Importance of Properly Fitting Clothes

We’ve all heard sayings like “Clothes Make the Man”, and we all know Coco Chanel’s famous quote “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” I have to say that I like this one the best – “Baggy pants were never, and will never be cool.”  You can put on an expensive dress or a designer suit but if it is too small or too big, folks will notice the fit and never notice your fancy frock or classy ensemble.  Most people cannot walk into a department store, pull a ready-to-wear garment off of the rack, and expect it to fit perfectly – no matter what their size.  Yet, we all spend so much time trying on multiple outfits, looking for that perfect fit, and then settle for a garment that mostly works.  But the truth is not only does the fit of your clothes determine whether it looks good on you or not, it also affects how you feel about yourself. 

• Clothes that are too big make you look sloppy and both bigger and older than what you actually are.  Furthermore, they tend to hide your best features.
• Clothes that are too small tend to accentuate every single flaw.
• Clothes that fit properly make you look thinner, and most of all, they make you feel confident.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on designer clothes or a custom suit to get that perfect fit or feeling of confidence.  If there is a garment that you absolutely love, and it is perhaps a little too long in the sleeve or too big in the waist, there is an easy solution – tailoring.  It is not nearly as expensive as you think, and it could possibly open up a whole new genre of clothing.  Once you recognize that, you can purchase a garment that accentuates your best feature and then have the other portions altered to flatter the rest of your shape.

All three of our locations are set up to handle any clothing alteration need – from a simple repair to an ornate wedding gown.  So if your clothes aren’t accentuating your best features, stop by or call for an appointment, and we will be glad to tailor your wardrobe to fit your needs.

Your Wedding Gown – Cleaning versus Preservation

You feel in love with it as soon as you put it on.  You couldn’t imagine wearing any other dress when you walked down the aisle.  As soon as your mom saw you in it, she immediately teared up.  But now the big day is over, and you need to decide what to do with your gown.  Are you going to share this treasure with someone else by either selling or donating it?  If so, then cleaning and hanging would be appropriate.  First, be sure to have it cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding day; the longer you wait to clean your gown, the less likely it is that all the stains can be removed.  Second, be sure to choose a certified wedding gown specialist that will guarantee and personally process your gown. 

Or do you want to preserve this timeless memory as a family heirloom or for future generations?  If so, then preservation is the answer.  When it comes to wedding gown preservation, there are lots of things to consider.  In the past we’ve shared tips like these on Facebook and Twitter:

• Never store your garments long-term in our plastic poly bags
• Our plastic poly bags are designed for short-term protection only
• Long-term use of our plastic poly bags will suffocate your clothes and possibly cause staining or mildewing problems

That same advice holds true when it comes to preserving and storing your wedding gown.  Not only do plastic bags trap moisture, they can also emit fumes that can cause your gown to yellow.  If you really want to hang your gown, placing it in a muslin or Tyvek bag will eliminate the moisture and trapped fumes issues.  But there are other issues associated with hanging your gown for long periods of time – like the possibility of shape distortion.  The weight of the gown pulling down against the hanger, even if you use the safety loops attached to the inside seams, could cause the gown to become misshapen.

For storing your gown long-term, after it has been cleaned, Shores recommends layering your gown with acid-free tissue, wrapping it in freshly laundered muslin, folding and placing it in an acid-free archival wedding chest, and sealing the chest with pest-proof tape.  Shores has so much confidence in this method, that we will provide a written, lifetime guarantee against yellowing or caramelized sugar stains, which is honored by the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists.

If your gown is in need of cleaning and/or preservation and you have questions, please bring it by one of our locations.  We will gladly take a look at it and offer recommendations.