Thursday 26 May 2011

Tips to Take Care of Your Suits

Once you purchase your suit, Suit care is the most important thing to consider. Few things which are important for Suit care is: dry cleaning, tailoring, storage and moth protection.

Moth Protection:
Moth protection is a necessity for anybody keeping suits in their house. These little insects can spoil your suit in a matter of seconds. It would be a great disaster if you wore a costly suit just once and then found it had been eaten by moths the 2nd time you went to wear it.

The biggest enemy to the moth in addition to your fly swatter and array of poisons is cedar. These bugs loathe the pleasant smell of cedar and will not go near it. A cedar closet is the ideal safe guard for your clothes. Moreover, cedar hangers are much more affordable, portable, and financially viable.

Suit Storage:
You'll always like your suit ready to wear at all times so curled up in a ball under your bed is not an option. Storing your dress clothes in a messily manner can cause you a lot of trouble when you want to wear them.
Mens suits must be properly cleaned and pressed after use. They should be hung in a manner that keeps them from acquiring any new wrinkles in between uses. To hang your suits, Cedar closets are the perfect place but a normal closet out of direct sunlight can also be a fitting alternative.

You can protect your suits and dress shirts during travel with the help of a garment bag. These bags are relatively inexpensive and can hold a suit in hanging position quite easily. 

Suit Alterations:
Suit alterations are needed for both the shrinking and expanding man. A good tailor can save you hundreds of dollars on a new suit for a mere fraction of the price.  However, you should know when it’s appropriate to repair your clothes and when you should throw in the towel.

Areas that can be tailored elegantly are:
1. Waist - The waist can be taken in aggressively to make the pants snugger. But expanding the waist depends on how much excess material is in the pants. You can judge how much you have by looking inside the back of the pants.

2. Legs - Similar to waist, legs also can be shortened by great lengths but they are limited in the amount you can lengthen them.

Jackets can be let out at the waist and shortened at the sleeves but be careful to get a good tailor if you decide to do anything else.

Dry Cleaning:
If you decide to just pop your suit in the washing machine you can possibly forget about ever being able to wear it again. Good dry cleaners can really make a man’s life easy.

All about Tuxedos

When we think about formal wear, Tuxedos is the name which comes into our mind. It might be little bit tough to decide when to put on a tuxedo. Here's some help:

When to Wear a Tuxedo:
  •  When the invitation states Formal, Black Tie, Black Tie Invited or Black Tie Optional
  •  To the opening of the opera, ballet or symphony
  •  Ball or formal dance
  •  Formal dinner party or reception
  •  Dinner at a formal restaurant (some folks think you should be dressed at least as well as your waiter)
Style Tips:
  •  Buy instead of renting a quality garment tailored to fit you.
  •  Stay traditional and avoid colorful cummerbunds, socks, etc.
  •  Keeping it simple would help you accomplish the most elegant look.
  •  Follow the same rules for buying a tuxedo as for a suit. Double-breasted styles look best on trimmer men, while single button styles are the most flattering.
  •  Don’t use clip-on bow ties. Tie it yourself (and get a formal-wear sale person to show you how).
  •  Cummerbunds should match the material on the man's jacket (and the pleats face up)
Style Preferences:
  •  Double Breasted
  •  Single Breasted Peak (the most traditional)
  •  Shawl Collar - flattering for heavier men
  •  Notched Collar
  •  Three-button