Archive for January, 2010

Filene’s Basement: RUNNING OF THE BRIDES

Aventura, Florida – November 18, 2009  

 It’s shopping as a full-contact sport and the women who took part in the first ever RUNNING OF THE BRIDES event in South Florida wouldn’t have it any other way.                                   

There were over 1300 brides, and Sudsies was there to help provide information on cleaning, finishing and preserving wedding dresses.  We also had our tailors and seamstresses’ on site to help with fittings and all types of adjustments for the special day.                                                                

The legendary bargain stampede took place on January 15, 2010 at the new FILENE’S BASEMENT in Aventura. If you’ve ever seen this event in the news, you’ll know that many brides-to-be and their helpers literally pounce on dresses priced from $249-$699 that might otherwise cost as much as $9,000. 
                                                                                                                                                    “We promise our vendors that we won’t reveal the labels, but I can say that these are well-known names featured regularly on the pages of popular brides’ magazines,” said Nicole Laricci, FILENE’S BASEMENT’S wedding gown buyer. Which is why, when the doors open, there is a mad dash to the racks – held up by store employees so they don’t topple – and those racks are usually stripped bare in under a minute. Then it’s time for the women to strip – down to leotards, sports bras or even underwear – to try on the gowns right on the sales floor. 
                                                                                                                                                        If it doesn’t quite fit, a seamstress can do the trick, and the bride can still come out way ahead. But what happens if a petite bride found she pounced on a size 14 dress in pink chiffon instead of a size 4 in white satin?  That’s when the real fun begins, as the women start bartering to find the right designer or size. It’s a ritual that turned Filene’s Basement into an old-fashioned bazaar.

FILENE’S BASEMENT is at 176th and Biscayne Boulevard in Aventura. Store hours for the sale are 8:00am to 9:00pm. Checks, credit cards and cash are accepted. Wedding gowns are not returnable. For more information visit www.filenesbasement.com and click on Our World-famous Bridal Event. 
FILENE’S BASEMENT, INC.

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QUALITY DRY CLEANING SERVICES

So, you know that you need to make a run to the dry cleaner. But do you know exactly where you should go? In other words, do you know just what defines a quality dry cleaner?
 
We here at Sudsies Dry Cleaners have compiled a checklist of sorts to help you find the best possible dry cleaner in your area. Enjoy!
 
1.  Proximity. By no means are we suggesting that you simply take your precious garments to the nearest dry cleaner just to save time and gas money. But it’s always nice if you don’t have to travel across time zones and state lines to clean your clothes. Even better, look for a dry cleaner that’s willing to come to you.

2.  Free of charges. No, you’re not going to find a dry cleaner – at least not a good one – that will clean your clothes for free. But if you can find one that offers pickup and delivery service gratis, you’re bound to save a little bit more money. Leaving more for gas.

3.  Attention to detail. It’s been said it’s the little things that count. This is true in life. And in dry cleaning as well. Look for a dry cleaner that applies strict attention to detail and runs a clean-looking ship. The more detail you put into your search, the more detail (like hand-checking, hand-treating and hand-finishing) your chosen dry cleaner is likely to offer. Especially, if they know and understand what couture cleaning is all about.

4.  Green light. These days, everyone’s talking about “going green”. But if you can find a dry cleaner that also walks the talk, you’ll be doing yourself and everyone else on our planet a huge service. Eco-friendly dry cleaners haven’t always been the norm, but they are becoming more and more common. “Wet cleaning” is a good term to keep your eye out for.

5.  Adjust on the fly. Or off the cuff. From hemming a cuff on your dress to re-weaving your favorite blouse, alterations can transform your garments from old to new almost instantly. For best results, look for a dry cleaner that employs a tailor (also called a sastre) and/or seamstress on premise.

6.  Style points. Extra special clothes deserve extra special care. If you’ve got some fancy duds that need some attention, look for a dry cleaner that offers couture garment cleaning service – where designer garments, delicates and specialty items are cleaned, treated and pressed by hand.

7.  Restore the roar. Time, circumstance and the elements can wreak havoc on your clothes. From cleaning mildew stains off your favorite leather jacket to removing smoke damage from a classic dress, clothing restoration services are available at many quality dry cleaners.

8.  Customer-facing. Don’t just get to know your new dry cleaner. Find a dry cleaner that takes the time to get to know you. This is a hands-on, intimate business, and the more interest you show in each other, the better for both parties.
 
So go ahead. Print out this list, email it to a friend or even put it in your back pocket and refer to it as often as you like. If you happen to find a dry cleaner with all 8 points that would be great. If not, then just look for a dry cleaner with the most points that are most important to you. Good luck!

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