THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING EXPENSIVE

 

• . If blush or bronzer breaks in your handbag, pre-moistened makeup removing wipes will clean up the loose powder flawlessly.

• . Break in stiff or too-snug shoes by slipping them on with socks and blasting your feet with a hot hairdryer.

• . Hang a shoe bag on the back of your bathroom door and use it to hold makeup, toiletries, brushes, hair ties, etc.

• . A vintage trunk not only makes a stylish coffee table, but it can also house shoes and clothing you rarely wear.

• . “To remove watermarks from leather boots, add a few drops of vinegar to a bowl of cool water and scrub the stains with a soft bristle brush until stains are no longer visible. Let dry overnight.” — Daryl Carr, Marketing Coordinator, Stetson

• . To stop squeaky shoes, remove the insole and apply Vaseline or WD-40 before replacing it.

• . To determine if pearls are real, lightly rub them over your teeth. Fake pearls will be perfectly smooth, and real ones will feel slightly gritty or textured.

• . When you’re shopping for a jacket, coat, or blazer, pay attention to the fit around the shoulders. While a tailor can tweak pretty much everything about the fit of a jacket—from tapering the waist to shortening it—they can’t change the shoulders. Make sure the seams sit perfectly at the bony tops of your shoulders.

• . Chic up a sporty puffer vest by cinching the waist with a skinny belt.

• 53. Unless they’re cropped or tapered, pant hems should just graze the tops of your shoes and be from 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch off the floor.

• . Always dry-clean coats before storing them, and place on cedar hangers inside cloth garment bags. This preserves the fabric and keeps moths away.

•  If you have a small closet, never keep your shoes in clunky shoeboxes. Instead, always line up them on the floor.

• . Going to a winter wedding or formal event? Try wearing a sleeveless fur vest as a top, cinching it with a skinny belt or piece of ribbon and pairing it with a floor-length skirt.