Handy hints

Clean your wardrobe

This is the sort of thing every man wants to put off, but can't. I'm referring to cleaning out your closet, judging what to keep and what to get rid of and putting your heavy winter gear in storage until next year.
Here are some tips on how to clean out your wardrobe for the summer.

What to throw away
In the hunt for closet space, an "in with the new, out with the old" mentality is the key. Anything faded, shrunken or lined with holes should be the first casualties, no matter how hard it might be to part with the stuff you've not only grown used to, but feel comfortable in.

Closet-clearing guidelines
Follow the one-year rule
If you haven't worn it in a year and you can't really picture yourself wearing it in the future (fashion is cyclical, after all), you should get rid of it.

Give your old clothes to charity
Instead of throwing away clothes that still have life in them (especially if it's just a matter of change in taste or size), you should give them away. Put them all in a bag and give them away to the street urchin that you see everyday beside your home.

Make piles and keep garbage bags handy
When sifting through your clothes, you should be splitting them into groups: winter, spring/summer and charity. Keeping garbage bags close by will also speed up the process, as the items you want to give away can be prepared quickly.

What to store
When deciding what clothes to store, you should instantly think of the most essential items for winter survival. Therefore you can do away with the turtleneck sweaters and expensive leather jackets. A woollen scarf is good enough. Also you can do well to have a beanie or a 'monkey cap' cause lets face it- if there is one aspect of winter that is scary it's the chilly wind. Caps and scarves, can still be useful in warm weather (depending on your style, of course), but odds are you won't use them very frequently, which makes them prime for storage.

When it comes to sweaters, it's a much trickier decision. A good idea is to pack away your warmest, thickest sweaters, while keeping thinner ones handy, just in case you need one in a windy, rainy day.

Tips for storing your clothes
Wash your clothes
Since you don't want stains or smells to set in and linger (tainting both the garment and the storage space), washing your clothes is an important first step when storing clothing for a long period of time. Make sure to also launder all your smaller winter garments like gloves, hats and scarves, as those can also harbour some nasty aromas.

Dry clean your winter jacket
Give your coat a proper cleaning before you hang it up for the summer, and find a nice moth-free storage space. If your coat is made from leather consider some extra care, namely specially-made sprays used for its upkeep.

Use proper hangers
These are essential if your jackets are heavy, and if you hope to keep their natural form intact.

Ensure your clothes have a good smell
If you've washed and laundered your winter wear, you shouldn't be too concerned about this. But if the thought of lingering nasty scents still bothers you, you can simply hang or place a lightly-scented air freshener in your closet. Another excellent remedy is to leave a near empty bottle of cologne within the clothes.

Store everything in one place
You want your clothes to be easy to find and access when you need them in a few months. For this reason, try designating one particular space for these soon-to-be stored items of clothing. This can be the back of a closet, a box that you'll keep in the corner of a room, or a drawer left empty for this exact purpose.

The Final Word
Cleaning out your closet might not be the most entertaining task, but it's a necessary evil that lets you know what you have, what you've forgotten about, and what you can still buy. Following these tips and ideas will help make the process less annoying. You will reap the benefits when come winter you have all your gear handy.

By Quazi Zulquarnain Islam

Suit
Are you a young man who has just graduated from university and now applying for a job? Well, soon enough you're going to be called up for a few job interviews, and you've got to create a good first impression on your prospective employers. One of the best ways to do so is by dressing up in a very professional manner, and it is for this reason that a suit comes into the equation. So, invest in a suit without further delay and cross the first hurdle to getting a job! At the outlets of The Raymond Shop you'll find that some excellent readymade suits are being sold for Tk 6,500.

Night-dress
No matter how much we pray to God, there just seems to be no respite from the heat. In this hot and humid weather, it is extremely difficult to go to sleep at night, and this is even more so if you're a woman who goes to bed wearing a saree or salwar kameez. By wearing a night dress to bed you'll at least be able to sleep a little better, as it is a lot more comfortable to wear in bed. At the outlets of Aarong, some well-designed nighties are being sold. For those who prefer sleeveless night dresses, Aarong will be able to cater to your needs as they have a vast collection of sleeveless night dresses too. Prices at Aarong start from Tk 285 onwards.

Fatua
Are you fed up of always wearing a shirt or T-shirt? Well, if you're looking to wear something different, we suggest that you try out wearing a fatua. Fatuas are currently 'in' and nobody will take the mickey out of you if you wear one. Besides being reasonably fashionable, fatuas are quite comfortable to wear and so that's definitely an added advantage, especially considering the current heat spell that we are experiencing in Bangladesh. If you go to the outlets of Aarong, you'll find that some splendid fatuas are being sold. Prices of Aarong's fatuas usually start from Tk 385 onwards.

Ear/Nose Hair Trimmer
No matter what you say, there is nothing more unsightly than a person with hair protruding from their ears or nose. Besides being unsightly, growing ear/nose hair can be unhygienic too. If you don't want to commit a social faux pas, we suggest that you immediately invest in an ear/nose hair trimmer. By going to the outlets of Almas you'll be able to find an ear/nose hair trimmer and its price will be about Tk 1,050.

Socks
If you wear the same socks every day then you'll end up getting foot odour. Trust us, foot odour is a terrible thing and you don't want to get embarrassed when somebody tells you that you've got smelly feet. What can you do then? Well, the answer is somewhat apparent, as you've got to buy quite a few pairs of socks so that you don't have to wear the same socks every day. At the outlets of Apex you'll be able to buy socks for about Tk 90. If you think that's too expensive a price to pay for socks, then you can buy less known brands for about Tk 40 from the shops at New Market, Elephant Road etc.

Children's Shoes
Children love to run around barefoot, and in doing so they end up getting their feet dirty. Besides getting their feet dirty, some of them also get infected with worms. Surely you wouldn't like the latter to happen to your child, right? You can solve this problem by buying your child shoes that are both comfortable and pleasant to look at. If you go to the outlets of Apex you'll find that they've got a vast collection of children's shoes, and their prices start from Tk 200 onwards.

By Sayeed Mahmud Nizam

Essential

Young children are pretty unpredictable when it comes to school. Some take to it like a duck to water; others share the same kind of chemistry with their school as found between chalk and cheese. It's normal for toddlers to take some time to adjust to the whole practice of regularly going to school. It's also normal for older children to find it a drag to get out of bed early in the morning for the seemingly torturous purpose of studying. But when your child consistently refuses to go to school, it's time for you to sit up and take notice.
There could be many reasons for being school-shy. Here are a few:

Separation anxiety
This is more common amongst young children, who are still attached to mommy's apron strings. However, children also display separation anxiety in times of family stress. In such cases, the child feels insecure, and wants to cling to his/her parents, fearing that s/he will lose one or both of them if s/he loses sight of them for even a moment. Children suffering from separation anxiety need reassurance. Just as the teachers play an important role by creating a welcoming and protective atmosphere for the students, the parents can settle their child's fears by keeping a positive outlook. Statements like, "I'll be here to pick you up at 2" or "Have fun at school. I'll want to hear about your day after you come back" assure your child that it's okay to leave you for a few hours, and that you'll still be there afterwards.

Loneliness
School is one place where a person first learns about social structure and the importance of interaction. Unfortunately, not all children can easily fit into the social sphere at school. Sometimes a child has difficulties in making friends easily If your child is unusually withdrawn or shows a reluctance in participating in class activities, chances are that s/he is lonely at school. For your part, you can encourage your child to be a bit more outgoing and friendly. The greater role, however is played by the teacher, who can encourage her students to participate more actively in class discussions, and assign them to work in groups or pairs, thus effectively involving the lonely child.

Bullying
Definitely a serious cause for concern, bullying has a serious effect on a person's sense of self-esteem. If you sense fear as the ruling cause of your child's reluctance to go to school, s/he could be a victim of bullying. The common advice of 'standing up to the bullies' doesn't always work, and might even end up in the victim getting hurt. If you suspect that your child is a victim, contact the school authorities immediately. Encourage your child to stick to groups for protection.

Problems learning
Sometimes a child is put off from school simply because he can't cope up with the pressure of studies. It could be that the lessons are genuinely difficult, or that the child has problems learning. In either case, it's prudent to sit down with the teachers and discuss the issue without getting defensive. Remember, your goal is to try and make learning a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for your child.

Whatever the reason behind the daily battle of wills to get your child to school, always remember that learning is a partnership between you, your child and the school. It is only when you work together and cooperate fully with each other that you can get the best results.

By Sabrina F Ahmad