Looking after tailored clothes
A well-made suit lasts longer if it isn’t worn two days in a row. A few other habits help too.
Suits and jackets
Hang them properly
Use a wide, shaped hanger that fills the shoulders of the jacket. A thin wire hanger pushes the shoulder out of shape over time. Empty the pockets before you hang it.
Let them rest
Give a suit a day off between wears. Wool recovers its shape as it hangs, and creases from sitting drop out on their own. In a humid climate, rest also lets the cloth dry out.
Brush more, clean less
A clothes brush removes dust and lint and keeps the surface of the cloth fresh. Frequent dry cleaning is hard on cloth; clean a suit when it’s actually dirty, not by habit.
Press with care
Steam is gentler than a hot iron directly on the cloth. If you do iron, use a pressing cloth between the iron and the suit to avoid shine.
Shirts
Undo all the buttons, including the cuffs and collar, before washing. Wash at the temperature on the care label, and hang shirts to dry on a hanger so they need less ironing. Easy-iron shirting helps a lot here.
Linen
Linen softens with washing and creases easily. Most people come to like the creases. Iron it while slightly damp for a crisper finish, or leave it relaxed.
Packing for travel
- Carry a jacket in a garment bag if you can, or fold it inside out, shoulder into shoulder.
- Hang everything as soon as you arrive; a steamy bathroom helps creases drop out.
- Pack shirts folded around a piece of card, collars buttoned.
Always follow the care label on the garment. It overrides general advice.