The one thing that drags an outfit down

Short answer: Watch for a wavy neckline, a faded black and fluff on knitwear. A single worn garment drags a set down more than three tidy ones lift it up. Check them in daylight, not only in the bathroom mirror.

The three most common

The neckline that has gone wavy after too many times on a hanger is the first. Black clothes that have turned greyish brown from washing are the second. And fluff on a knitted garment is the third. All three are easy to miss in the bathroom mirror and clear in daylight, so check them outside the bathroom.

Why they weigh so heavily

The eye looks for what breaks the pattern. If everything is neat except one thing, that one thing is what you see. That is why a single worn garment can drag a whole outfit down, even if the rest is new. See sweatwear in bamboo for basics that are easy to replace when one is worn.

The wavy neckline

A neckline goes wavy when the garment hangs on a hanger and the collar is pulled out of shape. Fold sweaters instead of hanging them if the fabric is knitted or soft. A neckline that has gone wavy is hard to fix, so the best solution is to prevent it.

Faded black

Black clothes can end up looking greyish brown after many washes. Wash them at a lower temperature and inside out if the care label suggests it. Keep black clothes apart from light ones, so fluff and colour do not transfer. See women's bamboo pants if you want to replace a faded pair of trousers.

Fluff on knitwear

Fluff gathers where the fabric rubs, for example under the arms and at the sides. Remove it with a lint remover, and do it before you put the garment on. A knitted garment without fluff looks newer at once. Wash knitwear gently and inside out, so there is less friction.

What to do about it

Remove fluff with a lint remover and replace garments that have faded. Those are the two steps that do the most. If you have a garment with a wavy neckline, keep it for home and choose something else for days when you will be seen. See bamboo dresses as an example of a garment that holds an outfit together.

Check in daylight

The bathroom often has soft, warm light that hides wear. Check your clothes in daylight, ideally by a window, before you leave. Look at the neck, shoulders and sleeves, because that is where wear shows first. Two minutes in daylight in the morning saves you walking around in something that does not look good.

What people see first

People look at the face first, so the eye lands on the neck and shoulders. If there is a wavy neckline or fluff at the shoulders, it is quickly seen. Make sure that area is neat and that the colour of the top has not faded. The rest of the outfit is read afterwards.

How to keep clothes in shape

Wash by the label, sort by colour and hang clothes to dry so they are not worn down by heat. Remove fluff regularly and replace what can no longer be saved. That way you keep an outfit where nothing drags the others down, and you do not need to buy everything new at once.

Frequently asked questions

Can you refresh faded black

Only temporarily. Avoid washing black in hot water, and wash it with similar colours so it keeps its depth for longer. Once the colour has faded, it is usually best to replace the garment.

How often should you remove fluff

After every third or fourth wash on knitted garments. Remove the fluff before you put the garment on, and wash knitwear gently so there is less friction.