Not only is Megan Fenno the other half of “One Chic Mother to Another” on Holly Morgan’s mid-morning show, but she also has some serious design chops. A native of Cincinnati’s West Side, Megan graduated with a degree in fashion and accessory design from Savannah College of Art & Design and was even a finalist to appear on Project Runway! She’d love to meet Tim Gunn again – this time for coffee and the scoop on all the behind-the-scenes drama.

Despite her stylish creds, Megan remembers plenty of fashion blunders from her youth: “Oversized sweatshirts paired with stirrup leggings…and permed bangs. Yikes!”

When she’s not on air with Holly, Megan is the Lifestyle Editor at cincysavers.com and the owner of online accessories boutique FENNOfashion.com. She married her high-school sweetheart and their young son, 80-pound German Shepherd and three-pound curly-furred cat keep her pretty busy, too.

Tips on Caring for Clothing

Can you believe it? Tomorrow will mark the first day of fall. That means it’s time to switch out the clothes in your closet- storing your summer clothing while replacing it with your warmer wardrobe.

This also is a great time to really go through your closet by reading care labels, removing the little fuzzies from last years winter coat and ironing anything that has been tightly compressed in a storage container for months.

We all know if you care for your clothes properly, they can last far longer than expected.  While living in a consumer society, we are expected to dash out and purchase something new the moment our favorite garment is in disrepair.  So let’s prevent the disrepair by maintaining our wardrobe correctly. Following are simple but effective tips:

Storing your clothes

It is so important to store your clothes correctly. By that I mean, not on the floor. While different fabrics have specific care instructions, it is important to keep your clothes away from moisture and preferably hung. So if you have a leaky basement, it might not be a good idea to store you clothes down there, even IF you are hanging them. It’s paramount to avoid damp and dank areas when storing clothing, so make sure to get your garments to higher ground.

Using the Perfect Hanger

Experts have always suggested that hangers rule over folding.  But did you know the type of hanger you use can make a difference? Using cushioned fabric hangers or cedar hangers over plastic is preferred because they are broader. This enables your clothes to have better support. I wouldn’t suggest wire hangers, even if you are cramped for space because they tend to stretch your garments and then you will get those weird marks on the shoulders that clearly say “I hang my clothes on wire hangers”.  Another great alternative for people such as myself who have small closets are to grab a few packages of slim line hangers.  They have a velvet-like coating to enable your apparel to stay-put and are thin enough to fit in the smallest of cubbyhole closets.

Wash Before Storing

If you wore something out for only a few hours and are about to hang it back in your closet. STOP! It’s not to your advantage to rehang worn clothing especially if you don’t plan on sporting it in the near future. First of all, it’s dreadful for your outfit but what is worse is that nasty little cloths-eating creature, Mr. Moth, is attracted to your natural oils that have been absorbed by your clothing.

Put Delicates in a Bag

Make sure you check the care instructions on the label to ensure your clothing is washer-safe BEFORE you even think about sticking your sequined trimmed cardigan into the machine. Even if the care label gives you the green light on the washing machine, I still recommend placing your garments into a specially designed bag made for delicates. Also, if you have the option, set your machine to wash delicately.

Beware of the Dryer

Similar to washing your delicates, always check the care instructions on your clothing before throwing them in the dryer. Wool should never even see the inside of a dryer because often times wool that goes in a dryer will come out with a new fragrance… ode burnta-fabrica.

Classic Ironing

Certain fabrics should stay as far away from an iron as possible. Again, this where those handy little care instructions come into play. And for goodness sakes, always double check your iron’s setting. Even though there is a high setting, it’s my practice to keep the iron on medium which lessens the risk of scorching my garments. Also, a little word of advice from my experience, never iron a stain! My mom didn’t tell me that ironing a stain only fixes it into the fabric and ends up appearing worse. I learned the hard way.. ha ha!

Removing Fuzz

D-Fuzz-It 2-Pack DFuzzIt Sweater & Fabric Combs

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to get the little fuzzies off your sweaters and coats, above is what I use. You can get two for $4.90 with free shipping! (Click on the link above).

So there you have it! Reading care labels can surely set you in the right direction to the best care for your clothing. Remember, be aware of your settings on your washer, dryer and iron. Give attention on how you store your clothes. In applying these suggestions, you will be amazed on how much longer you clothes will last. But not only that, you will save money too. Nothing wrong with that!

Any other tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them!