Greetings!

 Conselle
 

If you decide to print the Conselle Fashion & Image Newsletter, for best results, print with Internet Explorer. 

  

All-season fabrics should be a mainstay in our wardrobes.  Not light or heavy-weight, but medium weight and medium textured, all-season fabrics help to stretch your clothing dollar and your fashion options increase.   

 

Going further, there are several tangible benefits to building a wardrobe based on all-season fabrics.

• All-season fabrics are the most comfortable most of the time.
• All-season fabrics are versatile for all-season wearability.
• All-season fabrics keep more clothes in use, rather than in storage somewhere. 
• All-season fabrics do not attract a lot of attention to themselves.
• All-season fabrics make good background fabrics, easier to combine with light or heavyweight fabrics, smooth or rough fabrics as needed.
• All-season fabrics can be worn by every body attractively.
• All-season fabrics are affordable for virtually everyone. 

Choose all-season fabrics made from the natural fibers (cotton, linen, silk) and from high-quality blends of natural and man-made fibers (rayon, polyester, acetate).  Yes, I said polyester.  Polyester often gets a bad wrap but it can be beautiful as well as comfortable, especially the new microfiber breeds of polyester.  Blends combine the good looks and absorbency of a natural fiber with the easy care properties of man-made fibers, often at lower cost.  For your information, high quality blends generally contain no more than 35% of the man-made fibers.  I don't recommend blends with a lot of spandex in them as they are too firm for comfort in hot weather.

 

Fabric swatches

 

To determine if a fabric is medium-weight, I could give you ounces per yard, but you won't likely have occasion to weigh your clothes.  Realistically, the simplest test is to pick up garments in similar style but different fabrics, and compare their weight.  With a little experience you will get a "feel" for the various weights.  By name, all-season fabrics include broadcloth, chambray, chino, gingham, pique, denim, pinwale corduroy, jersey knits, poplin, crepe, noil, charmeuse, and challis.  I don't expect you will recognize all of these fabrics, but as a point of reference, I'd recommend to visit a fabric or clothing store and ask a "seasoned" clerk to show you.  In a fabric store, you can even ask for a small piece or "swatch" of the all-season fabrics you think you'd like to try.  Depending on your proximity to a fabric store, you can also request fabric swatches from established stops with an online presence - for a comprehensive listing, check out Conselle's Fashion Fabrics Resource List for just $10.

 

In past Newsletters, I've written about the wisdom of buying classic clothing styles that are not extreme, in somewhat muted wardrobe neutral colors, both strategies that will allow you to maintain the versatility of your clothes.  This month we'll explore the wisdom of investing in classics in wardrobe neutrals and all-season fabrics.  The idea is to buy the best quality you can afford. 

 

 

Instead of just reading about this Wardrobe Strategy, I invite you to take action. So go to your closet.  Take out 5 to 8 of your favorite pieces of clothing, then take out 5 to 8 of your less favorite or less worn pieces of clothes.  Now compare their weights.  Discover whether the weight of the clothing pieces has anything to do with whether or not you like or dislike the items.  Weight may or may not be a factor, but take a few minutes to consider it and draw some conclusion--even conclusions for future reference.

 

Yes, we know that virtually everyone is saying that anything goes now when it comes to fashion.  Don't kid yourself.  It doesn't.  Guys and girls bundled up in weighty wool neck scarves or leather boots look silly in the heat of summer, contrived, phony, like they're trying too hard to look "fashionable."  We might get away with lightweight velour in early morning or evening hours, but save velvet for cold weather wear.  Even lightweight velvets look too weighty and will weigh you down in hot, humid temperatures.  We think of suede for fall and winter because it's relatively heavy, but a lightweight suede or suedecloth lends itself well to pairing with denim all year 'round.  What is lightweight in suede is relatively medium weight when compared to the all-season fabrics listed above.  

 

Some fabrics lend themselves to all occasion wear, like broadcloth and jersey knits.  Others communicate loud and clear, the mood or message and change the look of even the most classic straight skirt, tailored shirt, or basic blazer.  

 

 

• Denim, chino, and chambray lay claim to relaxed occasion clothes. 
• Crepe, challis, charmeuse, and pique communicate dressed up for business or social occasions.  
• A little metallic or sheen suggests "special".
• A lot of metallic or shine shouts evening wear. You're stepping out on the town.  

One more point when it comes to feeling comfortable in the heat of summer, those classic styles should be somewhat looser with larger or open necklines and shorter or fuller sleeves, all to allow air to circulate and cool the body.  Close-fitting and all buttoned up is for air-conditioned environments only.  If attending a summer conference, retreat, or resort, do take a sweater or jacket layer to keep your cool since you'll likely be in air-conditioned rooms. 

 

To read more information about fabrics and textures as applied to dress and grooming, with instructions regarding people like you, order Conselle's wardrobe strategy #6 Fabric and Texture at $27.97.  You'll find charts that will summarize the information and simplify your learning and application.  Order through Conselle's Store or call 801-224-1207 and order directly through Kathy.  Order Fabric and Texture here!

 

Photo:  JNY | Sailmakers Supply | Mirror.co.uk | Ideeli | Therzi | Hautelook | Zuhair Murad 

This top is an example of something that's distractingly sheer, limp, and lifeless.

 

Sheer fabrics in women's wear are everywhere.  Even tees are being made out of fabrics too thin.  Many are distractingly sheer, putting undergarments on display, and other tops look limp and lifeless.  Decide carefully, what you will adopt, adapt, or avoid.  Think twice about what you want to communicate, where you will wear them, and whether you really want to layer them.  I highly recommend you avoid anything distracting, limp, or lifeless. 

 

Sheer fabrics can be adapted to work for your purposes. To make this trend work, I suggest you adapt the sheer shirt by wearing it open as a shirt jac over a tank top.  A sheer, button-front dress worn open doubles as a dressy duster over stylish pants and top.  It's cool and comfortable with style and ease.

 

As I get into client's closets, I can't say it enough.  "Don't over clean your clothes."  You'll ruin their shape and wear them out too fast.  That even goes for your denims.  I don't recommend that you wash "Washable" wool or suits of any kind.  That's not really "Easy Care." They lose their shape and you can't get it back, even on the ironing board.  Instead, to prevent excessive laundering, air them out after each wearing.  Buy a commercial steamer from your local display store or from Conselle.  Another cost-effective option is topurchase a small, portable steamer from Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Use it to remove wrinkles between washings or cleanings.  "Easy Care" is to get tailored clothes dry-cleaned once or twice a season at most.  If you hand wash silky tops, don't spin the water completely out of them or the spinning process puts in creases and wrinkles.  Fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes only, then hang over a padded hanger or lay them out on a towel to dry.

To make traditionally light-colored summer clothes appear more interesting, fascinating, vary the textures in the outfit.  There are several different ways you can do this: Choose one smooth fabric, one slightly textured fabric, and one dominant textured fabric.  (Remember The Fashion Rule of ONE dominant and all others subordinate.)  Another way is to choose one accessory out of fabric or leather and one out of metal--one smooth and one textured.  

 

Fabric is a wonderful element of design and a medium for creative expression.  Summer is all about the freedom of expressing yourself.  Enjoy and have fun with your fabrics this summer. 

 

Best Regards,

 

 

 

 

Judith Rasband

Conselle Institute of Image Management

http://www.conselle.com

Check out our blog at http://conselleimageconsultant.wordpress.com! 

  

.

Didn't catch it the first time around? Browse through our Newsletter Archives for further learning! 

• August 2010 - Developing Personal Style
• September 2010 - Clustering Your Clothes
• October 2010 - Evaluate Your Wardrobe
• November 2010 - Clothing Wear and Care
• December 2010 - Fashion in the Fast Lane
• January 2011 - The Power of Personal Apperance
• February 2011 - Art in Everyday Dress
• March 2011 - Line in Design
• April 2011 - Shape in Design
• May 2011 - Color in Design
• June 2011 - Fabric and Texture in Design
• July 2011 - Pattern in Design
• August 2011 - Developing Your Personal Style
• September 2011 - Which Fashion Trends Work into Clusters for You?
• October 2011 - Timely Tips for a Successful Wardrobe Evaluation
• November 2011 - 7 Ways to Find What You Need In Your Closet
• December 2011 - Love Plus Logic is the Key to Great Shopping
• January 2012 - Where Have All the Nice-Looking People Gone?
• February 2012 - Judith Rasband's Fashion Rule of ONETM
• March 2012 - Discover Which Fashion Lines Work for You
• April 2012 - How to Keep Your Shape in Shape
• May 2012 - Color: Don't Believe Everything You Read
• June 2012 - The Denim Dissent
• July 2012 - What Matters With Pattern
• August 2012 - Tricky Trends for Fall 2012
• September 2012 - Strategy for Shopping With A Plan
• October 2012 - Is Your Wardrobe Killing You?
• November 2012 - Clothing for Your 72-Hour Emergency Kit
• December 2012 - Shopping Results in Real Time
• January 2013 - Looking Good When You Don't Feel So Great 
• February 2013 - Personal Style File or Look Book is Key to Art in Everyday Dress
• March 2013 - Fashion's High-Low Hemlines: What's Right For You?
• April 2013 - Fit to Be Seen: 20+ Foolproof Guides for a Fabulous Fit
• May 2013 - How to Wear Black