Posts tagged wedding dress preservation

2017 Bridal Trends That Are Worth A Look: Aisle Style

Don’t consider yourself the traditional bride? Here’s our list of the top 2017 trends that were beautiful, yet unexpected.

Move over white satin and full skirts…the recent New York Bridal Fashion Week foretold that weddings gowns are getting dramatic in new and unorthodox ways.  Don’t consider yourself the traditional bride? Here’s our list of the top 2017 trends that were beautiful, yet unexpected.

Tickled Pink

Pink is no longer reserved for Barbie Bride. The runways represented the full gamut, from the subtle to the vibrant.  Sabrina Dahan flecked white tulle with pastel floral appliqués. Naheem Khan and Houghton took it a step further with full silhouettes in light blush, lavenders, and peach tones. A Romona Keveza number of salmon satin embellished in darker toned flowers caught a lot of eyes, and things got wildly rosy when Christian Siriano managed to fit in the whole pink spectrum with a show stopping dress of a petal-like skirt that cascaded in ombre.

Similarly, black gowns no longer scream Morticia Adams or Elvira. Naheem Khan received a standing ovation for his ebony finale gown doused with rosettes and mantilla-inspired veil.

Nude Non-illusions

Saying vows are a moment of baring one’s heart and soul… and now also the neckline, stomach, and legs. Designers Berta and Mira Zwillinger took the lead on this trend with serious close-call coverage. Yet even bridal darlings like Angel Sanchez and Monique Lhuiller represented the trend with subtle peephole lines and daring cuts under sheer overlays.

It’s She Who Wears the Pants

A top emerging wedding dress trend that forgoes the dress all together. Christian Siriano sent down two options: one of a more traditional-like pantsuit, the other a sexy jumper. Lela Rose romanticized her pant version with a statement bow on the back. Carolina Herrera showcased a pant and shirt combo of her signature clean, pressed lines softened with a beautifully embroidered veil, while Monique Lhullier merged modern with traditional with a lace jumper fastened to a full train…. Who can dance in a long dress anyway?

Super Capes

Capes provided delicate modesty and a whole lot of style. The approach varied, with Marchesa sleeves flowing effortlessly down the arms, contrasted with Lela Rose’s more tailored button-down version. Elizabeth Fillmore and Naeem Khan were a tad more literal, as seen in the bow tied cape and high-low poncho looks, respectively. Claire Pettibone, Berta, and Monique Lhullier also offered up fluttering cape adornments.

Time for Take Off

In a day where brides typically wear up to three dresses on their Big Day, detachable elements offered up fresh looks available in a singular garment, as well as functionality. Romona Keveza solved the hassle of pinning up trains in between ceremony and reception with a removable train. Detachable bows on select looks from Sachin + Babi Noir could be changed out for glitzy belts or arm candy in time for the party. Marchesa and Reem Acra offered the most dramatic transformations with ruffled skirts and tulle layers that could be removed to unveil a more streamlined silhouette.

No matter what style you choose, let Sudsies help you preserve memories from your Big Day with our Bridal Dress Cleaning and Preservation services. Visit here for more information.

Finding, loving, and keeping that special one… your wedding gown safe.

Is the big day over and the honeymoon just a memory?  Then it might be time to think about what to do with that once-in-a-lifetime dress. Consider your options for cleaning, storage, donation or even display.

Sudsies has compiled a checklist to help you prepare for your ultimate fashion moment… your wedding day: Read the rest of this entry »

Clothes that are Wrinkle Free

In a society seemingly obsessed with eternal youth and perfection, it’s no surprise that “wrinkle-free” clothing has become as prevalent in American closets today as Lava Lamps were on desks in the ’70s.
 
There’s also the matter of time – something fewer and fewer of us seem to have in today’s go-go-go world. Who really has time to painstakingly remove wrinkles – unless they happen to pop up around our eyes? And even if we do have the time on our hands, do we really want to spend it
smoothing out wrinkles?
 
So it’s easy to see why a trend that started in the early 1990s with men’s pants has become a virtual mainstay in today’s fashion world. And while it’s nice to have a closet full of wrinkle-free garments, it doesn’t guarantee that your clothes will never end up looking at least a bit like Clint Eastwood on a hot summer day.
 
After all, you’re still at the mercy of a conventional dryer when you go the wrinkle-free route. Which means you can’t ensure that all your cuffs and collars have the perfect amount of starch. A spot or two might hold on to excess moisture. Stains and smudges may rear their ugly heads. A crease could creep in when you can least afford it. You get the picture.
 
The fact is, the only real way to assure your garments remain wrinkle-free – even the “wrinkle-free” ones – is to take them to a dry cleaner. And not just any dry cleaner, but one that specializes in special care. Like hand-checking. Hand-cleaning. Hand-pressing. And hand-finishing. Your dry cleaner should personally and meticulously examine every inch of every piece according to material type, ornamentation, construction of garment and designer detail. For the best results, look for a dry cleaner who’s professionally trained by the National Cleaners Association(there are only two accredited dry cleaning schools in America).
 
So why not bypass the wrinkle-free label, and buy the clothes you really want to wear and love? And bring them into Sudsies for the proper cleaning care.
 
Because we take the time to assure that your special clothes receive extra special care. Which means that all designer garments, delicates and specialty items are cleaned, treated and pressed by hand. Whether it’s a Giorgio Armani suit, a Christian Dior silk gown or a custom-crafted dress shirt, they’ll all receive this specialized level of attention from us.
 
It’s this meticulous attention to detail that has earned Sudsies a reputation as the finest luxury, or couture, dry cleaner throughout South Florida. It’s why area celebrities, luxury clothiers and the best-dressed Floridians (both full- and part-time) bring their beloved garments to us – or have us pick them up, free of charge.
 
And it’s the best way to truly eliminate wrinkles – and worries.
  
 
 
 
 
 

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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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Dry Cleaning: Everything you wanted to know

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We all know where to find the local dry cleaner. At least those of us who have to dress up for a living do.

 But do we really know just what it is that goes on behind those doors? Do we really want to know? And if we did know…could we even handle The Truth?

If your answer to all of the above questions is “YES!” (or even a dryer “sure, why not?”), then you’ve come to the right place.

 THE ANCIENT ART OF DRYCLEANING

 The practice of dry cleaning actually dates back to ancient times, likely beginning with the advent of textile clothing itself.  The famous first-century ruins of Pompeii provide a record of a sophisticated trade of “fullers”, who used a type of clay called “fuller’s earth” along with lye and ammonia. The Parisian firm of Jolly-Belin, launched much later in the 1840s, is considered the first official dry cleaning business. We’re pretty certain they didn’t have a website, however.

 NOT ALL DRY

 Contrary to its name, dry cleaning is not a completely dry operation. In fact, certain fluids called “solvents” are always used in the process.

 In the early days, camphene, benzene, kerosene and gasoline were all used as solvents. As you can imagine, this made for some “heated situations”, and in the 1930s, a nonflammable, synthetic solvent called percholoroethylene, or “perc” for short, came into play. Perc is still used in many dry cleaning plants, though other solvents have also been developed and implemented.

 THE RISE OF THE MACHINES

 Today’s dry cleaners are efficient, machine-run operations – although the careful attention to detail at the end is always done the old-fashioned way. While there are a wide variety of dry cleaning machines out there, they all work on the same principle, and consist of four basic parts ­– a holding tank, a pump, a filter and a cylinder.

 The cylinder, or wheel, holds the garments. The holding tank holds the solvent, and the pump circulates the solvent through the machine during the cleaning and disinfecting process. The filter is used to trap solid impurities.  After the cleaning cycle, the solvent is drained and an “extract” cycle is run to remove the excess solvent from the clothes. Once the clothes have finished extracting, the cylinder stops.

 The drying process is a personalized affair, and uses warm air circulated through the cylinder to vaporize the solvent left on the clothes.  Stain removal, finishing and packaging are all done by hand, although specialized finishing tools and machinery may also be utilized.

 There’s a little more to the process, but you get the drift. After all, we don’t want to be too “dry” here.

 Of course, more and more dry cleaners like Sudsies are environmentally conscious and employ increasingly eco-friendly dry cleaning processes. So let it never be said that this is a dirty business – at least as far as we’re concerned.

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Cleaning and Preserving Your Wedding Dresses

page_weddings_rightIt’s about that time of the year. Spring has sprung. Love is in the air. And, for many, so are wedding bells.

We can’t help you when it comes to planning your Big Day. But if it’s tips on preserving your wedding dress you’re looking for…well, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s a traditional gown that’s been passed down for generations or a new contemporary designer dress you’re looking to protect from the ravages of time, it should always be treated with the utmost care. Here’s how.

First off, be sure to save the bag your dress came in to protect it en route to the dry cleaner. As soon as you can after your wedding, bring the protected dress to the dry cleaner you’ve selected, or have a friend or family member drop it off while you enjoy your honeymoon (the better option, if you can trust them).

Remember that not all dry cleaners specialize in this intensive, hands-on kind of work – although at Sudsies, we do. You might want to ask married friends or your bridal shop or seamstress for recommendations. Just be wary of any so-called “bargains” – cleaning and preserving a pricey and elaborate wedding dress requires time, expertise and equipment.

Once at your dry cleaner, alert them to any stains – a drop of champagne, a smudge of lipstick or wedding cake – as well as any glued-on ornaments and any loose stitches. The more your cleaner knows about your dress, the more detailed and personal care they can provide.

Your cleaner should provide a special acid-free box to store your dress in, and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. This specialized packaging method helps control humidity, purging oxygen and replacing it with an inert gas that makes further oxidation virtually impossible. This treatment also helps protect your gown from mold, mildew and insect damage. Just be sure to take a few moments to inspect your dress prior to boxing it up. Sometimes, even the pros miss a detail here or there.

Once back home from your honeymoon, store the dress in a temperate, dry place. Always keep it away from direct sunlight. You can also hang the dress by the bodice by sewing straps that are a bit shorter than the bodice onto the waist, placing it on a padded hanger and wrapping it in a clean white cotton sheet.

Once a year – perhaps on your anniversary – carefully inspect the dress to check for any discolored areas or stains. This is also an opportunity to allow your dress – and you – to “breathe” a little bit.

Remember, if you take as much care in preserving your dress as you did in selecting and preparing it, it can be cherished and worn as a family treasure for generations to come.

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