FashBlog.com

When are you choosing fabrics, you should take care to choose ones that you will enjoy wearing and that will look good for a long time to come. There are some simple rules to follow when choosing fabrics that will help you to be sure that you are wearing the right clothes.

The first test you should do before you even take a piece of clothing to the fitting room is the touch test. If a garment feels odd to your hand, it will not be comfortable to wear. It does not matter how wonderful a piece of clothing looks on the hanger, you need to touch the fabric to be sure that you will find it comfortable.

After the fabric has passed the touch test, then you can begin to consider whether or not it works for your lifestyle. Do not be pulled in by fashion gurus. You need to wear what works for not only your body type but your lifestyle as well. For example, cashmere is a wonderful fabric. It is incredibly soft, which is why people love it, and it is very flexible. If you take it to be dry cleaned as you should and take care to fold it and put it away after you wear it, then you will find that you can stomach the expensive price tag on this quality piece of fabric. If you live on a farm where you do chores and raise six children, skip the cashmere. That is not meant as any type of insult. There are beautiful fabrics you can and should wear, but cashmere is not for you unless it is for a special occasion. This fabric is for people without children who need to look professional regularly.

If you travel regularly, you may want to look for labels with viscose. This fabric is as close to wrinkle-free as you can get, which means that it will survive those long flights in the suitcase. It also will work well even if you need to roll it up. Care is the only concern for this fabric. You should have it dry cleaned, but if you cannot, then you can hand-wash it in cold water and allow it to air dry. You can run a warm - not hot - iron over viscose if you had to let it air dry.

Let us return to that farming lady with the six kids. What should she wear? Well, look for stretch and wrinkle-resistant cottons. Although it does not sound sexy, it has some major benefits. First, as more people go for casual looks even in the office and millions of people work from home, there have been some changes to these cotton fabrics. They now come in wonderful designs that do not look old or dated (and do not scream Mom when anyone sees you). They are easy-care cloths and the wrinkle-resistant ones work well if you are doing chores and running after little ones all day. The best part is that these fabrics are not very expensive, so you can stock up without spending a fortune.

Another good choice for moms when they need to go out (or want to dress a little more) is a denim look. Jeans are no longer just casual. A sharp pair of jeans paired with a nice shirt can look really great for running errands or hanging out at home. The fabric is flexible and moves with you so they work well for being about children as well.

Everyone, stay-at-home mom or not, should consider investing in at least one tropical blend suit. These outfits are durable. The fabrics are designed to be resistant to wear and tear, and they usually do not wrinkle much. They travel well. Although they are expensive, they are classic pieces, so you could buy one or two and keep them for years, making them fresh with a few accessories added in for something extra.

Choosing the right fabric is important if you are planning to make up a new wardrobe. If you go shopping, be sure that you feel comfortable in what you are considering buying. Whether it is chic or not, it has to fit your lifestyle and your budget to make you feel good about the purchase.

By Julia Mercer