYES
9. Who has the time to hand wash bras? Machine wash them in cold water in a mesh zipper bag and drape them over a hanger to air dry.
8. Use a lemon wedge to remove excess or streaky self-tanner.
7. Track lighting is possible even for the tiniest closet: Buy a track kit, screw it into the ceiling, run the wire down the wall and plug it into the nearest outlet. Not only will you see all your clothes better, but you’ll feel like you have a more luxurious closet.
6. Invest in silk or satin pillowcases to keep your hair from breaking during the night. (They also keep your skin looking smoother than rough cotton cases!)
5. If you’re unsure about an impulse or sale purchase, leave it at the store. If you’re still thinking about it when you wake up the next day, buy it.
4. Have a sequin garment you don’t wear anymore? Remove the sequins and sprinkle them into a vase of flowers. Gorgeous!
3. A good shoemaker can fully rebuild your favorite pair, even if the arch is cracked.
2. To coax a loose thread back into place, gently tug at the stitches to the sides of the pull as well as above and below.
And the number 1 tip –
There’s nothing cooler than sticking to a signature style you know looks good on you. Slaves to fashion are never chic!