Clothing Care

Being well-dressed for any weather or occasion is about more than just the style of clothing you are wearing.

Have you ever dressed in an outfit to look good for an occasion, only to find yourself too hot or too cold? Perhaps the fabric stuck or didn’t seem to breathe very well. Fabric choice can play a big role in how comfortable you feel and how neat your appearance is.

If you live in an area that experiences the fluctuations of the seasons, then you’re going to need a mix of clothing in different fabrics to dress for the weather. In any case, it’s a good idea to understand which fabrics hold up better under different conditions.

Here is our guide to fabric choices for the seasons:

Summer fabrics: Some do’s and don’ts

When you’re heading into warmer weather, it’s time to think about fabrics that will keep you cool and comfortable. The “hot and bothered” look is never a good one in a professional setting! You don’t want to be sweating or risking that your choice of clothing contributes to body odor.

The best summer fabrics are breathable, here are some to consider:

Linen

Linen garments have been popular in Europe for years, but have been slow to catch on here in the U.S. Many people here have avoided it due to its tendency to crease and wrinkle, but the fabric’s properties make it one of the most comfortable to wear in hot weather. In fact, while at first, linen fibers are stiff and wrinkle easily, they become smoother with handling and use.

Linen is a loosely woven fabric that is laboriously made from the flax plant. It is known to be one of the strongest natural fibers in the world. In fact, US currency among others uses a blend of linen and cotton for more robust bank notes.

The linen fibers are thicker than cotton and longer, which contributes to its strength. You can expect a well-made linen garment to last a long time. In terms of comfort, linen has strong moisture-wicking properties and dries a lot faster than cotton does. It also has a natural ability to prevent bacterial growth, which helps when you don’t want to end up with body odor on shirts.

Linen is also known for being a comfortable option for those with skin allergies or conditions. The properties of the fibers can make it a good option for all seasons, keeping you cool in summer and layered for warmth in winter.

Xacus linen shirt

Linen fabrics are excellent for summer wear and is one of the strongest natural fibers Click To Tweet

Cotton

Cotton is another natural fiber that allows air to circulate when you wear it. Here in the U.S., cotton is a very popular choice for warm weather clothing. The fibers aren’t as strong as linen, although strength is achieved by spinning multiple fibers into the yarn.

Good-quality lightweight cottons will also help to absorb moisture and keep you cool. In fact, cotton absorbs around 25% of its weight in water. This means it can become heavy and wet if exposed to a lot of moisture.

In terms of handling, cotton is usually soft and smooth from when you purchase it. Cotton does have a tendency to wrinkle, so many people choose to wear a blend with polyester, especially for travel.

Chambray and Seersucker

Chambray is often confused with denim, but it is actually a more lightweight cotton fabric with a plain weave. It has a finish like linen with a mottled texture.

Chambray shirts tend to be a basic item that transcends the seasons. The plain weave helps it to stay cool in the heat and it absorbs moisture well.

Seersucker is another fabric from the cotton family and is known for being thin and lightweight. You’ll often find boating attire or summer dresses made from this fabric, usually in striped or checkered patterns.

Relwen half-sleeve seersucker airtex madras shirt

Fabrics to avoid in hot weather

If we were to sum up the fabrics to avoid when you need to feel cool, it would be any fabric that repels moisture. You want summer fabrics to absorb moisture, otherwise areas of dampness are more likely to show on what you’re wearing.

This puts synthetic fabrics among the worst choices for summer wear. Most of them do not absorb moisture at all, meaning you can end up bathing in sweat. Fabrics to avoid include:

• Nylon – This fabric repels water and will tend to trap heat and sweat against your skin.
• Acrylic – The fabric will feel hot and abrasive against your skin.
• Rayon – This synthetic will repel water also.
• Polyester – While this is often used in travel-wear, a high percentage of polyester means that it too will repel rather than absorb moisture.
• Faux leather or vinyl – You’ll end up feeling like you’ve been wrapped in plastic wrap…
• Denim – While made from cotton, the sturdy, heavy weave makes it smothering to wear in the heat.

Winter fabrics: Some do’s and don’ts

The advice for winter fabrics very much depends on where you are wearing the clothes and how cold it is. If you’re heading up into the mountains on a ski trip, you need to pay particular attention to fabrics that will not only keep you warm, but dry at the same time. If you’re in the office, you still want something breathable.

Here are some fabrics to look at:

Cotton

Yes, cotton is a good, breathable choice for all seasons. In the colder weather look for thicker weaves for some extra warmth. Of course, you’re probably layering a blazer or jacket over the top anyway.

However, if you’re heading somewhere cold for outdoor activities, cotton is a poor fabric choice. In fact, wearing it can lead to hypothermia under the right conditions. Cotton is hydrophilic, which means that it won’t wick moisture away from your skin. It absorbs the moisture and can end up feeling wet and cold.

Wet cotton may wick heat away from your body up to 25 times faster than when the fabric is dry. If say, you’re wearing a cotton undershirt up on the mountain and sweating with exertion, it will quickly soak up the sweat and have you feeling as cold as though you fell into some water.

Leather or Faux leather

This is a fabric choice which can carry you through spring and fall as well. Leather tends to get better with age and form to your body shape, making it a flattering choice. It is tough and versatile, with a history as a popular choice for body armor.

Leather is good as a wind-breaker against the biting chill and is naturally water-resistant. Water will get through wool or denim much faster than leather.

Ecru leather jacket

Wool

Wool is a natural fiber that is very breathable, but also retains a lot of warmth. It wicks moisture away from your skin, trapping it to keep you warm.

Wool creates a natural insulation due to the air pockets among its properties. Even if wool gets wet, you will stay warm due to its natural water resistance. The fabric is also known for being odor-resistant – outdoor trekkers may wear the same piece of clothing for several days without it smelling.

A good-quality wool garment can last you for years. It is easy to care for and retains its shape if looked after well. There are different types of wool to look out for, with Merino being one of the finest knits. You’ll find wool garment choices from casual to formal-wear.

Ballin wool pant

Final thoughts

Your fabric choice for the season should have you looking good and feeling comfortable. Remember a couple of general rules:

• In hot weather, you want fabric that absorbs moisture
• In cold weather (particularly when outdoors), you want moisture-wicking fabric.

Some of the natural fibers such as wool will take you through all seasons, but fabrics like cotton and linen should be avoided in situations such as ski trips. Remember that the synthetics tend to be less breathable and uncomfortable in summer, but may work just fine in winter.

Where do you go when you need to select quality clothing for your wardrobe?

Modern technology has provided us with more options than ever before for our shopping. We can access all sorts of stores online, or we can locate stores nearby using our mobile phones.

Technology makes things quite convenient, but how does it impact the overall experience? How does shopping in-store compare to shopping online?

Shopping for clothing online

Online shopping is a huge convenience for many people, which tends to form the basis of its appeal. The stores are never closed – you can be shopping at any time, day or night and you don’t have to make a special effort with your own appearance. Additionally, it’s easy to compare prices, you don’t have to wait in any queues and you have access to a wide range of products.

You can often find great deals online as compared to in-store, but if you’re shopping for quality clothing, this is where the benefits usually end. Is that cheap price really a great deal, or is it because you are getting last season’s styles?

One of the major disadvantages of shopping for clothing online is that you can’t try the pieces on. You can’t touch the fabric or examine the clothing for quality. It’s difficult to get a perfect fit because it’s never a tailor that measures you for any ordered pieces.

In fact, quality and the overall process of “fast fashion” that has appeared online has become a real issue. Let’s say you’re looking for a nice dress to wear or a pair of dress trousers. You come across a website while searching online and the clothing they display certainly looks good. Of course, they’re using high-quality images and models to show the clothing, but this is often where the real experience ends.

Your package arrives in a couple of weeks and you discover that the picture you saw was deceiving. The fabric is a cheap synthetic and the garment is overall very poorly made. Do you have recourse? Can you send it back? Sometimes, but often you have no real idea of exactly where it came from. There are many examples of overseas factories selling directly online – they churn out cheap product and their offshore customers find that they can’t return poorly made purchases.

What is your next step? A lot of people simply donate or throw out the offending garments. This is becoming a real problem with a described “throwaway culture” and the implications this has for the environment. People purchase fast fashion, they don’t spend much and they’re not very excited by the pieces anyway, so they find it easy to simply throw them away.

This is not to say that you won’t find any quality clothing online – you can, but it’s often a gamble as to whether it will fit you as you’d like or appear as expected. It’s very difficult to judge just by looking at a picture. If your preference is still to buy online, we would look for a reputable business that is based within your own country. This usually gives you options to return clothing or have it adjusted to suit.

Shopping for clothing in-store

For us, the in-store experience of shopping for quality clothing is the ultimate. When we say “quality”, we’re talking about the kind of garments that are made well, fit well and are sewn to last.

Let’s take a step back for a minute though – are there any disadvantages to shopping in-store? Firstly, you can’t show up whenever you’d like. Secondly, you might have to wait – it’s possible there will be people ahead of you being served. Lastly, it’s definitely more difficult to compare products and prices as you’re in a physical location. In our view though, the positives outweigh these disadvantages.

We can paint a picture for you; when you enter a high-end clothing store or tailor’s shop, you are greeted by a knowledgeable professional. That person asks you the right questions to understand what you need and what your preferences are. They measure you properly so that you can have tailor-made garments and they help you to choose the right fabrics, styles and cuts.

Buying quality fashion in-store helps to cut down on clothing wastage Click To Tweet

While in-store, the fitter can point out the nuances of a fabric and its wearability. They can show you what quality means and where any vendors might have compromised on quality in order to achieve a certain retail price. One of the things tailors know very well is how fashion items have come to be made cheaply – they will always be able to tell you about the overall quality of an item.

Importantly, a tailor provides a “white glove” experience that is all about you. If you’ve shopped online, you know that any outfit is likely to look different on you than it does in a picture. An experienced sales team can assist in determining what color, fit, style and coordination will best suit your individual style and wardrobe needs.

An additional benefit is that a sales expert is very knowledgeable about “inside” industry news. They can tell you about designer or ownership changes within a company that you like and how that may have affected the merchandise. It’s the difference between shopping with a professional or shopping with a basic retailer.

The chances are you are shopping for quality clothing because your appearance is important. You need to exude a professional image or a highly polished look for special occasions. The difference you get in visiting a tailor really seals the deal on the in-store experience. A properly tailored outfit makes all the difference in your overall appearance. It shows you have taken care and helps convey those polished and professional images. If the sleeves are too long, the pant too full, the dress too loose or the make too “cheap” looking, you just don’t make the right impression. Our “old world tailors” at Family Britches can make sure you look your best with ensembles made for you.

Conclusion

Where should you shop for clothing, online or in-store? Perhaps it depends upon how you value your time and what you want your wardrobe to say about you.

With an emphasis on quality, durability and personalization, the in-store experience with a good tailor can’t be beaten. Any sort of “investment piece” like a good suit or a tailored dress is worth going into a store, where you are a valued customer with whom we want to develop a relationship.

As a general rule, those tailored pieces are made to last and can even be with you for a number of years. By comparison, looking for quality-made clothing online can be a real gamble. What you receive rarely looks like it does in the pictures on you, and you might find that the quality is not what you expected.

It’s always disappointing when what you receive online doesn’t meet expectations, but this is associated with another problem too – “throwaway” fashion. If it’s important to you not to contribute to this issue, then in-store is the best way to avoid it.

Kei has neither internal canvas structure nor any lining, but a soul with a story to tell.

It speaks of hands that know how to sew he finest materials with infinite mastery.

It speaks of the work of tailors who use all their skill and passion, to transform cloth into an article of clothing with unique elegance and softness, without compromising fit.

Of all the things you wear and wash in your wardrobe, men’s dress shirts are probably the most frequently laundered.

An ubiquitous staple globally, the dress shirt spans cultures and workplaces – almost every man owns one and most would like to look good while wearing them!

If you’re not careful, it’s easy for the wear and tear of everyday use and laundering to start to show in the state of your shirts. When you’ve invested in good quality, it’s worth your while to pay attention to how your shirt is cared for and have it last the extra distance. You can look better, save money and take a more sustainable approach.

Here are some care tips you should know for looking after your dress shirts:

#1. Read the label

Okay, so this first tip isn’t exactly rocket science, but so many valuable pieces of clothing are ruined because someone didn’t read the label! In saying that, sometimes you need to decode the symbols used to fully understand how to take care of the shirt.

This handy chart from GQ is great for deciphering common symbols on clothing care labels:

Pay extra attention as to whether or not it’s safe to dry clean the shirt. Many people tend to drop a pile of shirts at the dry cleaners for the convenience of it, but not all shirts will do well with dry cleaning. This depends on the fabric make-up of the shirt – some fabrics will deteriorate with the application of dry cleaning chemicals.

If you go for the “wash and press” method at the dry cleaner’s, be aware that the pressing action in the commercial equipment can be hard on shirts. Collars or buttons often end up smashed, or parts of the shirt can be stretched.

Note also the wash and dry temperature recommendations. These are chosen because fabrics may shrink or be damaged, particularly at higher temperatures. One tip is to separate out your laundry based on fabric colors and the care of the items. You don’t want your white shirts to turn grey or pink, nor do you want to wash with fabrics which might shed lint onto them.

#2. Be wary of the dryer

Dryers can be quite damaging to your clothes. They can shrink items, cause pilling or pulling and lead to very wrinkled dress shirts that have lost their crisp edges.

If the label allows, you can put your shirt in the dryer to start the drying process, but one tip is to use it only long enough to start the drying process, not so long as to allow creases to set in. While of course your shirts should see a steamer or an iron before wear, you’re saving yourself a lot of work if you finish off the drying on a hanger.

Only leave dress shirts in the dryer long enough to start the drying process Click To Tweet

Our Eton dress shirts are a great, crease-resistant option for professional wear. The maker’s instructions are very specific, including not putting the shirt in the dryer at all. The following directions come from Eton, and will work well for other, similar dress shirts too:

1. Unbutton the shirt
2. Place in the washing machine with like colors in a mesh bag to protect buttons and shirt features. Note: do not overfill the washing machine.
3. Add fabric softener
4. Select warm water and a low spin-dry
5. Once the cycle is finished, hang the shirt on a hanger and stretch the collar, cuffs and front placket gently.

The “placket” refers to the double layers of fabric that hold the buttons and buttonholes of the shirt. Mesh clothing bags are inexpensive and usually easy to find from a good tailor, or even on Amazon. They are essential for washing delicate items too.

We would also add that it’s worth investing in good quality, wooden shirt hangers rather than relying on the old wire hanger. Wire hangers can damage clothing and add creasing around the shoulders.

#3. Take care of everyday maintenance

Your shirts will last a lot longer if you take care of them in your day-to-day activities, as well as any maintenance that may be required. For example, if you’re arriving home from work and have no more need to be dressed formally, change out of your shirt. This helps to avoid unnecessary wear and tear – no one needs to be splattering their cooking over their good dress shirts!

Protect your shirt while out eating by opting to use a napkin. It’s much better to catch that drip of sauce on your napkin than having to dab at an unsightly stain! However, if you do manage to get some kind of stain on your shirt, prompt treatment is usually the key. This means treating the stain before putting your shirt into the washing machine – most regular laundry soaps will not work effectively against stains.

Some of the tougher stains you’ll come across include sweat, red wine, coffee, juice and chocolate. Grass and mud stains are also stubborn, although we’d assume most people aren’t rolling around on the ground in their dress shirt…

There are different recommendations for different types of stains, but pretreatment is the key for all of them. It is also suggested that you test a discrete area of your shirt first with the treatment – this is to check that the treatment itself doesn’t cause damage. Marseille Soap (Savon de Marseille) is a great product to have available in your laundry, capable of treating most sorts of stains.

In terms of ongoing maintenance, catching and remedying any issues early is the key. If you’ve got a button hanging off, a simple repair with a basic sewing kit is easier than trying to find a new button!

#4. Store shirts properly

How and where your clothing is stored has a bearing on how well it lasts. The ideal environment is a cool, dark, clean and dry closet. These sorts of conditions help to prevent UV damage or color fading and slow the growth of bacteria.

You don’t have to worry about moths when it comes to your cotton shirts, but any moisture or mildew will do damage to your shirts. Mildew will literally eat cotton fibres and of course, it can leave an unpleasant, musty smell on fabric.

Consider protecting any shirts you won’t be wearing for a while by storing in a garment bag. Think about what you’re doing with them when you’re putting a shirt aside for washing too. Being bunched up in a laundry bag with your damp gym towel is not an ideal way to care for the shirt!

#5. Know how to iron your shirt

While many dress shirts are made from “crease resistant” materials, this doesn’t mean that you can eschew the iron. There’s nothing quite like the look of a freshly pressed shirt to convey a professional appearance.

Cotton and linen shirts require higher iron temperatures in order to reform their shape. It is worth investing in a good quality iron to ensure that you have the required temperature range. Higher-end irons have better quality soleplates for even heat distribution and better steam delivery systems.

Read the label of the shirt for any ironing instructions and iron the shirt in the following order:

1. Collar – iron both sides, starting with the bottom side.
2. Cuffs – unbutton and lay out flat first. Iron the inside and then the outside.
3. Iron the shirt front.
4. Iron the back of the shirt.
5. Iron the sleeves.

Final thoughts

Your high end dress shirts deserve to be well cared for, and a few simple steps will help to protect your investment and keep them going for longer.

Always read the labels before laundering, and promptly take care of any issues such as stains. As a bonus tip, avoid leaving light-colored shirts sitting in the laundry hamper for too long. This can allow any sweat and oils to set into the fabric and cause premature yellowing. We hope you get a lot of wear from your good dress shirts!

Do you take business trips or travel for work?

If so, it’s probably important to you to be able to wear professional clothing and keep your wardrobe looking good while you travel. Impressions matter when you attend work meetings, and no one wants to arrive looking bedraggled!

This isn’t always an easy thing to achieve. While in the golden age of aviation, flying somewhere meant something and was heralded by well-dressed passengers with plenty of legroom, the modern era is far removed.

If you’re fortunate enough to travel business class, you still get a little room to spread out, but if you’re flying economy, you tend to be packed in like farm animals on a stock truck. Cramped conditions can mean havoc for your professional clothing as shirts get wrinkled and blazers get crammed into overhead lockers.

You start to worry about any meetings that are scheduled shortly after landing, so what can you do to stay looking fresh?

Invest in quality luggage

First of all, it is well worth investing in the right luggage to carry your wardrobe! Good luggage keeps you looking stylish and protects your clothing.

If you’re going for more than a couple of nights, a sturdy wheeled-case, made of lightweight, durable material is a must. Think aluminum, polycarbonate or leather. If the duration of your trip is a couple of nights or less, consider a casually stylish holdall.

The right luggage is one thing, but how you pack it is also very important. Wrinkles are caused by friction among your belongings, so one suggestion is to pack clothes in plastic garment bags, or even among dry cleaning bags. The plastic reduces friction. Stuffing your clothing with tissue paper first keeps it from flattening out and helps it to maintain its shape. Consider using packing cubes to stow your small items and toiletries.

There are many travel sites which suggest rolling clothes in order to save room and to avoid wrinkling your garments. However, we do not suggest you roll your tailored shirts or good trousers. Rolling still leads to wrinkles in the clothing and if you look closely at that advice, it’s often accompanied by pictures of t-shirts or other more wrinkle-resistant clothes.

One suggestion to avoid rumpled clothing is “bundle packing.” This is definitely a better idea than rolling clothes, especially if you’ve got a few items you need to pack. Bundle packing involves wrapping your clothing around a bundle of wrinkle-resistant clothes, with your most delicate items being on the outside of the bundle. So, your suit jacket or tailored shirts would be on the outside.

It’s not a perfect system, but it can work to at least keep your most wrinkle-prone pieces in good condition. This is because those items on the outside have less pronounced folds in the making of the bundle. The video below from NBC News gives a demonstration of bundle packing:

Plan your travel outfit

No matter how conscientious you are about packing, you’ll still almost certainly arrive with some clothing in need of an iron. Of course, if you’re dashing from the airport straight to a meeting, you don’t have time for this!

One strategy is to carefully plan your travel outfit ahead of time. Choose crease-resistant clothing where possible to wear on the plane. This means choosing high-quality fabrics such as wool, jersey, cashmere or knits. Wearing your blazer helps to save it from getting wrinkled in your luggage or the overhead locker.

Choose high-quality, crease-resistant fabrics for business travel Click To Tweet

Canali suit, made with wrinkle-resistant wool.

Consider your footwear as well. Shoes take up valuable room in your bag when space may already be at a premium. They also have to be taken off and put back on again quickly at airport security.

With this in mind, something like a high-quality pair of loafers can be a good choice to wear as you travel. They slip on and off easily, look stylish and can be dressed up when worn with your suit for work meetings, and dressed down with chinos or good jeans for evening drinks.

Choose crease-resistant shirts

Creased shirts are a common nuisance for business travelers. Even following packing techniques to avoid wrinkling clothing it’s difficult to keep shirts looking their best out of a suitcase.

Choosing crease-resistant shirts can be well worth the investment. “Resistant” means that, if you follow packing techniques to minimize folding and creasing, the shirt should still look very presentable.

The Eton dress shirt is made from 100% premium cotton and is crease-resistant.

You can’t always prevent your shirts from getting creased during travel, but you can take steps to ensure you’ll be able to get them looking their best at your destination. Try to book a hotel room that caters to business travelers, including having an iron available. If you don’t have an iron available, try hanging creased clothing in the bathroom while you shower. The steam can work to smooth out any creases.

Be a minimalist

You need to consider the weather at your destination and any functions you will be attending when you pack. However, it is better to be a minimalist when it comes to the number of items you pack.

Overstuffed suitcases lead to creased clothing, so it’s a good idea to prioritize classic, and versatile pieces. Look for items that you can mix and match to create different looks, whether you’re meeting with clients or headed to an informal gathering.

For example, your crease-resistant dress shirt can be paired with chinos or a dark pair of jeans for an after-work event, or, wear your blazer with a plain t-shirt or polo shirt, paired with jeans. Another suggestion is to pack your clothes in three coordinating colors, allowing you that mix and match flexibility. You really don’t need to pack a lot of pieces, as long as you focus on bringing the right ones.

Carry “emergency” items

It can be irritating and downright stressful to realize you’ve got a wardrobe issue while you’re away on business. Missing buttons, loose threads or unraveling seams can put a blight on your day.

You can pack your own emergency sewing kit so that you’re prepared if a malfunction happens. Simply put rolls of black, white and grey thread, a sewing needle, a few buttons and a handful of safety pins into a small box or tin. In a pinch, a safety pin can take care of a loose seam or hem, while it only takes a couple of minutes to sew on a replacement button.

Another thing to consider including is stain removal wipes (such as Shout Wipe and Go). Let’s say you were holding a cup of coffee when your aircraft hit a spot of turbulence – you want to be able to remove the evidence as quickly as possible! Stained clothing creates just as bad an impression as creased clothing, so these are useful to keep around even while you’re not traveling.

Don’t live out of a suitcase

As a final piece of advice for travelers, the less time your clothing spends bundled into a suitcase, the better if it is to remain looking good. A top tip is to unpack as soon as you reach your hotel room and hang all clothing up. The longer it sits, the more likely it is to crease.

If looking your best while traveling is a priority for you, this is possible to achieve with a few smart packing and grooming choices. Look for items that are versatile and well-made, and pack to reduce creasing. Consider the seasons and look to mix and match items as much as possible. A minimalist suitcase means fewer items squashed together, helping your wardrobe to stay looking good.