Take care of what you own.

Five tips to make sure your investments last the distance.

We want to get the most out of your wardrobe by buying less and choosing well, selecting items that mix and match effortlessly with each other, and loving and wearing pieces season after season. Consistent wearing of clothes, shoes, and accessories over time will cause wear and tear. But you can do a few little things to prolong the life of your wardrobe through the inevitable wear and tear of life. 

1. Start thinking more about washing

While throwing all your clothes into a cold cotton wash is tempting, taking a bit more time to sort through your laundry will return in dividends when your clothes stand the test of time.

The first rule of washing is don’t do it—that is, don’t overwash your clothes. If they’re not soiled, you can air them out or steam them to give them some extra life for a few more days. It’s better for the environment if you can prolong the gaps between washes, too.

Some more tips: Wash your clothes cold, at 20 or even 30 degrees less than the care label tells you. Cold water is less harsh on fabric and will also prevent shrinkage. Finally, anything dark, especially jeans, should be washed inside out. That way, your favorite jeans' gorgeous dark blue denim won’t fade as they go through the wringer.

On the subject of washing - here’s an interesting article on dryer lint and ways to repurpose it.

2. Dust bags have a purpose

The little pouches in which jewelry, handbags, and shoes come packaged serve a genuine purpose. Storing your items inside these covers will protect them from dust and tarnishing when they’re not being worn.

Yes, a gorgeous pair of earrings will look stunning displayed on a little jewelry dish on your dressing table. But it’s much kinder on the metal if you tuck them gently into the pouch they arrived in when not being worn.

Even better, and a jewelry savior, is to store your sterling silver and gold-plated jewelry in an airtight container. It's not super glamorous, but it will save the metals from oxidizing and keep them looking brand new for years. 

3. In fact, it’s all about storage

Thinking seriously about your storage solutions extends beyond your accessories. How you hang, fold, and store your clothes could impact their lifespan.

Heavy woolen items like cardigans, jumpers, and sweater dresses should be folded on a shelf rather than hung, which causes them to stretch. Don’t overstuff your closet; rather, spread your items out on hangers that won’t snag – copper, wood, and velvet are our favorites – giving them the space they need. Ensure anything decorative or embellished isn’t rubbing against something delicate and silken. On that note, ensure buttons, zips, and closures are closed, not left loose, and in danger of snagging something.

If you have more things than fit in your wardrobe—and your wardrobe is of a pretty decent size—now might be the time to think about a little wardrobe cull. If you’re pressed for space, pick up a metal rack (always try second-hand or creative ways to reuse first), giving you more storage space to play with.

4. Re-sole your shoes

This is a lesson I learned late in life, but it transformed the lifespan of all my favorite footwear. Re-soling your shoes before you start wearing them and then again when they are starting to wear through will ensure you get more than just a season of pavement pounding out of them. You can also resole your shoes when worn and replace heel tips to extend the life of your shoes.

Find a good, local shoe repair shop (some are co-located with drycleaners). They can often help you with other tricky shoe-related questions, like stretching out leather shoes and saving your favorite suede slingbacks from rain damage.

5. Invest in the proper cleaning items

You should have the following in your cleaning arsenal: a lint roller, a suede brush, leather protector spray, a clothes shaver, and wash bags. If you can spring for it, a little handheld steamer can work wonders, too, and is great for travel.

These items might seem ridiculous, but they’ll help you get more life out of your wardrobe. Woolen pieces can have all their pilling shaved away, suede handbags can be brushed down, shoes can be sprayed against the rain, and any wayward lint can be rolled away.

These touches might all sound small and insignificant, but they’ll make a huge difference. And when spending your hard-earned cash, don’t you want it to last as long as possible?