Sew What?

Because it's a slow night in the blogosphere, because I like lists, and because I've still got a little Las F in my blood, I give you five tools for keeping your wardrobe looking brand new:

Sewing Kit
It should include the basics like neutral-toned threads, needles, safety pins, and a few buttons. If you really want to get adventurous, throw in some hem tape. There's no reason you should throw out a perfectly good shirt because it's missing a button, or ship out a pair of pants because of a raveled cuff. And, you don't need to be a seamstress to effectively doctor your garments. Remember...it doesn't have to look pretty, it just needs to be functional.

Rit Dye
I've got a pair of pants in my closet that are a rich shade of burgandy merlot. After a season of wear and wash, they start to look a bit tired and faded. For a few bucks each year, I make them brand new again by dying them back to their natural shade with a bottle of Rit Dye. All you need is a cup of salt, your kitchen sink or washing machine, and about an hour to perk those pants right up! Rit also works extraordinarily well for dark jeans and black pieces that seem to fade out fast.

Lint Shaver
I was given a black sweater coat for Christmas one year while I was in college, and it's still a winter staple...especially now that sweater coats rotated back in style. The coat is wool, and habitually forms lint balls on the undersides of the arms and on the backside. Invest in a battery-powered lint shaver, and spend about ten minutes on your knotted sweater. Not only is lint shaving rather satisfying, I promise your sweater will look brand new.

Cedar Blocks
This fragrant wood not only initiates nostalgia, but it also repels moths. Protect your winter coats while they hang in your hall closet during the off season. Hang a few cedar blocks (you can buy them with a hanger hook) among your clothes, and when winter hits, you won't be caught with holes in your pockets.

Mesh Bag for Delicates
If you can't spend the time hand-washing your bras, you can at least give them a little extra support while they're in the spin cycle. A mesh bag will keep your delicates from twisting around and getting hung on other garments inside the washing machine. In addition, you can throw in scarves, shoestrings, lingerie, pantyhose, or any other unmentionables you don't want to snag.