Hermes F/W 2011-12

No matter what is in fashion or what not, when the cold strikes, it’s time to grab all your bigger and softer pullovers.
The problem is, they’re likely to be ruined from the year spent in the drawer, so what we’re gonna do?
There are a few thing you can do:

• trying to restore your wool cardigans
• decide not to wear wool anymore
• buy new cardigans

Well, the second option is not suitable for any of you who live in cold spots, so we get two options: trying to make your sweaters live again, buying new shiny trendy ones.
I often goes for the second one, but let’s see what you can rescue from last year, and what you cannot.

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  Tsumori Chisato F/W 2011-12

  Your cardigan pilled: That’s a big wool issue. By the way, if that happened, that means you subconsciously throw your wool garment into the washing machine, turned the knobs randomly and pressed start. That, or your cardigan is 10 years old. Or it is acrylic, not wool.

• Your cardigan felted: Not only your cardigan pilled, but you find yourself with a short sleeved cardigan instead of the long sleeved you had bought. The point here is always washing machine. DON’T. DO. IT. Never again! If you own a cardigan which felted and became smaller, prepare a good capacious trash bag, and throw it away.As you might have already understood, the secret here is maintenance.

1. Never ever wash your wool in the washing machine again. Come on, wool is not something that youput directly on your skin, so a fast hand-wash in tiepid water and you’re done. Don’t stroke the fabric, wash gently!
2. If the pilling has already started, try to use different methods: the wool comb, the electric pill remover, or a razor. You have to be VERY careful with these tools, I once ruined a cardigan making a hole in it.
3. Fold your wool items rather than hanging them. Wool tend to change shape, so make them hang for spring and summer isn’t the best thing when you have to wear them in Winter!

Now that you learned how to maintain and keep safe your cardigan, it’s time to buy new ones! I’m sure that this Winter is gonna be the coldest! ;D
Must have cardigans for 2011-12 Winter:

• a neutral color cardigan: with all this beige, camel and taupe colors how couldn’t I suggest such a shade? Go for it! It can be worn with white, with darker colors, with browns, blacks, grays and beiges.
• a white Christmas cardigan: how can you sing White Christmas without such a thing? It’s definitely a must have.
• a tight cardigan: we know that New Year’s Eve is all about glitter sparkly shiny red stuff, but what are you gonna do when everyone is toasting outside in the garden watching the fireworks?

I know, I know, Winter isn’t made only of these events, but you can use your cardigans all the way through snow, mountain, rainy days and cold mornings!

Have you got other suggestions? How do you keep your wool safe? What are you going to buy for this cold cold Winter?

Thanks to NowFashion for the first two pictures of this post.