Because we buy our clothes a few pieces at a time, many of us don’t realize the huge investment we’ve made in time and money when it comes to our wardrobes. Not only that, but clothes are an investment in ourselves. They reflect our personality and are the first line of communication to others about who we are. So, what do your clothes say about you if you Continue Reading
Did You Know….
Clothing care can be complex given the variety and number of fabrics, stains, and uses. In this blog, we hope to shed some light on some of the more common misconceptions associated with dry cleaning. Did you know that many care labels are incorrect? That’s why it is always a good reason to ask Flair before laundering at home. For example, while cashmere sweaters can be hand washed, Continue Reading
Four Tips for Stain-free Clothes
1. Never rub a stain or spill. Rubbing grinds soils into the fibers of a garment and is similar to using sandpaper on your clothes. This can de-lustering, fabric damage that appears like a stain; weaken the fibers or even result in tearing or holes, and/or cause color loss. This is especially true of silks and satins. Resist the urge to rub, and instead, any time you spill Continue Reading
Removing Coffee Stains
If you drink coffee, you’ve undoubtedly dripped or spilled some on your clothes, and most likely on a light colored garment where the stain will show!! As with almost any stain, your best chances for completely removing coffee stains is to treat them immediately after the spill occurs. While there are several steps you can take to try to remove coffee stains, your best option for complete eradication Continue Reading
Keep Your Shoes in Ship Shape Condition
Slipping your shoes into something comfortable will protect them from scuffs at home or while traveling. One of the best ways we’ve found to store shoes is Martha Stewart’s homemade velvet shoe bags. Making these bags takes only about half an hour. You’ll need soft velvet, a sewing machine and thread, cord, and safety pins. To make a bag, cut a 13-by-36-inch rectangle from thick, soft velvet. Fold Continue Reading
Common Summertime Stains
Your view of paradise may include cheeseburgers, soda, ice cream, pizza, and other summertime favorites, but it surely doesn’t include spots on your shorts, shirts, and dresses. Our fabric experts assembled these tips to help you confront the stains of summer. While some summer stains are easy to get out with home remedies, others may be set permanently using the same remedies or even just water. As a Continue Reading
Fashion or Pain in the Neck Tie?
Did you ever wonder how neckties became such a fashion statement? Most historians agree that the necktie originated in the 17th century, during the 30 year war in France. Croatian mercenaries hired by King Louis XIII wore a piece of cloth around their neck as part of their uniform. While these early neckties tied the top of their jackets, they were also quite decorative. King Louis liked the look Continue Reading
Can Club Soda Really Remove Stains?
It is commonly believed that club soda is the ultimate remedy for instant stain removal, but is it really true? Flair turned to our 107-year-old professional trade association, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, which undertook an in-depth study of the merits of club soda versus plain old water for stain removal. Here are the results! Club soda can be a big help with stain removal in the short Continue Reading
Which Pant Break Is Right For You?
One of the questions we often get in our tailoring department is, “How long should my pants be?” Before answering that, it’s important to know about pant breaks. The term break refers to the fold or bend just above the cuff of the pant leg. This break is created by when the fabric of the leg is longer than the leg of the person wearing the pants causing Continue Reading
Cleaning & Storing Clothes to Prevent Insect Damage
We’ve all seen them. Holes caused by insects that seem to appear mysteriously in our clothes. Clothing that has been stored for a long time or that in worn infrequently is particularly prone to insect damage. The most familiar is moth damage, which is commonly seen on wool fabrics. However, beetles, silverfish, roaches, and other insects feed on stains and sizings in all types fabrics. There are two Continue Reading