Fashion

Men should dress in neutral shades or tone-on-tone colours to take the guesswork out of dressing well. Colours should complement each other. Choosing accessories will then be a breeze.

At the end of winter, check all winter coats for loose hems, then dry-clean them. Leave in dry-cleaning bags to avoid collecting dust throughout the summer period.

Put a stop to ladders in pantyhose by dabbing a small amount of clear nail polish onto each end of the run.

Look after all leather, vinyl and patent leather handbags properly by filling them with crumpled newspaper when they’re not in use. Keep them out of direct sunlight – put them away in a soft cloth bag, such as an old pillow case.

When ironing woollens and knitwear, place a damp cloth on top first, then lift and press the iron over the garment. Pushing may cause it to lose shape.

To brighten sandshoes and trainers, first pull out the laces and inner soles, then spray shoes with a stain remover and machine wash with Napisan. Dry away from direct sunlight.

Avoid letting water run from the tap directly onto woollens, as this can matt the fibre and spoil the look of the garments.

Avoid static in lingerie by wearing underclothes made of natural fabrics, or use fabric softener in the wash.

When washing knitwear, avoid stretching the clothes. Never hang any knits on plastic or metal hangers. Always fold and lay them flat to help maintain their shape.

Give a new lease of life to pre-loved fashions. A good alterations shop can change old collars, put splits in skirts, reshape loose dresses and make long pants into pedal-pushers. You’ll discover a whole new wardrobe!