Ask the Editor: Vol. V, No. Eight

This is a wild week. I have almost 25 hours of driving to do in just seven days. I’ll sleep in a hotel more nights than I will at home. And somehow, I need to keep all the plates in the air. So let’s answer a few questions from the mailbag.

Hello Abra,

I own so many sneakers now that I’m a Mama and I can’t keep any of them clean.  Do you have any hacks? 

Haley

For suede sneakers, Jason Markk makes a cleaning kit that is a MUST have if you own any suede shoes you like.  For cloth sneakers, I own this bag, which is like having a car wash for your shoes, and this bag, which lets you hang them on the dryer door.  For leather sneakers, I like these sneaker cleaner discs.

Abra:

 

Did you buy blazers too small and now you have to invest a lot of money to buy them in a bigger size? Obviously we may have gotten larger as we’ve aged, but clearly oversized is more trendy. 

 

I feel like we all wore clothes a lot more tight back in the day, and I’m struggling in having to justify investing in items like blazers to my husband. 

 

Anyone else?  Kaitlyn

 

I’ve gained 20lbs since Sloane was born, so my blazers definitely don’t fit.  I have just recently come to the realization that they will likely not fit again, and have been slowly gifting my whole wardrobe to my Mom.  Replacing all of those blazers is really expensive, and I have basically broken the task into two parts.

 

1) I bought new suits, and I bought almost all of them new, but I was really strategic to shop the sale section when there were extra discounts available.  With Veteran’s Day sales and Black Friday coming, this is good strategy to think about implementing.  

Ann Taylor is a go to for me.  Nordstrom is also doing an extra 30% off clearance right now.  Their Lennox pants have a great fit and pair well with their Ingrid blazer, which fits closer to the body without being tight, making it a classic. (I don’t really buy oversized blazers, because I want to be wearing them in a few years when that trend goes away. A classic cut will work for decades.)

2) I know my size in my regular brands, so I spent some time on Poshmark and Thredup looking for pieces second hand. I didn’t do this for my basics — navy, black, etc. — but I did do it for other colors — plum, red, green, etc. The key is to ask what year the suit is from, because sizing changes every few years. If I find a pre-2020 Ann Taylor suit, I’m a 10. If I find a post-pandemic suit, I’m an 8.

Also, if you need one-off blazers, The Real Real is a good place to look for brands like Veronica Beard, Maje, Boss, etc. These are not luxury brands by the TRR standards, so you can actually find them for less than you can buy them on Poshmark. The reason is pretty simple, a woman who paid $795 for a blazer isn’t letting it go for less than $500, but TRR considers these lower or mid level brands, and I regularly find them for <$250. The trick is to save pieces in your size and wait until they’ve been on the site a while, which is when they start discounting them.

Dear Belle,

The skin on my legs itches and feels dry all winter long. I don’t want to stop shaving because I take my kids to swimming and already feel insecure around the moms who are half my age. What can I do?

Help, please. Hadley

Honey, I got you. First, you need to shave your legs with hair conditioner and not soap. Yes, you can buy the fancy gels and foams that help you shave your legs, but a $5 hair conditioner is my pick.

Second, you need to grab a body lotion with Urea. This is the best product for really dry skin, the kind that flakes and itches. I like this Prequel lotion the best.

Third, you need to lotion up before bed because your pajamas and sheets suck moisture from your skin while you sleep. So I lotion both post-shower in the morning and night.

Hi!

I need a couple outfits for a convention in Chicago this fall. Its pretty formal. Bankers in suits, followed by client dinners. I’m stumped.

Jody

My go-to convention attire is always dresses. Less packing. More formal. Fewer decisions.

This Donna Karan dress with an asymmetric neckline is a good choice. I also like this Boss Pleated Skirt Dress, which you can add a blazer to if you like. This twist-front sheath from Ann Taylor would also look great with a blazer.

If none of that works for you, monochromatic suits. Black suit, black blouse. Navy suit, navy or light blue blouse. It gives C-Suite executive without being too much work to put together.

DM: How do you wash your Varley pieces?

All of my lounge wear is Varley. The fabric is too soft. The pieces fit too well. I am too comfortable. I cannot resist. But the care instructions…who do these women think we are?

The care instructions on most Varley pieces demand cold water wash on gentle, no tumble dry. I do not do that. Who has that much lay flat drying space? Not me.

Instead, I zip up and fasten all of the closures on my pieces. Then, I put the pieces in mesh wash bags. (I have these big ones.) I wash on cold, gentle cycle. I wash all of my intimates and Varley pieces together.

Then, I dry them in the bags on air fluff, which means there is no heat. I used to use the low setting, but I decided that was playing with fire.

Prefer not to chance it and want to lay flat dry? A friend swears by this over-the-door hanging rack.

DM: If I only buy one thing from the Sephora sale what should it be?

Dior Star Glow Filter. It just makes your skin come alive, while blurring some imperfections. It’s the best thing I bought last year.

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