Ah, rayon. So many tops and sweaters contain rayon these days. Tops I can't resist. The drape is nice. But some care instructions say "DO NOT DRYCLEAN," while others suggest handwashing in cold, lying flat to dry or drycleaning. I've received mixed messages from different 100% rayon items to those with a mix of rayon. It's maddening.

What IS consistent, however, is the fact I buy only the rayon stuff I can handwash. And what also remains consistent is the fact these pieces are never quite the same after I wash them according to the instructions.

I just bought three summer cardigans from Nordstrom's. Handwashed one, flat to dry and it didn't shrink too much, but it's just NOT THE SAME as the two cardigans I haven't worn. Needless to say, I'm sending the unworn ones back and ordering a cotton Vince Camuto cardigan to be my go-to summer cardigan. I think a $100 cardigan is worth 3 subpar cardigans for roughly the same cost.

I went through this a few years ago with the waterfall Bobeau cardigans. Those are in the "donate" pile. Why do I keep repeating the same mistakes?

Rant over.