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THE GUY’S GUIDE: SUDSIES 2014 MENSWEAR TREND REPORT & CARE TIPS

Let’s hear it for the boys!  The recent Milan Men’s Fashion Week showed that the male wardrobe has evolved way beyond the suit, t-shirt and jeans triad.  In fact, we too can have a little fun with our fashion selections with retro references, rockstar appeal, and even a little sheen.  After following all the major label runway shows, we compiled a 2014 Menswear Trend Report sharing our top picks for what should move on from the runway to street.  Of course, being the clean fanatics we are, we shared some care tips for each as well.

 

Vivienne Westwood
Photo by: Davide Maestri
Milan Men’s Fashion Week 2014

Activewear:  Understanding the active lifestyles of today, top designers introduced a more comfortable, albeit still luxe, side to their lines.  Marni upgraded traditional sweat pants and shirts via knitted materials, while Calvin Klein toppers included quilted-satin sweatshirts.  Vivienne Westwood presented three distinct versions of a track suit: one tight and grey, one baggy with black trim, and one a statement in all metallic gold.

Care tips:

  • Before purchasing, check the quality of the neckline and waistband to prevent over stretching
  • Don’t let the term “sweat” or “track” deter from proper care.  Even some athletic clothing require special treatment depending upon the fabric.  Check the labels carefully to determine if the garment is even safe to wash.  Easy-care or even delicate cycles may be best to maximize the life of the garment and reduce the dryer heat to “low.”
  • For knits, be mindful when putting on and taking off, so as not to stretch the neck.

 

 

 

Giorgio Armani
Photo by: Giovanni Giannoni
Milan Men’s Fashion Week 2014

A Softer Side:  Even traditional suits featured a softer silhouette.  Giorgio Armani fashioned his jackets after the cardigan to make them more relaxed.  Tailored pants were flecked with baggier trousers, yet still exuded the fine Italian tailoring.  Fabrics included velvet and corduroy.

Care tips:

  • Ensure proper hanging of these garments, using broad or heavily padded hangers to avoid warping.
  • If purchasing a two-piece suit, try to wear and clean together as much as possible to avoid uneven wear of one piece over another.
  • Never iron velvet – it can crush the fibers and leave an imprint.
  • While velvet should be dry-clean only, corduroy can be washed.  However, turn garment inside-out before placing in machine.  If ironing, run it over the wrong side of the fabric.

 

 

 

 

Gucci
Photo by: Giovanni Giannoni
Milan Men’s Fashion Week 2014

Rock On:  The soft and comfy were contrasted with rock-star influences.  Emporio Armani showed biker jackets of ponyskin underneath skinny pants of reflective sheens.  Gucci got tight with leather trousers and t-shirts, but also nodded to retro figures with pea coats and greek fisherman hats.

Care Tips:

  • The average consumer will probably own only one pair of leather pants, hence take care to find a pair that fits properly, yet comfortably.
  • Before wearing, treat with a leather protector to shield damage from rain… or beer spills.
  • Be selective about your cleaner, choosing one that specializes in leather.

 

 

 

 

Armor:  Dolce & Gabbana marched on with 11th century, Norman soldier-inspired gear, including open-faced chain-mail like balaclavas, sheepskin sweaters with Gothic crosses, and silk-covered overcoats painted with references to the Norman period in Sicily.

Care Tips:

  • Do not wash sheepskin with a darker colored pelt, as bleeding may occur.
  • Sheepskin can withstand some moisture, though it’s not ideal to have the garment soaked or used in lieu of a raincoat.  If this happens, gently blot with a clean towel.  Do not rub, as this will force moisture into the pelt.
  • Gently use tweezers to pull out any debris trapped in sheepskin.
  • When wearing silk, be particularly careful of snags from watches, rings or briefcases.

 

Mixing it Up:  In addition to looking good, garments on the Milan runway felt good too.  Designers played with unique fabric combinations to create new looks.  Flax was woven into cashmere for a bolder silhouette and outwear was refreshed with neoprene bonded to Tuscan wool.  Cavalli even created an ombre effect, fusing herringbone and zebra prints.

Care Tips:

  • Even if combined with another fabric, do not hang cashmere tops, as they are easily susceptible to shoulder “horns” left by hangers.
  • Cashmere can be washed in mild detergents or shampoo and cold water only.  Keep in mind that the material can take days to dry.  The material should not be wrung, but laid flat out to dry.  Press a clean towel on the garment to help remove excess water.
  • While neoprene can traditionally a tougher material, it is usually best to dry clean wool.  Gentle washing is possible, but understand it could result in shrinkage and/or loss of the material’s softness.
  • When pressing wool, set use steam heat only, never dry.

 

Remember, among Sudsies’ specialties are designer garment and couture care processes.  So feel free to leave the dirty work to us, so you can just focus on looking good.  Now, that’s a trend worth picking up!

 

For other resources on how to care for your most delicate garments, check out our Cloth Behind the Clothes Series by following the links:

References:  All photos used for Sudsies 2014 Menswear Trend Report were taken from the Women’s Wear Daily website and featured in this year’s Milan Men’s Fashion Week.  To view all of the Men Collections/Runway looks for the Autumn/Winter 2014 season, please go here:

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Sudsies Bubbles Over: Second Location in North Miami

Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry has announced the expansion of its services with the opening of a second location in North Miami. Located at 12711 Biscayne Boulevard, the 8,000 sq ft space will act as both a customer storefront and processing facility. Coupled with its original location in Miami Beach, Sudsies offerings span Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

“We’re continually striving to enhance the quality of our work, and this new location helps us do just that,” says Founder and President Jason Loeb. “Now, our customers can expect and enjoy even more services and faster response times.”

With the location expansion also comes the expansion of the Sudsies team. Its fleet of vans offering free pick-up and delivery is expected to double in size to reach all corners of the South Florida market.  New cleaning experts and equipment bring with them new operational and managerial techniques to increase production capacity and turnaround times. While primarily a processing facility, a storefront component allows for customer pickup, drop-off, alterations and general cleaning consultations. Both Sudsies locations incorporate EPA-sanctioned green cleaning initiatives including wet cleaning processes, gentle detergents, water-conserving machinery and recyclable hangers and packaging.

Sudsies’ many core services include eco-friendly dry cleaning, laundry, alterations, restoration and preservation, couture work, on-site home cleaning and complimentary pick-up and delivery across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. High-tech facilities, in-depth skills and expertise and customer convenience are a part of the Sudsies S.M.I.L.E. mantra to provide friendly, impacting experiences for its clientele. More information about Sudsies and its many offerings can be found at www.sudsies.com or by phoning 1.888.898.SUDS (7837).

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Go Green even When You Dry Clean!

Green Dry CleanUnless you’ve been living under a rock or in a cabin out in the woods (and that would certainly be ironic), you’ve heard a lot lately about “going green.”

It seems the tide has turned permanently toward a greater protection and stewardship of the environment, and Americans of all stripes are making more of a concerted effort to reduce their “carbon footprint” – or at least thinking about doing so.

Green automobiles. Green energy. Green business. Green politics. It seems everywhere you turn, green is the dominant color.

Things are no different in the professional dry cleaning industry. An emerging “green movement” is challenging some long-standing practices, such as the process of “wet cleaning” with regular water, which is a less toxic alternative to what is now in use. So please make sure to find a dry cleaner that is educated in and uses this eco-friendly method.

Other ways a dry cleaner can “go green” include instituting systemic recycling programs, conserving more energy and water, investing in technology or services that exceed regulatory requirements and educating and training staff in environmental regulations and matters.

There’s even a Green Cleaners Council hard at work to promote and reward “green marketing” and expose “greenwashing”. The council represents a wide cross-section of the industry, including customers, attorneys, engineers and waste management experts. The council has established a set of benchmarks to judge dry cleaners on their environmental sustainability, and also provides them with a forum to champion their successes and discuss strategies for further growth. The scores achieved on the “blind review” also help customers determine just how green their cleaner is.

Thanks to ongoing innovations like a plastic hanger recycling program and an EPA Design for the Environment program-endorsed wetcleaning process  along with many invaluable suggestions from caring customers – Sudsies.com performed very well on the review, earning four out of five leaves.

So do the right thing and go Green today. See how your favorite dry cleaner rates on the Green Scale by visiting the Green Cleaners Council online at www.greencleanerscouncil.org.

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Caring for your Designer Duds

dry cleanSo you wear a Giorgio Armani® power suit. Or a Christian Dior® silk gown. Or a Bottega Veneta® leather belt. Or maybe even all of the above (Hey, we don’t judge here at Sudsies). Your wardrobe is now like you. Special. Classy. Intricate. Stylish. Sophisticated. Complete.

But how do you give these luxury garments the care they deserve? How do you make sure they retain all the luster and allure that comes with the power of the label (and the sheen of freshly minted designer duds)?

Generally, the best rule of thumb when caring for your designer or custom-made clothing is to always follow the care instructions on the label. Keep in mind that different types of clothing material need different degrees of care. Some types of clothes simply won’t survive if you wash them with detergent. Others will magically shrink and shift shape if you tumble dry them. Pay close attention to the label. And follow it to the letter.

Remember that silk is protein fiber similar to human hair, and is very delicate. Silk clothing can often be effectively hand-washed as well as dry cleaned, and better quality silk often looks better and lasts longer when hand-cleaned in water.

If hand-washing silk:

  • use cool or lukewarm water with a small amount of mild detergent or soap
  • avoid soaking, as this may fade the dye
  • avoid machine washing (even on gentle cycle) and drying – a surefire way to damage the fabric when most of the water is out, finer silk should be hung up to dry, while coarser varieties like bourette should be dried on a flat surface (away from sunlight)

To avoid any confusion and hard labor, you could always take your luxury clothing item, even those that carry a hand-wash care instruction, to a dry cleaner. But not just any dry cleaner. For the best results, look for a dry cleaner who is professionally trained (there are only two accredited dry cleaning schools in America, but if a cleaner cares, he’ll go), and find one who specializes in hand-spotting, hand-pressing and hand-finishing treatments. Remember that a hands-on, attentive approach is key here. Your dry cleaner should personally and meticulously examine every inch of every piece according to material type, ornamentation, construction of garment and designed detail.

Whatever course of action you follow, be sure to take special care of your designer clothing. If you don’t maintain your designer or custom-made items properly, you’ll likely end up throwing them away, which equals hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars wasted. And there’s nothing stylish about that.

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