Draped Dress Veronika Maine $225

Turn clothing inside out before washing

Avoid friction by limiting the contact the visible parts of your clothing have with the metal drum of your washing machine. Friction increases wear and can contribute to that sheen that older clothing sometimes develops, so do up zippers and buttons then turn the items inside out before popping them in the wash. Doing up zippers also avoids catching and tearing on more delicate parts of clothing.

Wash in cold water

Black dyes generally break down faster in hot water, so avoid washing in warm or hot water where possible. Cold water is also better for a clean rinse, which means those annoying white soapy marks are less likely.

Hang black clothing out to dry

The heat from clothes dryers breaks down some fabrics and dyes over time. Hanging black clothing outside, out of direct sunlight, is ideal for drying your favourite pieces.

Don’t overload the washing machine

Allowing clothes to circulate freely through the water means there is less chance of soapy deposits building up and of zippers and hooks catching on other items.

Use a black wash detergent

A black clothing specific washing detergent is a great idea if your black clothing is fading faster than you would like. Radiant has a product called “Black Wash” which I have found quite good – I’m sure there are others, so keep an eye out next time you’re in the supermarket.

Don’t dry clean unless absolutely necessary

Dry cleaning is quite a harsh process and overuse can age clothing unnecessarily. If you air suits and dresses in between wears and spot clean light stains (always Google what to do for your specific stain) you can extend the time between dry cleans.

Dye your black clothes black

I’ve only ever done this when an item of clothing really is close to the end of its lifecycle so that it doesn’t matter if I ruin it in the process! It has worked quite well for me and has extended the life of some black tops and skirts for quite some time. Always read the care instructions on your garment and the dye itself and stick to items you’re not too attached to, at least at first!

Do you have any tips for maintaining your black clothing? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

Art themed references and candy colours at Chanel – Paris Fashion Week SS2014

I’ll be taking a slightly different approach to the blog from here on in – I’ll be sticking to style tips, trends and advice on the blog, whilst using the Long Black To Go Facebook page and my Twitter account to highlight fabulous sales, Gifts With Purchase and lustworthy corporate fashion pieces. So please join me over there to get your fix!

Looking forward to sharing some more corporate fashion fabulousness with you all!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

Now that we’re back to reality (and the office), I believe it’s time for a little Gift With Purchase distraction. This month, Estée Lauder have a sweet little 9 piece GWP on offer at Myer with purchases of $70 or more. A choice of skincare plus a lippy, mascara and fragrance. Not a bad selection at all EL! Here are the details…

Choice of:

* “Protection Essentials” (featuring our DayWear moisturiser and Even Skintone Illuminator); or
* “Anti-Wrinkle Essentials” (featuring Time Zone moisturiser and Perfectionist).

Plus:

* “Pure Color” lipstick in “Crystal Baby”;
* “Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara” in Black;
* “Beautiful” Eau de Toilette; and
* Blue and white cosmetics case.

I think I’ll be checking out the “Protection Essentials” skincare, as it includes “Even Skintone Illuminator” which just won the 2012 BeautyHeaven Glossars Award for Best New Treatment Product.

This gift is available until Sunday 22 April 2012. If you’re an EL fan, sign up to their cute reminder on Facebook so you don’t miss out on this GWP.

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack
LBTG Facebook page

* 4 colour eyeshadow palette
* Lipstick (full size)
* Eye pencil (full size)
* Mascara (sample size)
* “Red Door” fragrance (sample size)
* Black cosmetic case
* Choice of skincare (3 pieces per choice) – “Ceramide” or “Prevage”

I’m not sure of the colour and other details of some of the products as they aren’t outlined in the promotional material. You can see from the image, however, that the eyeshadow colours are warm neutrals (rather Autumnal colours, which makes sense) and the lippy is a fairly versatile coral colour.

I’d be very suprised if the eye pencil and/or mascara are anything but black (they hardly ever are, which suits me fine) and I’m fairly sure the mascara is a “Ceramide” mascara (someone with better eyesight than me may be able to confirm or deny that from the image above).

My money would also be on the Red Door fragrance being an Eau de Toilette (I’m not sure Red Door even comes in any other form, but I could be wrong – it’s happened before…).

The “Prevage” samples look to be the “Prevage Night Anti-aging Restorative Cream”, the “Prevage Day Intensive Anti-aging Moisture Cream” and the “Prevage Eye Ultra Protection Anti-aging Moisturiser SPF 15”.

I think the “Ceramide” samples include the “Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra All Night Repair and Moisture Cream for Face and Throat” and the “Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra Lift and Firm Eye Cream SPF 15”. If the “Prevage” option is anything to go by, the third sample should be a day cream, but the sample bottle doesn’t seem to mirror any of the images on the EA website. My guess is that it’s the “Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra Lift and Firm Moisture Lotion with Sunscreens”, but don’t hold me to that ladies!

Valid until Saturday, 31 March 2012 (that’s this weekend fashionistas!).

*I know, not a word…

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack
LBTG Facebook page

Special mention to David Jones’ Facebook page for highlighting their current GWPs and including promotional pics with details of the products – you make a beauty blogger’s life so much easier! Thank you!

Revlon – until 31 March 2012

Ladies love a little choice and Revlon have 2 fabulously wearable choices on offer as their March GWPs. I couldn’t pick which of these was more appropriate for us corporate fashionistas – the colour palettes in both of these gifts are perfectly office friendly! The soft, nude tones of the “Romantic” gift are great for subtle style and the stronger, yet neutral, eye colours and gorgeous red polish in the “Classic” are versatile enough for a chic day-to-night look. I’m still deciding…

Spend $39.95 or more and receive your choice of:

CLASSIC Gift (valued at $93)

• Full-sized CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Smoky Sexy
• PhotoReady Perfecting Primer 10ml sample
• Full-sized Classic Nail Enamel in Revlon Red
• Full-sized SuperLustrous Lipstick in Smoky Rose
• Full-sized Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara in Blackest Black
• White cosmetic bag with black details

ROMANTIC Gift (valued at $94)

• Full-sized Powder Blush in Smoky Rose
• Full-sized Classic Nail Enamel in Gray Suede
• PhotoReady Perfecting Primer 10ml sample
• Full-sized SuperLustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Petal
• Full-sized Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara in Blackest Black
• Black cosmetic bag with white details

Sisley – from 7 March 2012 while stocks last

Again, choices in a GWP are always appreciated, and Sisley is also helping us ladies to try products suitable for our particular needs. This time it’s a choice of cleanser and toner, along with 6 other products in one of the cuter cosmetic bags I’ve seen in a while.

Purchase two Sisley products, one being skincare, to receive the following gift (valued at $207):

• Emulsion Ecologique 5ml
• Phyto Blanc Ultra Lightening Mask 15ml
• Restorative Fluid Body Cream, 15ml
• Sisleya Global Firming Serum 3ml
• Supreyma 2ml
• Eau D’IKAR travel spray 10ml
• Choice of:
  • Hydrating Duo: Cleansing Milk with Lily 30ml and Floral Toning Lotion 30ml
  • Purifying Duo: Cleansing Milk with Sage 30ml and Grapefruit Toning Lotion 30ml
  • Brightening Duo: Phyto Blanc Cleansing Milk 30ml and Phyto Blanc Toning Lotion 30 ml
• (Cute!) cosmetics case

Shiseido – while stocks last

Again, choices, choices! Shiseido have 3 skincare ranges to choose from with their GWP. Purchase two products from Shiseido, one being skincare, to receive one of the following:

• The BENEFIANCE WRINKLERESIST24 GIFT (valued at $139  and pictured below)
• The SKINCARE GIFT (valued at $121)
• The WHITE LUCENT GIFT (valued at $150)

Each 8 piece gift includes the stylish Akira cosmetics bag. Details of the products themselves were a little hard to find but Shiseido do have some quality skincare products so it could be worth visiting your nearest counter to check this one out.

Clarins – until 25 March 2012

And finally, you’ll have to get in quick for this 7 piece gift – it finishes up on the 25th of March! To receive your choice of 3 gifts, purchase any two Clarins products, one being skin care.

Choose from:

• Skin Illuminators Gift (pictured above)
• Wrinkle Correctors Gift
• Age Fighters Gift

I don’t have all the product details for each choice, but if Clarins is your skincare of choice, there are sone decent size samples in this GWP. And the canvas tote bag is very cheery!

Which GWP are you planning on snapping up (or will you collect all 4)? Which products from these brands will you purchase to qualify? I’d love to hear some of your favourite brands and products, so please leave me a message in the comments!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack
LBTG Facebook page

The winner of our first ever competition will receive her choice of 1 gorgeous Geisker business shirt, valued at $129! I know first hand just how gorgeous these shirts are because I’ve been showing off my beautiful Audrey Classic (in Black and White) lately – and receiving quite a few compliments when I do!

So which shirt will our winner pick? One of my faves?

Whatever fabulous design is chosen, our winner is one lucky (and stylish) corporate fashionista! So just who is our lucky winner? Drumroll please…

The winner is: NORLIN MUSTAPHA (@norlinm)!

Congratulations Norlin! Shoot me through your email address in a direct message on Twitter or Facebook and I will give you the details on how to claim your awesome prize from Geisker!

A little sad you missed out on the Geisker designer shirt? Understandable… they’re gorgeous! But this ought to cheer you up… as a thank you to the LBTG lovelies for participating in our giveaway, Geisker are offering a HUGE 20% off to all LBTG readers for the rest of the month of March! So you need not miss out on your favourite Geisker products! Simply enter longblacktogo at the checkout to claim your exclusive discount!

Thanks to every one who entered our giveaway, it was so great to see our small-but-stylish community sharing the love for Long Black To Go and Geisker. It was so greatly appreciated and I hope to run a few more of these giveaways in the future, so stay tuned!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

(For the record, we were drinking Moët (et Chandon), walking past Hermès and no, I didn’t stop to answer that stranger’s question…. I didn’t think it would be appreciated.)

This week’s style tip is simply if you’re unsure of the pronunciation of a designer (or any) name, don’t “wing it”! Don’t make the oft-mistaken assumption that an Italian or French name will follow the same general pronunciation and emphasis rules as English does (eg. Hermès sounds more like “air-MEZ” than “HER-mees”). Or even worse, apply a different, yet wrong, pronunciation altogether (eg. Moët is a Dutch name, not French as many assume, and so is pronounced with a hard “T – “mo-ET”).

Of course, nobody’s perfect. My confession? Until recently, I was a little stuck on the pronunciation of Ermenegildo Zegna. But thanks to this nifty little post from  Just To Be Sure, I’ve been practicing and think I sound rather fabulous when I say it now!

The lesson to take away here is a little sneaky Google-ing (something like [pronunciation “Louboutin”] usually does the trick) or a visit to the designer’s YouTube channel (you can’t really argue with how the company promotional videos pronounce the name!) can ensure you sound like the corporate fashionista you really are!

What designers’ pronunciations have you been stuck on in the past? Have you been surprised by any when you found out the correct pronunciation?

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

PS As a combined sign of respect/apology for my previously poor pronunciation, I am going to share with you a gorgeous article from Zegna.com on rocking the ‘preppy’ look for men – because I’m sure there are many corporate fashionisters who appreciate a little advice too!

A way to keep in touch with your professional network that is genuine, helpful and easy.

“Thinking of You” Emails Mean A Lot – Ms. JD – Changing the Face of the Legal Profession

Eeeee lurrrve NY Fashion Week!

How to Follow New York Fashion Week Online – Mashable

I found this response to a reader question very honest, insightful and definitely one to bookmark (if it’s not immediately relevant… you never know what the future holds).

Q: I was also hoping you might have some advice on how to return to work and put children in care? – SheEO Blog

Let me know what you think and what you’ve been reading lovelies!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

Related articles

• Ms Long Black’s reading list – 9 January 2011 (longblacktogo.wordpress.com)

Oh, and you can always send this post on to any Mr Lovelies out there who might be wondering what to buy you for Valentine’s Day… you know, as a gentle hint…

Cardigans by Yumi
Heels by PeepToe

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page

This Saba suit looks like such a great staple on which to build a great corporate wardrobe. I love suits that have at least one dress, skirt and pair of pants to make co-ordinating your wardrobe super easy.

Saba’s ‘Winston’ suit is a simple black suit in 100% wool with one-button jacket, knee length skirt, straight-leg pants and tailored dress.

Black Dresses by SABA
Jackets by SABA

Saba Winston suit:
Jacket – $249 (AUD)
Skirt – $149 (AUD)
Pants – $189 (AUD)
Dress – $269 (AUD)

Lurrrve it!

Xx

Ms Long Black

@mslongblack

LBTG Facebook page