Along with style inspiration on the blog, I also love to share practical tips and tricks to keep us at the top of our style game. Style at a Certain Age is dedicated to aging with grace, strength, and beauty. So today, I’m sharing fashion hacks every woman should know. It’s never a good day when you pull on your favorite pair of jeans, and they’re just a little too snug around the waistline. Or how do you easily exchange one handbag for another? If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions, I’m sharing several style hacks to make your life a little easier. Knowledge is power, whether it’s big or small.
TL:DR
Today, Beth shares Fashion Hacks Every Woman Should Know
Look for shoppable links to all of Beth’s recommended style hack products
Find Beth’s Style Hacks YouTube Video at the end of the post
Fashion Hacks Every Woman Should Know
Fashion Hack #1: Waist Extender
When your pants are a smidge too tight, grab a non-metal elastic band. You can mix and match a variety pack of neutral color hair elastics that will work for any color pants and body type. This hack is a great temporary fix for getting into that pair of pants you can’t run out to the tailor for alterations.
How To: Slip one end over your button, and the other end through the buttonhole. Bring the elastic tie back to the button and anchor. Hide the waist extender by wearing your top untucked, or slide on a belt.
Fashion Hack #2: Remove Odors From Your Jeans
Did you know you can remove musty odors from your clothes without washing them? This style hack is particularly good for denim or high quality materials that you don’t want to wash too often. Your freezer is cold enough to stave off bacteria growth in your food, and it’s cold enough to kill the bacteria that cause musty odors on your clothes.
How To: Place your jeans in a Ziploc bag, then toss them in the freezer for at least 4 hours. I recommend an overnight in the freezer just to be sure the odors are completely gone.
Fashion Hack #3: Shoe Embellishment
This is a fun style hack because you can get really creative! Purchase clip-on shoe embellishments, and transform your plain Jane shoes into something fancy. Mix up your style game with faux pearls, rhinestones, or faux gemstones.
Another fun way to use shoe clips is to use one of the two clips to embellish a hat, handbag, or lapel.
- Crystal Rhinestone Shoe Clips
- Faux Leather Rose Shoe Clips
- Grosgrain Ribbon and Beaded Shoe Clips
- Pearl and Ribbon Shoe Clips
- Gemstone Flower Shoe Clips
- Pearl Branch Shoe Clips
- Satin Rose Shoe Clips
- Black Beaded Shoe Clips
- Multicolor Crystal Shoe Clips
- Crystal Shoe Clips
Fashion Hack #4: Protect Your Clothes From Makeup
This is one of the fashion hacks that my mother passed down to me. It’s a great trick for when you want to protect your white tee or white blouse from freshly applied makeup. Not only will you protect your clothes from unwanted lipstick or foundation stains, but your makeup will be preserved as well. It will also protect a fresh hairdo too!
How To: Slip a silk scarf over your head. Then pull on your tee, sweater, or blouse over the silk scarf. Gently pull the scarf off of your head, and that’s it!
Fashion hack #5: velvet and wood hangers
Velvet Hangers are the perfect choice when it comes to hanging your blouses, camisoles, or dresses. These hangers not only protect your clothes from creases but will extend your closet storage space because the hangers have a slim profile.
I like to use Wood Hangers for heavy and bulky items like coats and blazers.
And don’t forget Skirt Hangers. A While back, I exchanged all of my skirt hangers for this style because they have hooks to allow for cascading your skirts, which gives you more space in your closet.
Another great space-saving item are slim Pants Hangers for hanging your folded pants.
Fashion hack #6: purse organizer
Does the idea of transferring all of the purse items out of one bag and into another keep you from switching up your handbag?
Rotating our handbags is not only fashionable, but the practice also reduces wear and tear on any one bag, which will keep your handbags looking great, and increase their longevity.
Purse Organizer Inserts to the rescue! With a purse insert, you can save time by easily transferring your belongings from one handbag to another.
Tote Bag Purse Organizer Insert
13-Pocket Purse Organizer Insert
Zipper Closure Purse Organizer Insert
fashion hack #7: eliminate odors from your clothes
This style hack is another way to eliminate odors from your clothes. You will need vodka, a misting bottle, and water.
Vodka works like your freezer does, to kill the odor-causing bacteria that can linger on your clothes. The anti-bacterial qualities of the vodka act as a natural deodorizer, neutralizing the unpleasant smells. The vodka mixture will not harm your clothes in any way. This is a great life hack because you can also use this mixture to remove odors on other household fabrics like throw pillows and couches!
How To: In a small mister bottle, mix a ratio of 1 part vodka to 3 parts distilled water. Shake and mist the mixture on your clothes and let it dry. Your clothes will smell fresh as a daisy in no time at all.
Fashion Hacks Every Woman Should Know on YouTube
In Case You Missed It
Yesterday, Beth shared how to transition to fall with a third layer. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Transitioning to Fall with a Third Layer: Embrace the Changing Seasons
About The Author
As an “aging woman”..I thank you for your style and makeup tips. Some days a woman just needs a little pick me up.
it takes a village not only to raise a child but to keep women of a certain age at the top of their game!
On the clothes freshener tip – the items won’t smell like vodka?
Lots of great ideas. Definitely need to get me a purse organizer! Changing out purses is a chore! 😉
no, vodka is pretty much odorless as it is a neutral distilled spirit.
Awesome tips, Beth! I love the scarf-over-the-head tip.
hey, girlfriend! thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the tips, Beth.
Very informative.
so happy to hear, sherry! thanks for stopping by.
Love all of these hacks!! The scarf?? Brilliant!
my mom always had a trick or two up her sleeve!
Hi Beth
Thanks for the great and useful ideas. You’re the best!
i so appreciate you being here!
Fantastic tips, Beth! Vodka is so versatile – can’t wait to try the solution. 😀
love versatility in any shape or form.
Must remember the vodka/water tip! Remember when fitting rooms had those little net hoods for ladies to use when trying clothes on? Well, maybe that was more for their hair dos than not staining garments. I’m not sure.
Best tip for any woman of any age is “lead with your smile.”
a smile is our best asset! thanks for sharing.
I love my Purse organizer, too. Timesaver, for sure and when traveling a space saver for all those “little things” that you will need but your suitcase is already full.
Love your “reminder” series, for the clothes, closet and “hacks”. Where did you find those terrific velvet hangers, I need some!
Thanks always Beth, what a treat to see your email in my inbox, and your reminder to check out your next video.
there is a link to the hangers in the post. just click and it will take you to the retailer.
Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for these style hacks. While I knew some of them, I had never heard of the purse organizers. It’s now on my list of must haves. Love your style and personality!
Take care,
Susan
the purse organizer is in direct response to reader questions.
Hi Beth. Would you please send me your chicken soup recipe? I lost the first one. It’s so delicious!
Thanks
Annmarie
here is the link to the chicken soup recipes. but you can find anything and everything with the search bar on the blog.
https://www.styleatacertainage.com/style-at-a-certain-age/chicken-noodle-soup-and-cranberry-bourbon-smash/
Loved your outfit. Especially the earrings. The info was great too!!
thanks so much for stopping by!
Great tips Beth….Thank you!
thanks for stopping by!
Re: vodka
I keep several misters of 91% alcohol around the house and in my purse. Because it is antibacterial (vodka, not quite) I can kill the source of odors in clothes and in shoes, too. Saturate the interior of your shoe and let dry overnight. It’s a huge help! It works equally well on clothes. I use it to sanitize my shopping cart handle and my hands as well. I spray it on my feet after I sand and buff them to make sure I don’t get an infection. It also kills ants on kitchen counters without leaving a toxic residue. Actually, it kills all kinds of critters without leaving a poisonous residue. 91% alcohol is my best friend! I have better and more fun uses for Tito’s, 😉
yeah, but you gotta agree Tito’s is quite versatile.
Beth,
Love your posts. I am wondering how do you pronounce your last name?
Kate
the d is silent. it’s ja-la-li kind of like tamale. my husband was Persian but grew up
in Vienna where the d was attached. in German, the j is silent without the d.
Beth, I have to tell you that you look fabulous in your green dress with red shoes! I think it’s my favorite picture of you. Thanks for all the great style advice! Anne
i so appreciate you being here!
I love the purse organizer! Ordered already, Thank you!!!!
i think you will be happy with it!
Added those pretty shoe clips to my wish list!
In my purse, I use a series of cute and fun little canvas or coated fabric zip up clutch type bags, one for collapsible hairbrush/lip-balm type stuff, one for keys, one for post-its/pen, etc etc.
And thanks for the vodka/water tip – I run hot (esp with hot flashes!) and can get sweaty in CA, so that odor removing tip is a great one!
so happy you found a useful tip! always love to share.
What the heck is a “hack” did this replace the word tip? Did your Mom actually say hack? Maybe it’s regional?
hack is a real word that’s been around for ages. probably since computer hacks came into existence since they modified or simplified the way we use computers. now we use hacks for style, interior design, whatever. not sure what region you refer to as i grew up in the midwest then lived all over the world until i moved to Athens five years ago.
Love these hacks, Beth.
I changed all my hangers to velvet and wood. I love the velvet for space, ur also for slippery fabrics – no more finding your precious silks on the floor.
I have always used a neutral Lysol spray for upholstery due to scent allergies that Fabreeze etc. send into migraine territory.
I would love to try the vodka for portability, but am wondering about water marks and residue. What has your experience been on delicate fabrics and blouses?
i have never seen any residual watermarks with vodka and water mixture. but i mist from at least a foot or two.
I LOVE today’s post! Saving it to my .reading list for when I need these tips.
AM going to try the vodka spray and then have a martini. LOL
don’t you just love a versatile item?! thanks for stopping by.
Best post on the best blog ever! Some hacks were new to me, some I had heard but forgotten so it’s great these all in one place! I’ve forwarded this to lots of girlfriends 😁
so happy to hear this was a beneficial post! always love to share.
Where is the olive green shirt dress from?I love it.
that is Eileen Fisher about six or seven years old.
Thanks for the helpful hints, especially about using a rubber band to help you fit into too tight pants.
My method to prevent makeup spilling on my clothes is to first get dressed, wrap a hand towel around my neck, fasten with a long hair pin, and then apply my make up🙂.
thanks for sharing your tip!
Such great fashion hacks. I always love your hair, but that little extra poof in the photo with your green dress and jean jacket is so nice. You know the old adage,
“the bigger the hair the closer to God”!
I had some super big hair in the eighties. I commonly state they were my “poodle years”! One bad perm after the other.
Love your posts and videos. Your blog is solid!
gotta love some big hair from the 80s! but we thought we looked gooooddddd.
Hi Beth,
I never leave comments on the blogs I read but I just had to tell you how much I enjoyed this and felt like I truly got useful information from it. I hope you will do this more often. Thank you.
thanks so much for the feedback!
An inexpensive shower cap (like the kind you get at a hotel) is ideal for trying on clothes when shopping or putting on any pullover top at home. Just put it on backwards, I.e. over your face, and don your pullover. Works like a charm.
thanks for sharing.
Thanx for the style hacks. They are all so useful!
Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing your “hacks” such basic but clever ideas.
Your mother was a smart lady, it runs in the family.
great deas for style hacks. I am going to try several of them.
I inherited an old wooden armoire from my great-grandfather that stood in a shed for a longer time. It smelled a little strange in the beginning, but I used vodka to wipe the inside of it and the smell disappeared.
Do you have a style hack for dry cleaning wool berets. All the local cleaners are not accepting wool accessories to clean.
Love your hacks, fashions, beauty, etc.
Hi Beth,
Where do you buy your jeans?
I am 5’4 short torso and legs and have a hard time finding jeans that fit.
Thanks, Emily
Love these – especially the silk scarf…I used the waistband extender way back in the 70s when I was pregnant- works great.
I am glad that I stumbled on your site on google. Your style hacks are what i need right now.
I always stain my outfit with my makeup. It is worse when my top is a turtle neck. So, I will definitely be using this hack.
Thanks, you look amazing
i so appreciate you being here!