The next time you get dressed only to discover that your shirt is already wrinkled, your purse has been scuffed, and your heels are mere steps away from causing blisters, know that you are not alone. Even the most seasoned style pros have had to hack their way out of such common fashion frustrations. Nina Garcia, the creative director at Marie Claire magazine and longtime judge on Project Runway, deals with the same day-to-day styling problems we all do, but lucky for us, she's got some solutions.
We asked Garcia – who has teamed up with online tip-sharing community Trusper – to reveal her best fashion hacks. And to make us feel a bit better about ourselves, she even shared one problem she hasn't yet figured out how to solve. Any takers? Read on to find out more.
"If your leather handbag, wallet, or shoe has a scratch or a crack in it, rub a tiny bit of moisturizer into the scratch using a Q-tip until it’s gone. It’s like putting lotion onto cracked, dry skin."
"When you’re rolling the sleeves of a button-up blouse, don’t do it while you’re wearing it. Keep those sleeve buttons buttoned, and roll the sleeves before you even put the shirt on. This ensures they’re even, and it keeps them from looking bulky and needing readjustment all day."
"Wrinkles are really the worst and inevitable. I recommend buying a miniature, travel-sized steamer. It changed my life. Mine is smaller than a hairdryer, and I bring it with me whenever and wherever I travel, and I definitely put it to use when I'm short on time at home."
"For cleaning your gold and silver jewelry, if you don’t have jewelry polish — and who keeps that stuff on hand anyway? — or professional jewelry cleaner, the household all-purpose brand Fantastik works just as well."
"You know how people tell you to put a sweater in the freezer if it’s prone to pilling or shedding? If you have leather leggings, put those in the freezer, too. It helps them keep their shape!"
"If you simply can't find a comfortable heel that works for you, try a shoe with a platform — even the smallest one is better than a thin sole. A thicker sole or a little bit of a platform will offset some of the pressure you feel when walking. For the ultimate comfort, go for a rubbery kind of material. It will best absorb that pressure."
"I love the look of crisp linen, but as the day goes on — with the sitting and moving around — it always starts to look wrinkled and disheveled, particularly in the elbows and waist area. I wish someone had a solution to that."