Making it last

Hand wash cold with a mild detergent, or dry clean. Do not wring it — roll it in a towel to take the water out, then dry flat away from direct sun, which fades print.

Iron cool on the reverse if you need to. Keep scarves away from perfume and hairspray while they are damp, because both can mark the fibre.

Never iron a pleated scarf. Heat-set pleats will flatten permanently and cannot be restored.

Put it on last, after fragrance, hairspray, lotion and make-up. Take it off before showering, swimming, exercise and sleep.

Wipe it with a dry soft cloth after wear and store it in a pouch, not loose in a dish where it rubs against other pieces. Chlorine and salt water do the most damage of anything on this list.

When plating does eventually wear, that is the end of the finish — it cannot be restored at home. How long it takes depends almost entirely on how often the piece is worn and what it touches.

Tarnish is normal. Use a treated polishing cloth in straight lines rather than circles, so you do not thin one area. Do not use abrasive polish or toothpaste. Store sealed in an anti-tarnish pouch and it will hardly tarnish at all between wears.

Roll stretch bracelets and scrunchies on and off rather than stretching them wide. Keep them dry — water and heat both break down elastic cord. Store them flat rather than stretched over something.

Hook chains at the clasp end and lay them flat before rolling — that is the whole trick to untangled chains, and it is why the travel roll has hooks rather than a pocket.

Keep hair clips away from satin scrunchies and ribbons, which is what the compartments in the hair case are for. Acetate claw clips warp near direct heat, so keep them out of a hot car and away from radiators.

Store scarves loosely rolled rather than folded, and pleated ones loosely twisted. Both avoid setting a crease you cannot remove.