Clothing
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Try on many items to find the few that fit well rather than buying many poorly fitting items.
It is better to find a few good fits than to buy many items that fit poorly.
- This process takes longer.
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Apply spray starch to flat collars while they are flat.
This helps them stay flat.
- You must repeat this after each washing.
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Buy multiple shirts to take advantage of store specials.
Many stores offer specials when buying two or more shirts.
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Wear a soft camisole under your bra to cushion the band against your skin.
It tricks the body into not realizing the band is there by feeling all the same.
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Avoid pulling your belt too tight when tucking in a shirt.
Pinching the waist makes love handles more pronounced.
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Button the top two buttons of your dress shirt when hanging it.
It keeps the collar from folding down, fraying, or losing stiffness, potentially avoiding the need to iron or starch.
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Own minor spills on your shirt to start a conversation.
It is liberating.
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Iron shirts and apply starch or sizing to the bottom hem.
This prevents the hem from curling up.
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If your feet get hot and sweaty, change into dry socks.
It feels better than standing in water.
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Avoid putting valuable items in hoodie pockets unless you are willing to lose them.
Items can fall out immediately or be lost.
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Spritz wool or cotton garments with water, reshape them, and re-dry.
This fixes curled edges.
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Line dry shirts instead of using a dryer.
One person found this prevented their husband's collars from curling.
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Avoid making college event t-shirts your only wardrobe choice.
Wearing them exclusively in your late 20s can make you look immature or unable to move on, and they will eventually wear out and be discarded.
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If you are tall and slim, look for retailers that offer slim and tall shirts rather than assuming tall means big.
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Pull your shirt super tight, then sit down and raise your arms.
This distributes natural fluff evenly.
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Choose unpadded leather shoes with good ventilation and avoid foam or cloth combinations.
Foam and cloth combinations can trap sweat long-term.
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Wear a pullover over an unbuttoned dress shirt if you lack comfortable shirts for the office.
It allows you to remain dressed properly when out of comfortable options.
- One person found this uncomfortable due to itchy wool against bare skin.
- Another criticized the appearance as creating 'worst cleavage ever'.
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Wear socks made of natural materials like cotton or wool instead of synthetic fibers like polyester.
Natural materials help greatly compared to synthetics.
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Fold shirts using the KonMari method, buttoning the top button and smoothing the fabric well.
This helps keep collars straight.
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Wear checkered or patterned shirts on business flights to make wrinkles less noticeable.
Patterns mask wrinkles caused by airplane travel or general wear.
- A checkered shirt may not be dressy enough for some business occasions.
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Fold shirts properly immediately after removing them from the dryer.
This helps them hold their shape and prevent curling.
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Consider whether wearing two layers of socks might suffocate smell-causing bacteria, though this approach is anecdotal.
One person suggests it may suffocate bacteria.
- This is a hypothesis from one user, not a confirmed method.
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Apply skin-tone principles to bras and underwear worn under white shirts to avoid needing additional layers like camisoles.
Switching to flesh-toned undergarments allows white outfits to look fine without extra concealment layers.
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Avoid cotton undershirts; wear moisture-wicking materials instead.
Cotton does not wick away moisture.
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