Photo by Steve Navarro

Recently, a friend asked for some advice on cleaning a garment with a strange care label, and her surprise over the tips she received got me thinking that perhaps not everyone is aware of how easy it is to avoid dry-cleaning bills by hand-washing and taking advantage of the delicate cycle on your machine.

Most items that state “dry clean only” on their tags are hardly allergic to water. The reason they say that has more to do with the clothing manufacturers covering their own butts than it does to do with your wallet. If a particular garment garnishes a heavy return rate to a store, because of damage caused by following the care instructions on the tag, you can bet that the store will send those items back and expect a credit. So, it is in the best interest of a clothing manufacturer to err on the safe side of things and state “dry clean only,” even when it isn’t necessary.

There are only two situations that cause me to use dry-cleaners: 1) when I have an item too large to reasonably wash myself (e.g. a large ball gown), and 2) when I have an extremely delicate item that is badly stained. Everything else, I find a way to wash myself and save the cash.

Washing Options

Hand-Washing

If your items are especially small, washing them in the sink may work just fine, but if you have several items or anything larger than a small top, you will want to purchase a tub or bucket to wash things in. For years, I used a $5 round tub purchased in the summer kitchenware section, meant for filling up with ice and drinks at cookouts. Just about anything will do.

Laundry soap is your next concern. I don’t recommend Woolite, because it tends to be rough on clothing over time. A better alternative is a gentle washing solution that can be found in mid-to-high end lingerie stores. Read the label and use the amount directed on the bottle.

Once you have your tub filled with cold water (never use warm or hot) and your soap added, wash each piece one at a time, beginning with the lightest colors and working your way up to darks. Be sure to agitate each item around, alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise methods. This is what gets the soap into the fabric and truly cleans the item; just letting it float in soapy water will not get it clean.

As you’re washing, pay close attention to the color of your water. If you start to notice a change in color, you will need to empty the tub and start with fresh water and soap, so no item ends up with color bled onto it from something else. When rinsing, the same care should be taken, and again, make sure you agitate the clothing to get all the soap out.

Machine-Washing

The first thing you will need is a laundry bag made for delicates. You can buy these in various sizes just about anywhere (I have one made for sweaters from Wal-Mart – that’s plenty big enough for me to toss in multiple items). The key is to look for tightly knit mesh, not one that looks like a fishnet. If you can touch your item through the bag, it’s not going to protect your clothing very well and will probably rip in the washing machine.

Some people will always feel more comfortable hand-washing delicate items, and that’s a fine route to go. I’ve done both, and for me, the washing machine is easier, but not everyone has a delicate cycle or is as daring with their clothing, especially with more expensive pieces. It’s a judgment call more than anything else.

Considerations

Fabric Content

I once had a dress made of 100% cotton, with no embellishments of any kind, and the tag actually said, “Dry Clean Only.” My reaction was pretty much, “Are you kidding me?!” I tossed that baby into the washing machine on a regular cycle and had no problems.

Of course, most of your dry cleaning is probably not made of 100% cotton. However, basic fabrics like polyester are completely safe to wash in the machine. Silk, satin, lace, and sequins can also be washed in the machine, if you know what you’re doing. My basic rule is this: if I’ve heard of the fabric and know it can get wet, into the washer it goes (with the precautions covered above, of course). If I’m unfamiliar with the fabric, I consult my good friend Google and go from there.

Embellishments

If there are embellishments on the item, you must consider what they’re made of. If your item is made of a less delicate fabric than the embellishments on it, plan your care with the embellishments in mind. A cotton top with sequins should be treated as a sequined item, not merely a cotton item that needs no special care. Heavily beaded items should be cared for in the way the beads themselves would be cared for. When in doubt, hand-washing the item is the safest way to go.

One last thing to note is that when drying your items, hanging is almost always best. Exceptions to the rule are sweaters that can lose their shape and heavy items (many beaded and sequined items), where the pull of the weight will cause stretching if hung. Never use the cheap wire hangers you get from (of all places) dry-cleaners. Wooden hangers are best, but for those of us on a budget, the plastic hangers sold in packs of ten for a few bucks are far better than wire.

Without a doubt, one of the best things about summer is the chance it gives us to show off our flirty sundresses and sandals. Last week, I lived in colorful skirts and strappy heels, which kept a near constant smile on my face. Amazingly enough, not one of the outfits cost over $28!

Outfit 1: I felt so pretty and sexy in this! I’d nearly forgotten I owned it, since my black dresses hang behind the colored ones, but I’m glad I spotted it and gave it a go. Since it was purchased last winter, this was its first day out.

Total cost was just $12.50!
(dress: Salvation Army, $7.50 // shoes: Fashion Bug clearance, $5)

Outfit 2: This was a really fun outfit. I’ve had each of these pieces for a while, and I’ve paired them with other things, but never all together. Though hard to tell in the photo, the green shrug is actually striped, giving me that bonus-points feeling that comes from mixing prints well.

Total cost was $28.
(green shrug: Old Navy, $10 // red top: Canadian gift shop, $3 // yellow skirt: Kohl’s clearance, $7 // shoes: Rugged Wearhouse, $5 // earrings: Body Shop clothing store, $3)

Outfit 3: This outfit was thrown together in a hurry, but special, nonetheless. The day before, I received a package from my best friend with gifts from her recent vacation in Mexico, one of them the blue skirt I’m wearing. It was easy to throw on a simple yellow top and shoes and head out.

Total cost was just $10!
(yellow top: Rave, $5 // blue skirt: gift, $0 // yellow shoes: Rugged Wearhouse, $5)

Outfit 4: Though I didn’t dig it out of a trash dumpster, I call this my freegan outfit, because both the top and skirt were free scores from the PDX clothing swap last month. The design on the skirt is a little hard to make out here, but it’s a really cool dragon print. Definitely a winning look!

Total cost was a jaw-dropping $8!
(green top: clothing swap, $0 // print skirt: clothing swap, $0 // yellow heels: Bakers clearance, $5 // yellow bangle: Claire’s, $3)

Outfit 5: This outfit felt so fun and beachy, I just wanted to skip out on work and head for the sand. Alas, I was stuck inside most of the day, but it was great to look down and see these cheerful green capris, with their cute pink flowers embroidered on. Sorry, the photo doesn’t do them justice!

Total cost was $14.50.
(pink top: Rave, $6 // green capris: $3, garage sale // pink sandals: Rainbow, $5 // bead necklaces: Party City, $0.50)

Here’s to another week of fun and sun!

Since you last saw me, I changed my hair, so I’ll update you on that first:

It’s grown a bit, and obviously, it’s much lighter in color. I wanted something that would compliment my natural skin tone, to get myself out of the tanning bed. Truthfully, it was because I wanted to free up the time I spent in there, not really for my health, but I take that as a bonus. The new color goes well with light skin and blue/green eyes, so assuming the upkeep doesn’t wear my wallet down too much, I think I’ll keep it this way for a while.

The other big thing to happen while I was away: Summer! It’s my favorite season, by far, and I’m taking full advantage by living in sundresses, skirts, and sandals (high-heeled, of course!). I’m excited to get back on track with my Styles of the Week series, because summer clothes are so much more fun than winter sweaters! Expect to see the next volume soon.

Lastly, I feel I should explain my absence, so here goes. When I started this site, I had a grand vision for it. I spent weeks reading everything I could about how to run a successful blog. I read about how to gain a ton of readers in a short time (hey, without readers, there’s not much point, is there?), I read about how to rank well with Google, I read about how to make money off your site, and all sorts of other things. There were schedules, formulas, mottoes – you name it, it’s out there. There were people who seemed to know just how to do it, and if I followed all their advice, I could do it, too.

A lot of the advice I read was very credible, but I took too much of it to heart. I got so caught up in the “rules” of the game that whenever I slipped off track a bit (if I went a few days without posting, for instance), I felt the whole project was sinking. Whenever something went wrong on a Monday or Tuesday, I considered it a trashed week and gave up, saying to myself, “I’ll get it right next week.” But the same thing would happen again; something always went a little differently than I’d planned. Eventually, I just felt I didn’t have time for the site, not noticing that my definition of “time for it” was based entirely on someone else’s idea of what my schedule should look like.

Looking back over this site and seeing how great it is, I really miss writing for it. I miss babbling about clothes, advising readers on color choice, talking about the struggles we all go through with our self-image… I miss Sugar Blaze.

I’ve realized that to keep this site alive, I have to play by my own rules. The posting schedule has to be according to my time table, not the one of some guy who says I have to post at least once a day, if I ever want to be a success. My definition of success must also be my own, and it’s not really to make a lot of cash or to become the most famous blogger. These lessons seem so obvious in hindsight, but the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20,” exists for a reason: it is always harder to see what is right in front of you. Maybe if you’re cross-eyed, it’s easier, but for me, a little distance was just what I needed to focus my vision.

Photo by Ian Bloomfield

“It’s difficult for me to connect with people. When I run into old friends from school, we exchange excited hellos, talk about how long it’s been, and then… have nothing left to say to each other.

These friends like to go out dancing until dawn, and I’m not interested in doing that. When they invite me along, I’m flattered, but I feel I have to be someone I’m not to fit in with them.

I try really hard to add to our conversations, because I feel I’m not partaking if I’m not talking, but I know I shouldn’t try so hard. I feel if I tried less, the people I like would like me more.”

Well, you have the right idea: first and foremost, you need to be yourself. Not only will others like you more, you’ll like yourself more, too.

It’s common for young adults to reach a point where we feel the friends we enjoyed the company of during our teenage years no longer mesh with who we are as adults. Sometimes, this happens for members of a group around the same time, but more often than not, friends grow and mature at different paces.

Feeling like a misfit in your circle of friends is indicative of one of two problems: 1) you were never compatible friends to begin with, or 2) you’ve outgrown your friends. In this case, it sounds like the latter. As with anything else you outgrow in life, the void needs to be filled with something new. New friends are not a slight to old friends. They are, in fact, necessary to one’s personal development.

It does take effort to form new friendships, so make the most of social situations where you have the opportunity to meet new people, but remember that it should feel natural. Don’t force a friendship. Exchange numbers with people you feel relaxed around and feel a connection with, once you’ve pinpointed some common interests. (Don’t become lax about identifying shared interests or you’ll end up with more friends you’re not that interested in hanging out with.)

Last of all, make sure you call your new friends! Don’t let life’s never-ending to-do list get in the way. Invite them out. Don’t cancel on them. Don’t stand them up. Be the friend you want them to be, and enjoy!

Technically, these outfits are not all from the same week, but I’ve been lax about photographing myself daily, as well as posting here. So, I give you my favorite looks from February.

Outfit 1: As much as I love color, I really appreciate a great black and white combination. On a whim (and on my way out the door), I decided to go with white shoes. I found myself looking down throughout the day, hoping I hadn’t made a huge mistake. Looking at this picture, I am assured of my choice. They’re a fantastic pop to this color-free ensemble.

Total cost was $26.
(black top: Venus clearance, $5 // white tank: Rave, $6 // white/black skirt: clothing swap, $0 // black tights: Charlotte Russe, $5 // white pumps: Wild Pair clearance, $10)

Outfit 2: Oh, so pretty! The satin top, the light pink shirt over it, and the slight shimmer of these slacks are girly, yet very grown-up and office appropriate. Light pink pumps are icing on the cake.

Total cost was just $11!
(pink shirt: clothing swap, $0 // aqua satin top: gift, $0 // dark gray Bebe slacks: clothing swap, $0 // light pink pumps: Shoe Land, $11)

Outfit 3: Ah, I love this look! Funky, fun, and oh-so-fresh! I can’t even remember the last time I wore brightly colored tights (childhood, certainly), but after seeing them all over the fashion pages, I admit, I really wanted to give them a whirl. Finding these on clearance made my day.

Total cost was a shocking $8.50!
(black jacket: Wal-Mart clearance, $7 // jade tank: clothing swap, $0 // fuchsia tights: Target clearance, $1.50 // black heels: clothing swap, $0)

Outfit 4: Simple, but very colorful and cute. I’ve had this top for about five years now, and I still love it every bit as much as I did when I bought it.

Total cost was $22.50.
(green/blue top: Rue 21, $10 // dark jeans: Salvation Army, $2.50 // green heels: Body Shop clearance, $10)

Outfit 5: Return of the sweater dress! No, I don’t mean its return to fashion; I simply mean it’s been nearly a year since I last wore this. The way my closet is organized, this item hangs on the far right, out of my direct line of vision, and I tend to forget I own it. It was so nice to see it again.

Total cost was $20.
(sweater dress: Dots, $15 // gray tights: Charlotte Russe, $5 // black boots: Charlotte Russe contest prize, $0)

Singled out is a blast from the very recent past (late January) that I never shared here. This was such a fun outfit, I found myself squealing over it all day. The plastic bead necklaces were like a Mardi Gras party around my neck, and there are few things more cheerful than a bright yellow sweater.

Total cost was just $15!
(yellow sweater: Wal-Mart, $10 // black skirt: clothing swap, $0 // dark pink boots: Rainbow clearance, $5)

All of these outfits and a few more were added to my page on MyStyleDiary, which you can find a link to on the About page here. I’ve also added links to my pages on several other sites, so you can keep up with me, if you like. If you’re on any of the sites listed, don’t be shy about saying hello!

As always, I’m very interested in seeing what all of you are wearing! Feel free to post links to your photos in the comments.

Those of you who tune in regularly have most likely given FAO (Find-an-Outfit) a go, at least with a few pieces in your closet. I confess, I’ve had fewer FAO sessions than I’d hoped since writing about it, but something has happened: I’ve found myself hanging on to clothes that don’t really suit me and telling myself, “I can’t get rid of that until I run it through FAO. I’ll do that soon.”

Then, I wind up busy, and sooner turns into later (or never). I do believe that FAO is a far better method of assessing clothes you love dearly, but wear rarely, than ruthlessly cleaning out everything you don’t frequently wear (what would happen to your formal attire, if you lived strictly by that rule?). But, I never intended for FAO to become an excuse to be a packrat.

If your list of items to complete FAO sessions with sums up more than a quarter of your closet, you’re not quite ready for FAO just yet. (If you have to think about whether or not this is you, then assume it is.) I suggest to you this: shorten your to-FAO list, and your closet will clean itself out.

Step 1: Walk into your closet with a roll of masking tape handy. Separate the clothes you do not wear often from the ones you do. (Quite an easy task for those of you who sectioned off the clothes when you read my first article on the topic.)

Step 2: Consider each piece, one at a time, and be completely honest when asking these questions:

- Do I truly love this item and have a desire to wear it?

- Does it fit and flatter?

- Is it in good condition or better?

- Is it unique to other items I own?

- Would I really miss it if it were gone from my closet?

If the answers to all five questions are yes, then you have a genuine to-FAO piece on your hands. Use that masking tape to mark the hanger and move on to the next item.

Step 3: Gather up all those items that didn’t yield a yes from all five questions. Take them off their hangers, bag them up, and get rid of them!

Resist the temptation to resell everything on ebay or in a garage sale-you’ll just end up hanging on to it all, if you do that. Fish out only the expensive items (by my definition, $100+) for reselling (via ebay, consignment shop, or other method), and donate the rest. My preferred method of donation is a good clothing swap, but if you want to keep more clothes from coming in, donating to Goodwill or a similar establishment is the way to go.

Step 4: Make it a priority to complete FAO sessions with the items you kept. Set a realistic timeline and hold yourself accountable. For example, if you have ten items, you might say, “I give myself three days per item,” which amounts to a month for all ten items. Be prepared to get rid of whatever you failed to run through the FAO process after a month has passed. Understand that if you cannot find time for something when you’re on a time table, you will never find time for it when time is of no concern.

Step 5: Enjoy your new wardrobe! At this point, every piece in your closet should belong to at least one complete outfit, and you should own nothing you are unsure of. Keep things this way by ensuring any new clothes you bring in fit in with your existing ones.

This is the boat I’ve been in lately, which is why you haven’t seen updates here for the past couple of weeks.  I’ve been reading Zen Habits and brainstorming ways to clear out the unnecessary in my life and to stop piling on more of it.  Never fear, Sugar Blaze is by no means on the list of things that I want to phase out.  Quite the opposite, in fact: I need to shift my priorities so that I have more time for this site.  I need to do much less of what does not bring me joy, and a lot more of what does.

This week is nearing an end, and I have the weekend ahead of me to spend as I wish.  Take my word for it that I will be using some of that time to write articles for Sugar Blaze.  You can expect to see me back in full-force soon.

Until then, I hope you’ll check out the new format here and provide me with feedback.  Personally, I am crazy about the layout.  My vision for this site is to have it function like a magazine, and I feel the new look is more tailored to that desire.  I would love to hear what you think of it.  Is the layout cleaner and easier to navigate?  Appealing to the eyes?  Quick to load?  Better than before?  Do share!

Last week, I was seen wearing:

Outfit 1: This is, by far, my favorite outfit of the lot. I’ve never been one for brown, but all the bright colors really liven up this shirt and give me room to play around with shoes and accessories.

Total cost was a jaw-dropping $7.50 (brown shirt: clothing swap, $0; dark jeans: Salvation Army: $2.50; pink boots: Rainbow clearance, $5).

Outfit 2: This looks good, yes, but whether it’s my taste or not, I’m still on the fence about. I’ve never worn marigold before, so it was a bit of an experiment for me. The outfit was wonderfully comfortable, but a bit dull, color-wise. Next time, I think I’ll pair the marigold shirt with more vibrant colors.

Total cost of this outfit was $21 (marigold shirt: clothing swap, $0; denim jacket: clothing swap, $0; gray slacks: Wet Seal, $20; pewter boots: garage sale, $1).

Outfit 3: No, the pose here is not cute. I was having quite an off-day, photo-wise. But as far as the outfit is concerned, I’m quite pleased with it. I’ll probably be more adventurous and try the top with a different color on bottom next time, with black as a fallback plan.

Total cost was $29.50 (print shirt: Salvation Army, $7.00; shiny black pants: Salvation Army, $2.50; black pumps: Trends, $20).

Outfit 4: This outfit tortures me so. On one hand, it looks adorable, the mix of red and pink, and I couldn’t help but smile at wearing pink corduroy pants to the office. The problem is that the sweater is much too short. I have a very short torso, and a waist-length top does nothing for me. Usually, I can make a short top work by adding a longer cami underneath, but this time, I obviously chose the wrong color tank top: it was the same shade of pink as the pants, causing it to blend in with them. I think I’ll give it another go with a red cami, but if that doesn’t work out, the sweater is up for adoption.

Total cost was $31 (red sweater: clothing swap, $0; pink cami: Rave, $6; pink corduroy pants: Parisian clearance, $5; pink boots: Shoe Land, $20).

Outfit 5: Yet another look the jury is still out on. The colors are fun, and the geometric design on the sweater worked oh-so-well with pointed-toe heels. I just kept wondering if it was a sitcom-Mom type of sweater. Looking at it here, I’d say no, but it felt that way on me. I think I need to try it with a skirt and see how that works.

Total cost was $28 (black sweater: clothing swap, $0; purple top: 5-7-9 clearance, $3; black pants: Mariposa, $20; red heels: Rainbow clearance, $5).

Have any of you started photographing your daily outfits and taking notes? Does it affect the way you get dressed?

In my last entry, I shared pictures from the PDX Clothing Swap I go to each month. It’s something I look forward to the whole month through and try never to miss. For those of you who aren’t up on what this swapping business is all about, I’m happy to explain it.

• What is a clothing swap?

As its name implies, a clothing swap involves trading in your old items for someone else’s. Every swap has its own rules, but generally speaking, everyone brings clothes they want to get rid of, and one woman’s trash becomes another woman’s treasure. The particular swap I go to has no minimums or maximums surrounding the amount of clothes you can bring or take home. That might seem encouraging of greed, but I have yet to see anyone abuse the system. Some months, I have only one bag of stuff to swap; other months, I have so much, I can barely carry it in alone. I always walk out with tons of new stuff that I’m thrilled with, as well as a few pieces that I’m giving a risk-free try. (If I don’t like it, I just bring it back the next month.) It’s also been a way to meet people and make friends in a city I’m relatively new to (have lived here less than one year).

• How do I find a clothing swap near me?

Several months ago, I typed “clothing swap Portland” into Google, and with luck, I found a swap geared towards women in my size range. Not all swaps are size-specific, and I have heard complaints from people in other cities who’ve gone to swaps only to find very few things that fit, so if you live in a larger city, try to look for swaps with a size range requirement. If you can only find all-size swaps, give them a try. In addition to Google, Craigslist and Meetup are good sites to search for swaps.

• What if I can’t find a clothing swap near me?

If you cannot find a swap near you online, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Check your local newspapers and see what you can dig up, and be sure to ask around. Maybe someone you know is aware of a swap, even if they aren’t involved. If all else fails, start your own clothing swap. You probably have a few friends who would be interested, and with a little word-of-mouth action, you could recruit even more. Check out these tips for organizing a successful swap.

If any of you have had experiences, good or bad, with clothing swaps, I’m interested in hearing about them. I still consider myself a novice, albeit a very enthusiastic one!

It’s been an exciting week, hence the cheesy photo you see of me looking like I’ve just won a shopping spree at Betsey Johnson. I have not, in fact, won such a prize, but I have managed to acquire quite a lot of new clothes a la the monthly PDX Clothing Swap.

The swap was the highlight of my week, as it always is when it comes around. I got rid of pieces I was sick of or couldn’t make work for me, and I came home with a bagful of goodies that I’m super anxious to wear!

Other reasons for enthusiasm include progress with this website (I’m still new to all this and will be figuring things out for some time to come), comments from readers (they mean the world to me, guys!), positive feedback on my unique style, and branching out from my usual social scene.

I met up with Kim (right), who runs the clothing swap, for dancing after we swapped our hearts out. Kim chose the club, her favorite place for spotting break dancers to crush on. It was a first for me, being in a club where the men are in sequins and the women are in pants, but I’m glad I went.

I wore a black pinstriped skirt and a satin top, and standing next to Kim in her break-dancing pants, I thought, “This is how Posh Spice would feel hanging out with Sporty Spice.”

Kim and I are worlds apart in personality, but we get on very well and have a great time together. It got me out of my usual rut, and it reminded me that hanging out with people who are starkly different from me is a lot of fun!

Here’s to another great week, for you and for me!