Care of Your Tailored Suit
Like any other investment in your future, it is essential that you protect your wardrobe with proper maintenance and care. However, that is not something that most of us are taught how to do. Here are a few tips from the pros here at Well Suited:
Hanging your Suit
It is best to hang up your fine tailored clothing as soon as you get home. If you have a good clothing brush, brush the garment (with the nap, if there is one). Never use a wire hanger. Instead, use a wide, curved wooden hanger for the coat. Trousers should be hung with the inner seams lined up and cuffs together, preferably by the cuffs on a wooden trouser hanger, or folded over a hanger with a wooden dowel. Hanging them by the cuffs is best for relaxing wrinkles and making them look neat for the next wearing. If your garment gets damp, allow it to breathe and dry before putting it into the closet. Hang it on a proper wooden hanger over the back of an open door until dry.
Wrinkled SuiT
When wrinkled from too much everyday wear or traveling, hang the suit in a closed bathroom and turn the shower on hot, with the trousers hanging from the cuffs, if possible. Steam works wonders to relax the wrinkles, but be careful not to let it get near the shower water. After ten minutes of steam, vigorously shake the garment and hang it up to dry. Do not wear until dry.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning fine tailored clothing should be like having oral surgery - as often as necessary, as infrequently as possible! Heat and chemicals are very hard on a garment's fabric and structure.
It will look its best, and wear much longer if you just have it pressed occasionally and only have it cleaned when absolutely necessary. With regular use of a good clothing brush, and a quality clothing steamer, you can minimize the cost and the effects of dry cleaning.
If you rotate five to ten suits or sport outfits in your wardrobe, dry cleaning once or twice a year should suffice. As a side note, for best results, never wear a garment directly from the dry cleaners. Allow it to dry at least 24 hours in your closet. It is also good to remove the garment from the wire hanger provided by the cleaners, and place it on its original wooden hanger immediately.
Traveling in your suit
Always remove your coat before sitting down for extended periods on planes, trains and in cars. If possible, hang it up; if not, gently fold it wrong side out in half vertically along the back seam. Then lay it down on a seat or overhead bin as flatly as possible.
Daily Maintenance
It is a good idea to keep a lint roller or good lint brush at home, at the office, and even in your car. Also, we would suggest keeping a can of spot cleaner at home and at the office. It is great for removing ink, grease, wine and salad dressing.
Despite all the special care you give your favorite suit, there eventually comes a point in the relationship when it must be replaced with another fine garment. We look forward to showing you our outstanding current season's collection, at your convenience.
