By Cate Jensen
Carmen Lopez, Owner of Current Boutique, a chain of award-winning local designer consignment stores, knows clothes. After almost 10 years in business and four locations under her stylish belt, she is no stranger on how to fix an accidental stain on a dress or the wear and tear of life on your favorite pair of designer jeans. Here is Carmen’s list of items to help your wardrobe woes, along with a little Q & A on why these tips and products are so essential to helping the favorite pieces in your closet last.
Out of list below, what would you say your number one rule for keeping clothes fresh and vibrant looking is?
My number one on this list is the natural clay that absorbs grease and oil stains. That has to be the number one go-to product for us. You are out at a restaurant and you drop a French fry on your dress and it leaves this huge mark. When all you need is this little guy –
it absorbs the stain and you just brush it off.
In terms of these little miracle workers, I have tried it all. When people try to bring their clothes in [to Current Boutique], we try our best to get our clothes ready for the floor. We are not just gonna disregard something because it has this tiny little imperfection.
Why do you think utilizing these kinds of tips is so important?
You want to keep your clothes looking new and preserve them as long as possible. You spent the money on them, so you want to make sure you keep them in good condition. These are just some of the things that are gonna extend the life of your clothes so that you are able to use them and make them look fresh.
If you spent $100 on a dress, you don’t want to totally disregard it if it has a stain on it. Even a cashmere sweater is a great example, you know you buy a cashmere sweater at J. Crew and it has a bunch of pilling you don’t want to just throw it away or not use it. You want to take the extra step to refresh it and make it look brand new.
What is something for a woman on the go that they can keep in their purse to save their clothes?
A tide pen for sure. Little pink deodorant remover pads [as well], they are just great. You can use the clay to remove the oil from the deodorant and then the pink deodorant remover pads to remove makeup. I call them the “Mr. Clean” of clothing.
Check out Carmen’s complete list of tips and where to buy them:
1. Laundry bags: To protect items from “wear and tear” of the washing machine.
2. Fabric Comb: To make cashmere sweaters and wool cardigans “like new” (removes those ugly fuzz balls).
3. Fine Fabric Wash: No Dry Cleaner needed (even silk and cashmere).
4. All Natural Clay: Absorbs grease and oil stains and can be brushed off (all fabrics).
5. Deodorant Remover: For removing stains on the inside and outside of your clothes (all fabrics).
6. Personal Steamer: To remove wrinkles and “refresh clothing.”
7. Fabric Refresher: To keep clothes smelling clean and to use in conjunction with the steamer.
8. Ink Remover: For all types of clothing with ink stains.
9. Nail Polish Remover: To remove scuffs from patent leather.
10. Baby wipes & Tide Pen: To remove simple stains on clothing.
11.Magic Eraser: To remove stains from clothes with blotting.
