Do Regular Maintenance. “Always check your shoes after wear before placing them in your closet,” Mesquita suggests. Wipe leather clean with a cloth or brush before putting away, and brush off suede of any dust collected during the day. Condition Regularly. “The biggest misconception I suppose is that leather shoes only need waxing,” Gerbase says, “whereas the conditioning cream is a vital step in maintaining the quality and softness of upper leather.” Here’s how Gerbase recommends you condition your shoes: Wrap a soft cotton cloth tightly around your index finger and dab in the cream. Apply to the shoe using small circular motions (no sweeping movements). Leave the cream to seep into the leather for around 15 minutes and then brush off excess with a soft brush.
Price suggests conditioning your shoes just once or twice a year, usually after the winter months. “With all the snow and salt in the streets, the leather will become dry and cracked and will need to be conditioned to prevent damage to the uppers.” Let Soggy Shoes Dry — Naturally. “If you get caught in a storm and your shoes become soaked, make sure to let them air dry in an open space laid flat before storing them away,” Price says. “If you store them damp, the uppers may become deformed and you may lose the shape of the shoes.”Gerbase adds that if the shoes are wet from rain or snow, you should immediately rinse them in clean water before allowing them to dry in order to avoid the white marks that appear on the upper leather. Insider Tip: Sole Repairs. “The tips of soles are what wear out the soonest and you can just get the tip portion of a sole replaced versus replacing the whole sole,” Mesquita suggests.
Invest in Cedar. “Cedar is good to absorb moisture and freshen shoe interiors,” Mesquita says. “I myself use them on my sneakers after I wear them!” Some cedar options include shoe trees and little sachets. Give Nice Shoes a Rest. “In order to keep them in premium condition, dress shoes should not be worn for consecutive days,” says Gerbase. Waiting “allows the leather to dry and breathe in between wears, and lets them rest with their shoe trees which in turn reduce creasing.” Price adds: “I leave them somewhere where a light breeze can hit them to ventilate.” Insider Tip: Heel Replacements. Don’t wait until you hear a clicking noise to replace the heel of your shoe. Mesquita says to bring the pair in as soon as the heels look worn down to avoid more costly repairs down the road. Knitwear, pleating, twill, denim—a significant portion of the clothes that we buy online or in stores are produced in an assembly line in textile factories around the world. This type of clothing is called “ready-to-wear.”
“Ready-to-wear” (known as prêt-à -porter in French) is a fashion industry term that signifies that an article of clothing was mass-manufactured in standardized sizes and sold in finished condition—rather than designed and sewn for one particular person. Most of the clothing that we will buy in our lifetime—from sweatshirts to denim, cardigans to handbags—is ready-to-wear, which means it was purchased “off the rack.” A Brief History of Ready-to-Wear Fashion Before the 1800s, almost all clothing in the world of fashion was bespoke or made to measure, meaning it was sewn by seamstresses and tailors for individuals. During the War of 1812, the US government began mass-producing military uniforms, making them one of the first ready-to-wear garments in history. The concept of ready-to-wear men’s clothing survived the war, and by the end of the century, most men had access to ready-to-wear clothing lines in department stores.
At the time, women’s fashion was much more complex and fitted than men’s clothing—including fitted waists, necklines, and sleeves—making ready-to-wear women’s clothing impractical during the era. However, the 1900s brought increased media attention surrounding ready-to-wear clothing in the US which, along with the economic hardship of the era, made ready-to-wear clothing more attractive and practical than bespoke clothing. By the late 1960s, the divide between ready-to-wear fashions and haute couture (the bespoke clothing made by major fashion houses like Chanel or Dior) closed when, in 1966, fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent opened up his first store selling a ready-to-wear line. This paved the way for other designers to make ready-to-wear clothing in addition to their traditional haute couture lines. What Are the Differences Between Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture? Ready-to-wear clothing and haute couture are two different ways the fashion world approaches clothes making. Ready-to-wear is clothing sold “off the rack,” meaning that it is made in standardized sizes, is usually mass-produced, and is meant to be purchased and worn immediately, often without alteration. Haute couture refers to high-end, custom clothing made and tailored exclusively for the wearer. Almost all major fashion labels (like Gucci, Lacroix, Prada, or Dior) make and show prêt-à -porter or ready-to-wear collections, in addition to their haute couture lines. Other differences between ready-to-wear and haute couture include:
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Fashion styles are constantly evolving, but there are certain trends that appear over and over again on runways and in street style. Learn more about the different types of fashion styles that influence popular fashion trends, and find your own personal style. Fashion may be all about finding unique ways of dressing, but sometimes it helps to have a blueprint. Below are some of the broadest categories of fashion to help get you started. 1. Sporty: Sporty style, also known as athleisure, takes elements of athletic wear, like leggings, bike shorts, and oversize sweatshirts, out of the gym and onto the streets. 2. Bohemian: Also known as “boho” or “boho chic,” bohemian style borrows from the 1960’s hippie aesthetic and festival culture. The style incorporates earth tones, natural fabrics and dyes, and prints and accessories from around the world. The hallmarks of boho style are flowing maxi dresses, long skirts, bell-bottom pants, large brimmed hats, fringe, suede, and slouchy handbags. 3. Grunge: Inspired by grunge music and the subculture that originated in the ’80s and ’90s Seattle, grunge fashion features thrift-store finds like plaid flannel shirts, oversize knits, and feminine dresses styled in a subversive, disheveled way. Grunge looks often include ripped jeans or tights, unkempt hairstyles, and black boots. 4. Preppy: Preppy style is inspired by the clothing and uniforms traditionally worn at private East Coast prep schools and Ivy League colleges. Preppy style often takes inspiration from upper-class sports like polo, sailing, tennis, and horseback riding. Preps are known for wearing polo shirts, Oxford shirts, argyle sweaters and socks, cloth-wrapped headbands, boat shoes, blazers, pearls, cardigans, and khaki pants.
Punk: Punk fashion is inspired by the subversive punk rocker styles of the ’70s and ’80s and comprises many subcultures, each with its own specific style codes. Some overarching elements of punk style include leather jackets, deconstructed blazers, ripped fishnet stockings, skinny jeans, and chunky black boots. Provocative messaging, band logos, and customization with safety pins and patches are common themes in punk clothing. Punk grooming includes heavy black eyeliner, mohawks, dyed hair, and spiked hair. 6. Streetwear: Streetwear is a casual fashion style that first became popular in the 1990s. It incorporates comfortable yet trendy clothing such as logo T-shirts and crop tops, hoodies, baggy pants, and expensive sneakers. Streetwear takes inspiration from both hip-hop and skater style, with the added element of intentional product scarcity. Followers of the latest trends in streetwear are known as hypebeasts, and many go to great lengths to procure limited-edition designer baseball caps, hoodies, sneakers, and more. 7. Classic: Classic style is an umbrella term for a polished everyday style that incorporates elements of workwear, such as blazers, pencil skirts, and khakis. This more professional look is appropriate for the office and other settings where you want to look your best. 8. Casual: Casual style is what you might wear on the weekend. Think jeans, comfortable T-shirts, and sneakers or flat boots. Both streetwear and sporty style might be considered types of casual styles, but casual style can also lean preppy or hip.
