Friday, January 8, 2010

Taking care of formal clothes



Formal clothes are meant for special purposes and therefore are the most well kept content of the wardrobe. They also need special care and attention for long lasting existence with the same essence which they had in the beginning. It is not easy to maintain the grace of clothes for a long tenure especially the formal ones on which even a small defect appears to be a major malfunction, but this daunting task can be simplified in certain pertinent manners.

We shall start from the bottom i.e the shoes section. Shoes bear the most severe wrath of owner’s fury, they have to carry on the weight and grip the austere floor at the same time. Therefore shoes must be taken as an investment as you invest in some other object supposedly a car.

Shoes must be cleaned and wiped regularly according to the material so that the stains don’t set permanently. If the material is leather then polish them regularly in suitable color dyes will blend into your shoes and mask any scuffs marks. First give your shoes a quick clean with a damp cloth or sponge then apply polish with a clean, soft rag, getting into every crease of your shoe. Leave them to dry on a piece of newspaper and then buff up to a perfect shine.

Canvas shoes on the other hand can be rather handled comparatively roughly. For tough stains and odors shampoo and brush can be applied. They can even be subjected to wash cycle in your machine but don’t place them in dryer because if you do then they will lose their form or even fall apart.


Suede shoes are the most typical ones as cannot be polished so the best way to take care of them is to apply a good spray of water and a stain repellant before you even put them on so it’s better to have one at the time of purchasing suede shoes itself. Incase they are stained then don’t scrub them instead gently rub them with brush to get dried mud etc off.

It is advisable to learn general shoe care methods. The best way to protect expensive shoes is to keep them in bags or boxes. Don't allow them to knock around or rub against your other objects. Don’t let dirt and stains settle on your shoe surface instead get rid of them as soon as possible. All these steps might appear to be tedious but a lot of money can be saved in the long term if you take a little time to properly care for your shoes.



Shirts are always close to men’s hearts both physically and mentally. Unlike shoes they are don’t have to bear the hardships but still they need more care as they are more delicate and primarily important. Knowing the nature of your fabric and material of your shirt can help you a lot keeping your shirts crisp and in good condition, while projecting a well-groomed appearance. Starting with a few archaic methods you can do so like use mildly warm water to wash your shirt in washing machine. Avoid dry cleaning as it may harm the texture of the fabric or even devoid the shirt of its natural color, instead getting laundered is a better option. To prevent settling of stains permanently prompt wash your shirt as soon as it gets stained and it will be easier to rid of it in the complete washing. For avoiding the color fading the simplest method is to separate them beforehand categorically in accordance to their shades white, light, colored and dark. To get your white shirts whiter, use bleach like Clorox. For colored ones, use a diluted solution or special bleach and for your dark colored shirts, avoid bleaching all together.

Before ironing custom shirts check for stains because it can settle them permanently and while ironing it would be better if the fabric is a bit moist as it will help in removing the wrinkles.

The mode of hanging your custom shirts can have long lasting impact on them, use wooden or plastic hangers with firm shoulders, wired ones will harm the shape of shirt




Last but not the least the most valued attire in anyone’s wardrobe is most unarguably suits. They are the most expensive outfit that can be sought after, as the occasions for which they are ought to be used are also extraordinary ones. They are neither the objects of daily use nor they are purchased often. To entrench their life for a longer time you will need to take care of them and follow certain basic steps.

Suits are generally manufactured in two categories single and double breasted and the fabric used usually belongs to the following inventory rayon, merino wool, polyester, silk, cotton, worsted wool, gabardine and linen. Each one of them have their own characteristics so they need different treatment accordingly.

Dry clean your suits once or twice every year but prefer only a professional and experienced dry cleaning service. Steamer can be used to get rid of wrinkles, it will, make the suit appear crisp and fresh, and before putting it back in your wardrobe keep suit in a shadowed and airy place.

Specially designed hangers are available in the market for suits which make them spectacular, they should not be stuffed as it can cause wrinkles. Induce a habit of brushing the suits before keeping them back in the closet, unbutton it while sitting and also avoid over stuffing of the pockets as they can harm the seams.

Remember a well maintained suit will depict your nature as well as it will also impart an inner personality booster.