Your clue to choosing the right garb is sometimes confusing. Here’s a quick guide. Black tie is formal wear, tuxedos and cocktail or evening dresses. Black tie optional allows a dark suit. Resort formal is warmweather code for bright and lightweight clothes. For semi or business formal, wear a cocktail dress or dressy suit that would be appropriate in the board room. Cocktail attire is short, elegant dresses and dark suits. The little black dress is perfect. Dressy casual is trousers and a sportcoat for him, a dressy pants look for her. Casual includes jeans, tshirts and sneakers. Got it? You’ll always have more fun wearing the right outfit (and we’ve seen every variation including red sneakers and white tie).
Dressy biking.
When the urban commute is by bicycle, carrying an extra set of office clothes can be a drag. So San Francisco designer Parker Dusseau has created a Commuter Suit that breathes, wicks and allows a range of motion while presenting a classic downtown look. They’ve built the suit of Superwool with a touch of spandex and engineered shoulder seams, crotch gussets and button cuffs to make riding comfortable. They’ve even created a moisture wicking dress shirt to complete the commuting ensemble.
Cotton is king.
Spring and summer wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable without classic cotton. Breathable, long-lasting and easy to clean, cotton’s a staple for every wardrobe, from workwear to sportswear, casual to classy. Yes, cotton will wrinkle (we all do, after a few years) but a few laundry-room tips can help. Try air drying cottons to avoid shrinkage and fading from hot dryers. Mist lightly with water before ironing for a crisp finish. Or let us delight you with drycleaned or laundered cotton cleaning. We make chinos, golf shirts and jeans look crisp and fresh.
Lasting memories.
Preserving treasured garments is a specialty that allows sharing today’s moment with tomorrow. We carefully remove stains, repair damage, clean and archivally package wedding gowns, veils, even gloves. In an easy-to-store package, your memento is safe for the future. And we go beyond bridal, with christening gowns, special event garb, uniforms and textiles. When you want it to last for generations, start with our preservation service. It’s the best way we know to save the happiness forward.
The pleasures of silk.
Long-treasured for its luxurious feel and brilliant colors, silk is still made from the cocoons of silk worms. Natural animal fibers can be tricky to clean, and silk’s reputation for fussiness is well earned. Bright colors can fade, even a drop of perspiration can stain, and the rigors of washing can cause fabric damage, even disintegration. Make the most of your investment, avoid contact with alcohol, alkali or acid products like deodorant, toothpaste or facial cleanser. Never, ever spray perfume on silk and if there is a spill, blot don’t rub. Of course we clean silk. Our spotters, cleaners and finishers are specially trained to provide the special care that silk demands.
A good night’s rest.
If you’ve been lucky enough to sleep in a luxury hotel, you know how wonderful it feels to slide between crisp, clean sheets, lie your head on a fresh pillow and slumber like royalty. Keeping bed linens clean is easy if you have a large capacity front-loading washer (like ours). And our professional finishing is impossible to create at home, no matter how long you iron. We clean pillows, duvets, afghans, shams, quilts, blankets, dust ruffles and sleeping bags.
Hello Spring
Hello Spring. If you’re ready to store away your winter clothing for another year, be sure that’s everything’s clean. Even minor splashes and spills will oxidize and discolor over time. Body oils, perspiration and food or beverage stains can attract insect damage. After cleaning, store everything in garment storage bags that allow your clothes to breathe, and keep stored clothing where temperatures don’t get extreme. Damp basements can lead to mildew and funky smells. Ask us about storage and packaging options.
Color me sad.
Let’s hope you find the crayons before throwing the laundry in the dryer. You’re in for a surprise when you open the dryer door and find waxy, colored stains on everything in the load, perhaps even on the dryer door and walls. Take a deep breath and bring the stained items to us. Drycleaning can remove the melted-in crayons, and our stain removal experts can take care of any residual tints.
Denim, America’s favorite fabric.
When Gold Rush miners needed durable workwear, a pioneering merchant by the name of Levi Strauss used serge de Nîmes to create a riveted “waist overall” that changed fashion forever. Until the 1950’s the best denim in the world was made in the US, but manufacturers bought new large looms, replaced indigo with synthetic dyes and began pre washing denim to provide more fabric at a lower price (and quality). Japanese companies bought the old looms and cornered the market for first quality premium denim, called selvage. Pre-50’s vintage jeans had clean edges, deep blue color and so do today’s high-end selvage denim garments.
Way beyond wire.
When only the finest will do, or when it’s time to splurge on your closet, check out HangerProject.com. Its founder, Kirby Allison, sells solid maple $25 suit/jacket/overcoat hangers in four widths, three profiles, so the garment is supported evenly and rounded edges prevent snagging. These luxury wooden hangers have been featured in Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, Robb Report and more. Kirby sells more than hangers—there’s Saphir shoe care products, handmade Italian umbrellas and shaving goods. And hangers for men, women, and accessories.
