In late March of 2021, my niece Kaysie called me to ask if I would go wedding gown shopping with her and her mom (my sister). Of course, I said yes; after all, I am Kaysie’s aunt and godmother, plus she is my sister’s only child, and I have a son. I offered to share tips to help her get started, but she had already done her homework. She had a style in mind, photos of ideas, and made appointments at several local salons.
I am a germaphobe. I’m constantly washing my hands, and I’m always thinking while out in public where I’ve sat and what I’ve touched. So, when COVID came along, my hypersensitivity went into overdrive. I began thinking about more than just using caution on where I touched and how often I washed my hands. I began thinking about how I cleaned things and if my laundry habits produced hygienic clothing.
My research yielded some interesting findings, and as a result, I’ve changed a few of my habits. Below I’ve summarized some of my discoveries.
Home Laundry
I stopped purchasing fast-fashion garments a long time ago, so my wardrobe is filled mostly with classic, timeless, quality pieces that will last much longer than garments that are just thrown together quickly. As a result, I want to provide the best care I can to prolong the usable life of my clothes. Here are a few tips I use to get the most out of my wardrobe:
As a young girl, I remember my grandma wearing a kitchen towel around her neck while cooking in the kitchen or working in the garden. She used it to wipe sweat off her face and neck, which I thought was odd and disgusting. Fast forward some fortyish years, and I have become my grandma. While I do not tend to sweat while working in the kitchen, I run daily and spend many of my summer days outside in the garden or doing yard work. My grandma could produce some sweat, and so can I.
In our last couple of posts, I mentioned that we’ve been invited to several balls, galas, or events that require some type of formal wear. Two were work-related events where the invitation indicated ‘Semi-Formal Dress.’ Semi-Formal Attire is the trickiest of all the dress codes because it typically means tuxedos and long dresses aren’t required, and clothing choices are dependent on the time of the day.
It seems like spring is party season where every charity and non-profit have a gala, ball, or festival. I have a closet full of clothes and have made an art of rotating party dresses, but this season I needed to purchase two. Last month I mentioned passing on a spot-clean only dress, and I ended up purchasing something quite practical. Even though that dress was more practical, it still requires special attention because like most formal items, it will not be worn often.
When purchasing a new piece of clothing, I never check the care label, but that’s because I know Shores can handle whatever I happen to place inside my dry cleaning bag. Recently, I went shopping for a cocktail dress for an event my husband and I are attending in April, and I found a dress with the most delicate floral embroidery lace. I absolutely loved it, but for some reason I deviated from my norm and checked the care label – SPOT CLEAN ONLY.
Once upon a time, I was a slave to fast fashion, particularly when I was in college. Short on funds with a need to always look cute when heading somewhere, I frequented those places that took the look from what was in style and reproduced the garments quickly and inexpensively.
What defines a fast-fashion garment?
The number one thing I look for in bedding is quality: after all, I’m going to be spending a third of my life laying on or under it. So, I consider bed linens and coverlets to be an investment, not something I plan to replace on a whim. It’s good that I have that approach because getting my husband to agree on a new comforter is nearly impossible, so we usually invest a lot of time investigating before making a change.
What if you could get all your clothing care needs covered without having to leave the house? Shores can do that for you with our new Valet Service. On Monday, October 18, Shores launched this new service with the help of our Valet, Marsha Brown. You will love Marsha. She has over 30 years of experience in customer service; plus, she is incredibly friendly and uniquely qualified, making her the perfect fit for Shores Valet Service.
How Shores Valet Service Works