fashion funnies: starch of the penguins...

"stole" this comic from my friend brian on facebook...beware of those care labels...haha...

and have yourself a fabulous weekend...

men's corner: dry cleaning the suits...

in speaking with one of my clients the other day...we got on the subject of dry cleaning...and the dollars that add up in that lovely exercise...he then told me that he takes his suits in (all of them) about every week in a half...no wonder he is feeling the pain of the dry cleaner bill...

the fact is that constant dry cleaning does wear on the fabrications of the suit...and decreases its lifespan...for that reason alone...i would say invest in a good steam cleaner...and get to steaming...maybe not the ideal answer...but works wonders on your investment...in both keeping the quality of your suit up to par...as well as some extra $$ in your bank account...

a fabric steamer does not replace your regular dry cleaning...but those in between times...it is the perfect solution for lingering smells (smoke etc)...wrinkles...but...if your suit is soiled...from profusely sweating...or you got some of the hamburger grease from lunch on it...then by all means...make a trip to the dry cleaner...a clothes brush is also a great tool to have at home...this helps in brushing away the light dirt and dust that may have planted itself on your suit...

and one last tip...when taking your suits to the dry cleaners...always take both the jacket and pants in...this will maintain the continuity of the dye in both pieces...the last thing you want is a mismatched suit...

in summary...get your suit cleaned only when it’s dirty...get your suit steamed when it’s wrinkled...

photo source

how do i take care of it?

it's inevitable....you have to care for your clothes...how much time and money do you want to spend doing it? high-maintenance clothes are like high-maintenance friends...they need a lot of attention...that being said...i think i keep my neighberhood dry cleaners in business...

when i am shopping for clients...this is an area i have to consider...for their lifestyle...some like me...know their dry cleaners by name...others will only consider clothes that are wash and wear...the key to keep in mind...is that you can look fabulous in either category...

so...ask yourself some questions...and see what works for you...

how delicate is it?

how easily does it stain?

and...how careful are you willing to be while you're wearing it?

think about how often you'll be putting it on...and for what kind of event...

will it be subjected to baby drool...hot-weather perspiration...or salad dressing?

does it have to be dry-cleaned? hand-washed? ironed?

if it's an outfit you reserve for special occasions...then maybe you can handle the burden...if you're planning on wearing it daily...you might want to opt for something that's a little easier to love and care for...