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
Ask Flair: Caring for Dresses
Since we’ve had so many questions about caring for dresses lately, we thought sharing some of the most popular would be useful for all our customers. Q: Many of my dresses have sequins – I like bling! What is the best way to clean them? A. Sequins, while stunning are always a challenge when it comes to cleaning. First, always read the clothing care label. If the label Continue Reading
Preventing Fume Fading in Clothes & Textiles
Have you ever seen your favorite blue, purple or gray outfit turn to a pink hue right before your eyes? It happens! This color change can be not only annoying, but puzzling. Mystery solved! When this type of color change happens, your clothes are victims of “Fume Fading,” a complex chemical color change that occurs in certain dyes when exposed to air pollution from car exhaust and from Continue Reading
Flair Cares: Eco-fashion Spotlight
Eco-fashion is one of the hottest trends hitting Southern California. But, what makes it so good for you and the environment? Eco-fashion usually refers to clothing made from all-natural, organic fabrics, using only natural, unprocessed fibers and dyes, or created from recycled materials and clothes. In essence, it refers to clothing made from materials that do not harm the environment. Many clothing makers are going back to older, Continue Reading
Love Your Clothes? So does Flair.
Let’s face it. Everyone has at least one piece of clothing they absolutely love! It might be a “go-with anything” sweater or the world’s most comfortable pair of pants or a “power” tie. Whenever you wear it, you always look and feel amazing! It’s no secret that men and women have an emotional tie to their clothing. So who better to put a little flair in your clothing Continue Reading
