High-quality clothing should not vary among different age groups and gender. Kids’ sizes may be smaller, ladies’ wear may have more variety and men’s clothes may be pretty basic but the factors that contribute to the quality of the clothing are still the same. Here are some tips on spotting high-quality clothing for your next shopping trip.

Stitching. Always look for small and regular stitching. An ideal stitch should measure at about 0.08 to 0.10 inches or about 10-12 stitches per inch. There should be reinforced stitching or double stitching on the joint areas and other points of strain including the elbows, knees and shoulder/underarm area.

Fabric. If you are looking for everyday wear, avoid light-weight and flimsy fabrics as these can be torn or worn out easily. Fabric for kids’ clothes should not be heavy and think except on winter wear. Tightly woven or knitted fabric will last longer and be more resistant to shrinking than loosely woven fabric. Run through the fabric with your fingernails to see if there are any starch flakes. Starch can make poor-quality fabric appear better.

Pattern. High-quality clothing have patterns woven into the fabric and not ironed or printed on. Check the reverse side of the clothing to see if the pattern has been printed on. Should you want to buy printed patterns, remember that large printed patterns on clothes would soil and show wrinkles faster than small printed designs.

Seams and buttons. Seams should be wide and finished. Otherwise, they can loosen after wearing for a few times. Pocket seams should have reinforced stitching. Also, make sure that the buttons, hooks or any other accessory on the clothing should be sewn tightly and securely.

Just because not all of us are runway models does not mean we can’t express our selves through the clothes that we wear. Men and women can still strive to look and feel good regardless of profession. However, there are certain limitations that one should consider before she can reach for her favorite pumps. Here are some office wear dos and don’ts to think about before you rummage through your closet.

Do follow company policy regarding office wear. If you are unsure if you have such policy, raise this concern to your supervisor to avoid being reprimanded for something simple and unrelated to your actual job. Usually, company policy on office wear is a more detailed explanation on what is the commonly accepted notion on decency and decorum. Ensure that your clothes do not cross the line from fitting to inappropriate.

Make sure that your clothes and accesories do not interfere with all of your tasks. If your job requires a lot of walking like doctors and nurses on hospital shifts, maybe you should think twice on reaching for your stilletos and opt for your best pair of sneakers instead. Also, avoid wearing anything that can distract your colleagues. Wearing a large headpiece can be really distracting to everyone especially at a typical desk job setting.

Office uniforms should not hinder you from expressing your individuality. Wear an accessory that can accentuate your best features or the vibe that you want to convey for the whole day. A nice beaded necklace or a pair of fancy eye glasses can still make you feel unique despite the common basic wardrobe. However, resist the urge to go all out and wear all your fashionable clothes and jewelry in just one day. Too much bling in your wardrobe will cause raised eyebrows and secret snickering behind your back. Just concentrate on one fancy detail at a time.

All foreign particles can cause eye irritation.This is very true for eye make up since these are applied on all corners of the eye. It doesn’t matter whether you have a top of the line brand or a more affordable alternative. Mishandled eye makeup can surely spell serious eye infection for you. Here are some tips and reminders for safe use of eye make up.

Mascara wands can easily be contaminated by air-borne bacteria. Make sure that you replace your mascara after three to four months of use. It is also advisable to replace all eye makeup after one year of use.

Avoid sharing eye makeup even with your best friends and sisters.

Avoid moistening make-up with your saliva at all cost. It would be better to replace them with a better brand instead.

Make sure your hands are clean if you are going to use your fingers to apply the make-up. Also, always use the ring and pinky finger as these put the least pressure on your eyes compared to the other fingers. Hard tugging and pulling of the skin surrounding the eyes can also cause premature lines and wrinkles.

Always apply eyeliner at the outside of your lids. Adding eyeliner on the inner eyelid can block the glands.

Remove eye make-up using a special formula suited for your eyes. Opt for cotton when removing eye make-up since tissues are too harsh on the skin surrounding the eyes.

Afraid to wear black tops because of the unsightly dandruff? Tired of hearing people jeer at you because of the “snowflakes” on your head and it’s not even winter? Is you itchy scalp wearing you out? Here are some tips on dealing with dandruff.

Check first to see if your flaking scalp is really caused by dandruff. Sometimes residue from your hair products can also cause flaking scalp. To rule out hair product residue, take a longer time in rinsing your hair after shampooing. Skip the conditioner and avoid using gels, mousse and setting lotions for about 2 weeks. If flaking still persists, you probably have dandruff.

Too much — not too little oil in the scalp is one of the main causes of dandruff. But, avoid reaching for the anti-dandruff shampoos at the first sight of dandruff. Most anti-dandruff shampoos are not very gentle to the hair and scalp. As much as possible, try all the less harsh mixtures to see if these can deal with your dandruff effectively. You can clean your scalp by a cotton doused in a mixture of 1 part antiseptic or clear mouthwash and 4 parts water. Cover hair with a shower cap and shampoo after an hour. Witch hazel is another alternative to anti-dandruff shampoos. Apply onto scalp at half-inch intervals when your hair is still wet from washing.

Should you need to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, look for one of the following ingredients: pyrithione zinc, sulfur, salicylic acid or resorcinol. Remember that it is best to use anti-dandruff shampoos sparingly to avoid skin irritations. Your scalp can also be resistant to one brand if used frequently. Switch to another brand in case this happens.

Fungal skin infections occur when fungi appear on the moist areas of the skin. These infections usually cause annoying itching and unsightful rashes on your skin. Here are some tips on preventing fungal skin infections.

As much as possible, wear sandals or flip flops on public locker rooms and showers. Never go barefoot as these areas are one of the major breeding areas for fungi.

If you are highly likely to catch fungal infections, consider changing your wardrobe — especially undergarments, shoes and socks. Also, always let your shoes dry out completely before wearing them.

Apply cornstarch on the feet and/or genital area after bathing. This would keep your skin extra dry and fungi-free.

Keep your feet clean and dry always. Consider using a hair dryer on your feet after bathing to enusre that the whole foot including the areas between the toes are clean and dry.

Opt for cotton socks since they don’t lock in moisture. Also, make sure that your feet can breathe through your shoes especially when exercising.

For people with sensitive skin, randomly picking out skin care products is not a good practice. Expensive or popular brands does not necessarily mean that it will go well with your skin. Throroughly inspecting the product is always the best way to spare sensitive skin from unwanted rashes and breakouts. Here are some skin care tips for sensitive skin.

Be wary of the term “hypoallergenic.” This only means that the product has none of the common allergens including, fragrance, cocoa butter, cornstarch and cotton seed oil. A hypoallergenic product does not ensure that it will not cause allergic reactions to the remaining ingredients of the product. Always check the ingredients list.

Other terms like “fragrance-free” and “unscented” can also be deceiving. These products can contain masking scents that block the or cover the odor of some of the products’ ingredients. Anti-perspirants usually employ this trick.

Some people are really sensitive to any kind of commercial anti-perspirant and deodorant. If this sounds all too familiar to you, try out other options such as talcum powder, baking soda or witch hazel. You can also avoid any form of anti-perspirant and deodorants all together and just opt to wash twice a day with an antibacterial cleanser.

If you find it real hard to shop for skin care products, better approach your dermatologist. He can recommend the basic skin care line that you really need. He can also mix a customized solution for your every day skin care needs.

Contact lenses can give you sharp and clear sight without the heaviness and fashion constraint that eyeglasses give. But contact lenses should be handled with utmost care since they are on your ee for most of the time. Here are some tips on wearing contact lenses.

• Avoid using oily soaps or hard creams before touching your lenses.
• Consult your physician if your eyes are red, sore or irritated for more than 24 hours. It could be possible that you have an infection or a scratched cornea
• Don’t use saliva to moisten or clean your lenses. Use the cleanser specially formulated for your contact lenses. Ask our optometrist for the best cleaning solution for your contact lenses.
• Disposable contact lenses should no be used for more than 6 consecutive days. Always clean them for each day of use and make sure that your doctor knows that you are using them.
• Do not wear soft contact lenses that are already torn and/or dirty.
• Replace soft contact lenses every 18-24 months if they are worn everyday. Extended-wear lenses should be replaced every 6-9 months.
• Check if you tinted lenses are approved by the FDA before wearing them. You’ll be certain that the dye will not leak if they are checked by the proper authorities.

People have been reminded time and time again how often should one brush his teeth. Some even post pictures to tell people how should they brush their teeth. However, effective brushing will also depend on the toothbrush used. Here are some reminders on toothbrushes.

Toothbrushes are disposable items and should not be a permanent fixture in your home. The general rule is to replace them every three months but you can dispose of them earlier if the bristles have been worned out or splayed.

When you are sick with colds, cough or flu, it’s advisable to replace your current toothbrush while you are sick and then replace the sick-time toothbrush with another one once you feel better.

Toothbrushes are better stored inside the bedroom rather than the bathroom. The moist environment of the bathroom is an ideal haven for microorganisms and bacteria compared to the dry environment of the bedroom.

Patients who are recovering from major operation procedure such as bypass or organ transplant are adived to replace their toothbrush everyday. Patients undergoing chemotherapy are advised to replace their toothbrush once every three days. You’ll want to reassure them that their personal toiletries are sanitized and there’ll be no health threats due to unsterilized equipment.

Halitosis or bad breath can affect how you interact socially with your peers. It can also influence how people perceive you as well. If this is not caused by serious illness, bad breath can be avoided through proper eating habits and oral hygiene. Here are some tips on how to deal with bad breath.

Most bad breath complaints are caused by eating garlic and curry, smoking and drinking alcohol. Cut back on these promoters of bad breath or bring your travel toothbrush along. You can also bring a pack of mints or a small bottle of mouthwash with you to counter bad breath in an instant.

Chewing on a few dill seeds, coffee beans, caraway and cardamom seeds after a meal can help eliminate food ordours. A sprig of fresh parsley is also effective in eliminating garlic and alcohol ordours.

To help keep your breath smelling sweet, add 30 drops of tincture of myrrh to a glass of warm water and gargle. Gargle with antiseptic mouthwash since bacteria are known to cause mouth ordours as well.

Brush regularly and maintain proper oral hygiene. Eat foods rich in fiber including raw vegetables, apples and pears to maintain healthy gums. A healthy diet can help prevent digestive problems and constipation which can also cause bad breath.

Got yourself into a fashoin emergency? Here are some tips on fast clothing repairs.

For unstitched skirt hems at the worst possible time of the day, use your old-reliable stapler. Be careful when using the stapler on your clothing. Staple from the inside out to prevent stocking runs.

Tape can hold your clothing together until you can find the opportunity to change. Have some tape with you whenever you are wearing low and plunging necklines to avoid unnecessary “accidents”

You can hide burn holes by removing a piece of fabric from the seam allowance and glue it under the burn hole. Have the burn hole repaired by a professional when you have the chance since this remedy will not hold for long. This may also break the pattern or print of your clothing.

Appliques and additional trims are effective ways to hide burn holes and permanent stains. Make sure that the appliques and trims go well with the original garment to avoid another possible fashion emergency.

If you need a waistband extender, use two rubber bands and loop through the buttonhole and then loop over the button. You will need a longer blouse to hide this fashion remedy. Also you may need to decide immediately after wearing it whether you need to keep the garment as is or make the waistband extender permanent.