One of the most prevalent misconceptions about being a stylish dresser is that it’s too expensive to be one. Some people think that to be considered fashionable, one would have to follow the trends or sink money on costly designer pieces.
The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s completely possible to be a smart dresser without breaking the bank. Good style is really more about knowing your body and what looks good on it. It’s about taking care of your clothes, from basic tees to leggings for women, all the way up to your favorite designer pantsuit, regardless of how much each piece costs. Simply looking tidy and tailored can give you the appearance of a snappy dresser.
Achieve these style goals with this list of simple clothing hacks that you can try out for yourself today. They can instantly upgrade your OOTD from drab to fab.
Clothing Hack #1: De-Pill Your Clothes with a Disposable Razor
After a few runs in the wash, you may start to notice some fabric pilling on the surface of your clothes. Pilling happens when loose fibers begin to push out from the surface of the cloth due to friction, creating tiny bundles. It’s a natural occurrence that can happen on practically any fabric, from rugged denim to the stretchy cotton blend of your most comfortable pair of leggings. These little balls of lint can be unsightly, making your clothes look old and worn.
Battery-powered pill-shavers can remove pills quickly and easily. For an even more cost-effective option, you can instead use a disposable razor, which does the same job for a fraction of the price. Simply run one of those cheap plastic razors over your clothes to get rid of the fabric pills, then pick them off using a wide strip of clear tape.
Clothing Hack #2: Take Your Clothes to a Tailor
Ever wonder why your clothes never seem to fit right even if you’re buying the correct sizes? This is probably because most ready-to-wear pieces are subject to a phenomenon called “vanity sizing.” Brands will assign smaller sizes for their clothes, regardless of its actual cut, to stimulate sales and move products faster. It’s a widespread practice in the US and the UK, where measurements for numbered clothing sizes aren’t standard.
Fortunately, making clothes look as though they’ve been made for you specifically is as easy as bringing them to a tailor. A tailor can easily correct any discrepancies so that each piece of clothing will fit your body the way that it is meant to. It’s also much cheaper than getting all of your clothes bespoke from scratch.
Clothing Hack #3: Hide Bra Straps with a Paperclip
Though visible bra straps have become a fashion statement in their own right in recent years, there are right and wrong ways to wear them. The style can be considered chic when it is done deliberately as part of a look. The exposed bra straps should be in mint condition, and they should at least be part of the outfit’s color story.
If you want to wear a revealing top but aren’t fond of strapless or convertible bras, you can hide the straps of any regular bra with a bra clip or a paperclip. These will bring the straps closer together so that you can easily cover them with your top.
Clothing Hack #4: Iron Out Your Collar with a Hair Straightener
A limp or floppy collar can be a nuisance. It can still happen regardless of how judiciously you’ve ironed your shirts, making it all the more frustrating. If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to go through the trouble of taking the shirt off for another ironing, a hair straightener can help iron out those creases.
You’ll be amazed at what a difference a few considerations can make. With these hacks, your clothes can look better in a snap.
