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Out
with the Old, in with the New -- that's the
beauty of a fresh, new year. We all have
the urge to mark it with a resolution or two.
Of course, most of those fall by the wayside
by February, don't they?
This week, we want
to encourage you to make a Closet Resolution
-- no, not one that you keep secret, but one
that will give you a whole new attitude toward
your clothing for the year. We've also
got a few links for you to get a better grip
on your closet space. And if you follow
our suggestion, you'll have one resolution completed
before you know it (so you can go on to
another one, or just sit back and feel virtuous.)
We look forward to
serving you throughout 2004!
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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Quantity
AND Quality Coupon!
Do
you find yourself holding back from letting
us clean everything that needs it, because you're
afraid of the bill? Fear no more.
This week, gather
them up by the armload, and for every 4 pieces
you have done, we'll do another piece at no
charge! (Include
the first page of this e-mail with your order.
Offer expires January 19, 2003. Cannot
be combined with other offers.) |
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Ready
for a Trying (On) Time?
You're grabbed by the
impulse to make a resolution you can keep, and
that will actually do you some good. Joining
a health club is great, but how about something
more immediate?
Make
the Great Closet Resolution!
Step
1
Set aside a time within
the next week when you will have some uninterrupted
privacy. Then open every closet
door and dresser drawer.
Step
2
Start at one end of
your closet and work your way to the other,
trying on every single garment in it.
Do the same with the drawers, breaking the garments
down into four categories:
- Keep
-- things that feel good on you, look
good on you, and fit properly.
Nothing border-line in this pile, only the
real keepers. If you haven't worn it
in the last year, you should probably not
keep it, unless it is a formal garment that
is only worn for specific types of events.
- Fixer-Uppers
-- items that either have a stain
or some repair that needs to be done.
These are not terminal cases, just items you
WOULD wear if only they were spiffed up.
- Out
-- things that don't
fit (no rationalizing that it MIGHT fit again
some day...) or that are uncomfortable, the
wrong cut or colors for you, or that don't
suit your personality. Aunt
Mildred may have given you a wonderful sweater,
but since you will always be 12 years old
in her mind, it's not really fitting with
the sophisticated adult you've become.
OUT!
- Undecided
-- for the moment, this is where you
put those that you can't justify putting in
either pile listed above. But
keep in mind, this is just for the moment!
Step
3
Split the Out
garments into piles and bag them.
Piles can include those items you will give
to charity, those you would prefer to give to
a friend who has admired them (and whom they
will fit), and those that are too expensive
to just get rid of -- find a good local resale
shop that works on consignment for these.
Step
4
Bag up the
Fixer-Uppers and put them by the door so that
you can bring them to us or have them picked
up for servicing. Remember that
we're happy to make small repairs, if you just
let us know you'd like that done. We can
turn a never-worn garment back into a much-loved
one very quickly.
Step
5
You knew it was coming
-- go back to that Undecided pile
and look hard at each garment. Why were
you undecided about it? Be ruthless
here. If it's a classic cut,
made of good material and fits you, it's a candidate
for the Keepers pile. But if it's the
wrong color or has a sleeve lining that's never
been right, or simply doesn't become you, it
goes in to the proper Out bag. Most
of the Undecided pile should end up in the Out
bags!
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Step
6
Take a big breath
and pat yourself on the back.
The absolute worst is behind you! Now
you can hang all the Keepers back up, and you'll
discover you suddenly have a closet where the
clothes can actually breathe again. Not
only that, but you can see them well, and see
where you have genuine gaps in your wardrobe
that can be filled with the Spring and Summer
fashions that are on the way.
Put the foldable clothes back
in the (now much emptier) drawers. Doesn't
everything look great? You can find what
you need, and see what you have at a glance.
Good for you!
Step
7
How's your storage space?
These days, there are so many options for closet
design that it boggles the mind. Consider
reworking your storage space and making
the most of it through partitioning it differently,
building in some shelves or shoe holders, and
making it easier for you to coordinate outfits
in a snap.
- Easy
Closets -- a site that lets you design
a closet right online and have the materials
shipped to you for installation.
- Organize
Everything -- a site with organizational
solutions for everything from closets
to drawers, garages and offices (in case
the organizational bug has really bitten
you.)
- Hire
Someone! -- a site that helps you
find someone in your area to build the
closet of your dreams. (Click on Home
Improvement Contractors.)
Step
8
Let us handle the
spots and minor repairs -- you've done enough
work already! And once those
clothes get back home, take them out of the
plastic wrappings. Fabrics need to have
space to breathe, and should never be stored
in plastic. (Those coverings are only
to protect them from soil in transit.)
Step
9
Make a list of the colors
or color groups your wardrobe includes, and
another list of a few items that you'd like
to add to your closet. Keep the
lists in your purse or wallet, so that
when you find yourself in a store confronted
by a great sale, you can still shop with focus
and precision.
Step
10
Be prepared to gloat when
your friends moan about having already broken
all their Resolutions. You're
miles ahead -- in more ways than one.
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the right if your would
like to send this and future newsletters to
a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
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The
Iris City
Cleaners Connection
is a weekly
news letter dedicated to the interest of fine
garment care, restoration,
and conservation.
It is published in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris
City Cleaners and is an extension of our web services
described in www.iriscitycleaners.com
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