Taking Care of Your Clothes (So They Take Care of You)

How to make sure your "buy it for life" pieces last a lifetime

Since beginning my “What Do I Really Wear?” series, I’ve received a number of comments, emails, and DMs asking me the same question: how do I take care of my clothes? I tend to get a flurry of questions along this vein every time I post a vintage piece: for instance, last week’s installment mentioned two sweaters I inherited that were originally purchased in the 1960s. I routinely wear 30+ year-old shoes. My “thing,” for lack of a better word, is “fewer and better.” I don’t have fifty pairs of shoes, I don’t have sweaters I wear once a year: my wardrobe is a carefully-selected edit of pieces I love and, more importantly, wear.

The most important thing, to me, is to invest in the highest-quality pieces at the outset. Take the time to learn about clothing—what materials should be used, how seams should be finished, how clothing should be cut, and so on. Invest in pieces only made of natural fibers or materials. Understand how to protect your clothes and how to care for them. The last part is where I come in! I’m sharing all my tips, passed down to me by the women who passed down their beautiful wardrobes, today.