To Wash or Not Wash

Ever wonder how often you should wash your leggings, sweaters, winter wear?
I know we all hate doing the laundry and want our clothing to last longer so sometimes we don't wash clothing as often as we need to...

And another thing, why does everything say "hand wash only"? No one is really going to hand wash all their clothing {{who has time for that!}} No worries here! All the staples at Lyn-Maree's have been seriously tested by Emma herself {who is a terrible laundress, so if she hasn't ruined it, you should be just fine}. My biggest tip for everything is Garment Bag - Cold Water - Gentle Cycle - Hang or Lay Flat to Dry

So after some research {and what I personally do} here is what I have found.

Leggings/Yoga Pants - Every 2 wears

                *Unless you worked out in them, then ONE wear, putting on clothing you have previously sweated in can clog your pores with your own bacteria {{yuck}}

                How to Wash - gentle cycle, cold water, and hang dry {if they are a nicer material you can pop in the dryer for a few minutes on de-wrinkle *NIKIBIKI can be dried for a few minutes no problem} 

Scarves - 4 times a season 

               {Of course this may depend on how often you wear them.}

               How to Wash -  place your scarf is in a garment bag, gentle cycle, cold water, and lay flat to dry, do not wring them out {as long as the scarf is not wool you should be able to pop it in the dryer on de-wrinkled for a few minutes then lay flat to dry}

Hats - 2-4 a season 

                 Assuming your hat didn't get all kinds of sweaty, once a month of wear should be fine. 

                How to Wash - Knit/Crochet hat - wash on the gentle cycle, cold water, lay flat to dry, do not wring them out. 

                 Cloche or felt {formed hats} - not really washable. Use Down dish soap and cool water to spot clean and use a Lysol to de-germ the interior of the hat {especially where it touches your head}.  

Slip Dresses/Slip Skirts  - Every 2-4 wears

                  This definitely depends on the season. During the winter because I wear my Nikibiki long sleeve and leggings under my slip dress its not touching my skin at all, so it does not need washed as frequently. During the summer I wash mine much more frequently because it is touching my skin and {lets be real} it's hot people sweat. 

                 How to Wash - place it in a garment bag, gentle cycle, cold water, hand to dry {I like to shake all the wrinkles out and make sure all the lace is laying down nicely too before hanging it up to dry}

Faux Fur {scarves/vests/stoles/etc} - 1-2 times per season 

                    I always try and make sure to wear something under my furs {real or faux - real fur is never suppose to touch your skin because of your oils, always have a silk scarf on hand to wear under it} and if I know I am going somewhere smokey/greasy/campfire/smelly/etc I simply don't wear it.

                  How to Wash {FAUX Fur} - Gentle cycle, cold water, hand or lay flat to dry, if it seeds a little fluffing stick in the dryer on LOW Hear for a few minutes} *I am not a "hand washer", so for more details on hand washing or even fixing up some of your faux fur check out the link below*

Don't have a garment bag? WHAT! These little babies are a must for making your clothing last longer. I got mine for maybe $1 or $2 at Walmart by the laundry totes but here is a link for on on Amazon too if you just want it to show up at your house {go for the ones with a zipper, not drawl string} https://www.amazon.com/Laundry-Lingerie-Bags-Multi-Size-Underwear/dp/B010RD0VZI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1483985805&sr=8-6&keywords=laundry+garment+bag.


XOXO-
Emma
Lyn-Maree's Boutique
209 N Main St. Auburn, IN 46706

Check out the full list and details from my sources:
http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Many-Wears-Before-You-Need-Wash-28694036

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/surprising-truths-about-how-often-you-should-wash-these-10-different-items-clothing.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Faux-Fur

Make getting ready easier

Ever wonder why Lyn-Maree's only carries neutral clothing? 
Or why I only carry what I call "Accessory Clothing"?

Getting ready in the morning should be quick, easy and virtually effortless.
I'm not a morning person so I need a quick, easy morning routine that ends up in me still looking "stylish" for my day at the boutique. For me a quick morning routine starts with the closet.

Here are 8 simple steps to simplify your closet....and did I mention you can still do all of this and be trendy, up to date and stylish without spending a fortune.... 

Step No. 1: Confront your closet (and dresser, don't forget about that). Can you even see what's in there? Start the clean out by cleaning your closet...yes one piece at a time...

While your clearing out your closet put your clothing into 3 piles

• Keep it - This pile is for clothing you love
• Have worn in the last 12 months
• Fit you right now
• Are not stained or over washed
• And YES, the clothing must fit ALL of those categories. If you are wishy/washy about a garment, Donate it!
• Donate it - This pile is where MOST of your closet will be ending up. 
• Toss it - This pile is if for all the clothing that is stained, discolored, over washed and worn, tearing, etc.

*Note: If you hesitate over an item, for even a second, you don't love it, donate it*

Place the clothes you love on your bed. Arrange the articles by type: jeans, pants, shirts, etc.

Step No. 2: Examine the items on the bed to see if a theme emerges. Is everything blue? Perhaps you chose clothes sewn only from comfortable fabrics. Did you choose only your best-fitting pair of jeans? Did you leave all the skirts in the closet?

By examining the clothes you love in a vacuum—that is, without the rest of your wardrobe surrounding them and clamoring for attention—you will see a pattern. Maybe you like striped shirts best. Or maybe you really only feel comfortable in black. Next time you are on the verge of a purchase, think back to this moment: how would the new piece you are considering fit in with your favorites?

Step No. 3: Make outfits. How many different ways can you mix key pieces to create different looks? Lay out as many ensembles as possible. (Helpful Hint: snap photos with your phone of each outfit; when you wake up tomorrow morning and can't decide what to wear, you can remind yourself of the possibilities.)

Step No. 4: Edit. Are there favorite pieces that didn't make the cut when you were putting together outfits? Take them off the bed...add those to the Donate pile. 

Step No. 5: Pick and choose. Ask yourself: Is there essential piece missing? If you go back to your closet to get a particular jacket or shirt or pair of pants you now regret placing in the donate pile, will that article of clothing enable you to create several more outfits? If so, grab it. *this is the ONLY time you can get back into the pile...box that up and seal it so you cant pull anything else out*

Step No. 6: Repair, replace buttons, and iron every piece of clothing that needs attention. If an item doesn't fit properly, take it to the tailor; shorten the sleeves, nip in the waist, lift a hemline to the most flattering length. If you don't want to make that investment, get rid of the piece. Trust me, it doesn't look good on you.

Step No. 7: Go through your Keep pile, find 10 of your key favorite pieces that your able to create LOTS of outfits from (outfit ideas from step no. 3) Put those back in your closet, on hangers or shelves where they are most visible and accessible. Most of these pieces are likely to be neutrals {black, brown/cocoa/tan, grey, white/ivory, navy}

• This would be where my Slip Dresses, Slip Skirts, fav Cardigan, Blazer, Overlays, "Little" Black Dress, Nikibiki Leggings and Tops, fav pair of Jeans are located 
• Keeping my basic "everyday" items in neutrals helps provide an array of outfit choices from the same pieces {getting more bang for my buck} then I add pops of fun colors in using my jewelry and scarves. 

Step No. 8: Put the rest of your Keep clothing pile back in your closet 

• Arrange by Color and Long Dresses to T Shirts  - DO NOT hang any outfits/suits/matching tops & bottoms together - 
• If you have a work uniform do keep those all together 
• See September 2014 "Organizing your Closet" for further instructions on how to organize your closet to get the most out of your clothing
•  http://www.lyn-marees.com/blog

Slip Dresses pictured on the Left 

Slip Skirts pictured on the Right 

Organizing Your Closet

It's the best time of the year to start fresh and new in your closet, it's 2017 and time to get the most out of your wardrobe.

During the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair I was open by appointment only, which meant I had a whole week off work! Now as a small business owner that never happens, the only time you have off work is when you have other obligations. So during the fair I decided I was not going to make any plans and work on organizing my home (which was in scary disorder due to working all the time).

One of my rooms that is consistently needing picked up is my closet. Somehow clothing never ends up back on its hanger or in a drawer or single socks everywhere or winter hats & gloves are just everywhere {not sure how this happens}

When organizing my closet I have a few key things I like to do that ensures I get the most out of all of my clothing and accessories.

1. Separate 

• Separate all of your suits or matching tops and bottoms
• DO NOT hang any matching tops and bottoms or suits together 

2. Areas - Your closet should be divided into 4 general areas 

• Dresses
• Pants
• Tops 
• Skirts

3. Color

• Organizing your hanging clothing in ROY-G-BIV (rainbow) order with your brown, blacks and whites to follow. 
• Within your colors put your clothing from jackets/sweaters to long sleeve to sleeveless shirts
• Black blazer, black cardigan, long sleeve black blouses and Ts, short sleeve black T and black camisoles.

4.Accessories - Hats, Belts, Scarves, Jewelry, Handbags

• Accessories should be hung away from your clothing. 
• Its easiest to display your accessories and not have them in drawers...you need to be able to see what you have.
• Get creative with your accessory displays check out my Pinterest
• http://www.pinterest.com/lynmarees/organizing-diy/
• The better you can see what you have, the better you will be at utilizing your accessories to create new fun outfits 

5. Label 

• When putting anything into baskets, boxes, drawers that may not get used a tone...LABEL 
• When you know what you have and where it belongs, you will save yourself heart ache and money

6. Donate & Trash  (No garage sale pile...you'll never have one & end up donating the clothing anyways)

• Has it been more than a year since you wore it?
• Are you waiting to loose weight to wear it?
• Has it seen its day?
• Has is been over washed and over worn?
• Is it balling/pilling or have a stain?
• Does it have a hole your planning on fixing? Or missing button?
• If you said YES to ANY of those questions it's time to let it go...trust me you will be happy in the long run you did. 

Below you can see my before(left) and after(right) photos of my closet...it was a disaster and not quite perfect yet but it will be someday

Good luck and have fun! 

I know starting my day off in an organized and clean closet helps me start my day off much happier! Hope it does you as well.

Great fashion tips...easy, easy, easy

I have been looking for great fashion tips to use to blog about this week.  I have discovered that most websites are for college age girls!  I'm thinking ,"wait a minute..."  What about young career women and young moms. Hey they need help sometimes too, after all college girls already have the fashion thing down anyway, right?  I also believe that young career women have a real dilemma, do they continue to dress like they did in college or go way conservative.  Then you have the young mom that is running around in yoga pants and t-shirts, hair in a ponytail and a baseball cap. There seems like no time for mom. This makes moms loose their identity.  So by following samples of  the looks of your favorite celebrity , you can copy the LOOK, not the outfit and accessories.  This s where the "you" comes into it.  Young career women, watch actress on tv series to see what they are wearing, like 30 Rock, for example.  Find a look you like and then with inspirations you can make your own individual look.

You will find that you discover a look you like over and over then realize more of what your style actually is. Use pintrest to save inspiration photos, collect them for a few days and then go back and look at them, you'll see a pattern. There is your style! Now your ready to make it your own, which is the important part! You do not want to be a copy cat, that is just lazy and way expensive.

Shop your closet!  But start with what you have you'll be surprised. Organize your closet, start left to right, start with tops,pick what color you wear the least to the color you wear the most.  Do the same when you get to skirts,pants,and jeans.  Separate suit pieces, hang the tops with tops of the same color, bottoms with other bottoms of the same color as well.  Use this plan with scarves and the best you can with accessories. I do my jewelry by style not color. After all, it's a look I'm going for not a color scheme.

Shop for some new accessories to freshen up those newly configured outfits!  By adding the least     expensive part of your outfit (accessories) you can save a bundle while individualizing it to reflect YOU! Make it you by adding earrings that remind you of that style you saved on Pintrest.  Add some bangles that you find interesting, remember you are being individual.  You will look like a million, feel like a million, and... Still have money in your pocket, you may have to pick up some scarves, some jackets or sweaters but you probably have everything you need in your closet.  Try this method and I think you will be surprised. Bring your pieces in and we can show you how all this works!  Where else can you find this service for free? You've got to at least try this, what have you got to loose?

Don't forget to leave a comment about what you woul dlike to see blogged about next!
And always remeber to Stay Fabulous!

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Lyn-Maree's
129 E 9th St
Auburn, IN 46706
Tues-Fri: 10-5 & Sat:10-3