I’m sure there are much better steamers on the market, but this does a great job on my suits and blazers and it’s relatively portable.
Patrick Patro Lind Linosays
I rarely dry clean my suits. Most of the time they simply need to be steam pressed which gets the funk out of them and make your suits look like new.
DXLisays
Be careful with a steamer, particularly around the seams. It can cause puckering really easily. Also, if you have a suit with really nice handmade canvassing, you may not want to steam it at all. Steam relaxes fabrics, which is great for wrinkles, but it’ll also cause the suit to sag and lose that hand-formed shape. You should also be wary with really cheap suits. The steam can cause the interlining to delaminate, which ruins the suit.
kryogenixsays
Can anyone recommend any online stores that sell decently made and priced garment bags for suits? I bought a 3-pack from Walmart last year, but would like to see what other options that are out there. Thanks!
tmlsays
If the blazer already has a slim or at least a trim cut, I would think twice before getting your tailor to bring it in more. At least with jackets I’ve tried on recently from suitsupply, Hilfiger, J crew, Banana, etc., if the shoulders fit then there should already be some waist suppression. Too much waist suppression gives too much of an hour glass shape which can look off
ARPsays
Agreed. I’ve seen the top button of some guy’s suits holding on for dear life because they want that really slim look. IMO- there should be just a bit of tension on the top button.
ARPsays
Here’s one from Amazon (shortened). It’s fabric and should last a while without yellowing. If you have light colored fabrics you should not use a plastic garment bag.
I think the bags protect from moths, the cedar is there to help it smell fresh, and I believe they will help with moisture as well, if only in a small sense.
Brailleyardsays
If you’re in the market for a billy reid blazer, try and smooze with the staff a little bit, mine was kind enough to throw in one of their $40 canvas garment bags….
It permeates the good smells wonderfully
Brailleyardsays
That sucks…
Any suggestions other than mothballs ?
Ethansays
J.Crew has been offering really nice cloth garment bags with their suit purchases recently. I bought a recently a few wks ago and the person at the counter was nice enough to give me one for that as well.
Related question: I picked up one of those Stafford camel hair blazers from JCP but while the fit overall is decent, when buttoned:
1) the back of the jacket collar doesn’t lay flat against my neck
2) there’s a slight gap that forms behind the lapels.
The two are interrelated – something about the construction is such that buttoning the jacket reshapes everything from the chest up to the back collar. It’s subtle…but it’s there.
Worth having it tailored or should I chalk this up to “eh, not a great fit after all.” I can still return the jacket.
I have a handheld steamer, but I usually like to iron my clothes, and use the steamer for touch ups. The steamer is awesome, though, when traveling. I don’t trust hotel irons (I’ve stained a couple of shirts that way), and the steamer is just quicker.
Suitsupply suits come with a really nice garment bag. Also their Sienna suit comes with a heavy wide shoulder hanger in a cool Ferrari red color. Oh yeah, the bag and hanger come with a pretty sweet suit.
I have almost no experience with steamers, but I did a bit of research a while back, and what I read lead me to believe that only steamers that pressurize the steam they’re outputting are worth it. The idea was that you don’t want the steam just kinda sitting on the garment, you want it injected into the garment quickly and with some pressure so it really gets the wrinkles out quickly. I think an analogy would be the difference between injecting meat with a marinade vs soaking it in the marinade overnight and allowing it to seep in naturally.
JoeFromTexassays
Take it to a tailor you trust and ask them. I’ve had my tailor tell me to just take the jacket back, rather than pretend to be able to fix a bad fit and charge a bunch for it.
Mainly because it comes with a vertical pad that you can hang on a door and hang your clothes from.
I’ve replaced my iron + ironing board with it because it’s so much easier.
Richardsays
One thing to be mindful of with garment bags is that they very often do not allow for the wide-shouldered hangers under the suit jackets. I bought some from Bed, Bath, and Beyond due to this fact. Haven’t found a brand yet that can handle to bigger hangers without ‘smooshing’ the shoulders alarmingly.
If someone else has a brand or a source, I’m all ears. Thanks.
Nikh23says
Can anybody recommend a place to pick up some cedar and decent hangers? I see a bunch of cedar on amazon for fairly cheap but the most common complaint appears to be that the scent doesn’t lost very long.
Marcsays
Any suggestions on affordable natural shoulder blazers or suits? I was fortunate enough to snag a winter 100% wool one from the Suitsupply outlet, but would like a summer blazer and a full suit with natural shoulders- any kind of padding really looks exaggerated on me (athletic build). Does anyone know if the outlet is coming back or is that just hype still?
Marcsays
Use sandpaper on the wood after the scent is gone. You’ll need to do this with all cedar.
First thing after opening vents and pockets and de-tgging, put it on even if you aren’t going anywhere. Wear it around the house, watch TV with it on, go water the plants, do whatever. Why? By doing so, you get used to it and is the first step to figuring out what you need to do with it tailoring wise. And then wear it out at the first chance you get. The last thing you want is to merely store it away until that ‘special’ event that won’t happen until weeks away.
Nikh23says
I figured as much, just wasn’t sure if there was a difference in quality
Marcsays
If it’s 100% cedar wood, it shouldn’t matter if it is a better cut or anything – it’s literally going to be sitting in your closet. I mean, you CAN pay for better cedar, but at least I personally can’t justify the added expense.
dirtdiver919says
Skip the nail scissors for opening pocket stitches. Go right for the seam ripper. Can be purchased at the dollar store is you must. The thing was designed for opening stitches after all!
If you don’t have a steamer, invest in one. It’ll keep your blazer looking sharp.
(Also, don’t dry clean it more than once or twice a year)
Just started looking at purchasing a steamer…any recommendations @rnjbond:disqus ?
I’ve been using this one: http://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-435-Compact-Fabric-Steamer/dp/B00070OWMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392123952&sr=8-1&keywords=garment+steamer
I’m sure there are much better steamers on the market, but this does a great job on my suits and blazers and it’s relatively portable.
I rarely dry clean my suits. Most of the time they simply need to be steam pressed which gets the funk out of them and make your suits look like new.
Be careful with a steamer, particularly around the seams. It can cause puckering really easily. Also, if you have a suit with really nice handmade canvassing, you may not want to steam it at all. Steam relaxes fabrics, which is great for wrinkles, but it’ll also cause the suit to sag and lose that hand-formed shape. You should also be wary with really cheap suits. The steam can cause the interlining to delaminate, which ruins the suit.
Can anyone recommend any online stores that sell decently made and priced garment bags for suits? I bought a 3-pack from Walmart last year, but would like to see what other options that are out there. Thanks!
If the blazer already has a slim or at least a trim cut, I would think twice before getting your tailor to bring it in more. At least with jackets I’ve tried on recently from suitsupply, Hilfiger, J crew, Banana, etc., if the shoulders fit then there should already be some waist suppression. Too much waist suppression gives too much of an hour glass shape which can look off
Agreed. I’ve seen the top button of some guy’s suits holding on for dear life because they want that really slim look. IMO- there should be just a bit of tension on the top button.
Here’s one from Amazon (shortened). It’s fabric and should last a while without yellowing. If you have light colored fabrics you should not use a plastic garment bag.
http://tinyurl.com/oug24ez
Garmets bags are a must, but cedar warding off moths is a myth.
Container Store has these for about $10. Also, they have fat all-cotton ones for off-season storage of several suits or jackets.
http://www.containerstore.com/reviews/closet/hangingBags?productId=10000082
I think the bags protect from moths, the cedar is there to help it smell fresh, and I believe they will help with moisture as well, if only in a small sense.
If you’re in the market for a billy reid blazer, try and smooze with the staff a little bit, mine was kind enough to throw in one of their $40 canvas garment bags….
It permeates the good smells wonderfully
That sucks…
Any suggestions other than mothballs ?
J.Crew has been offering really nice cloth garment bags with their suit purchases recently. I bought a recently a few wks ago and the person at the counter was nice enough to give me one for that as well.
Related question: I picked up one of those Stafford camel hair blazers from JCP but while the fit overall is decent, when buttoned:
1) the back of the jacket collar doesn’t lay flat against my neck
2) there’s a slight gap that forms behind the lapels.
The two are interrelated – something about the construction is such that buttoning the jacket reshapes everything from the chest up to the back collar. It’s subtle…but it’s there.
Worth having it tailored or should I chalk this up to “eh, not a great fit after all.” I can still return the jacket.
Quality materialed jackets (and pants), in my experience, don’t need this. Just hanging it up overnight allows the wrinkles to fall out.
Thanks!
I will vouch for that one, too.
I clean my blazers with a fire hose. It sounds like you’re judging me.
The black ones? Yup, those are a nice upgrade over the grey plastic ones.
But I’ll be damned if it doesn’t smell amazing. You should keep cedar in your closet just for the smell, if nothing else.
Is there cedar-scented cologne?
Unless it’s linen (but that’s a big unless)
I have a handheld steamer, but I usually like to iron my clothes, and use the steamer for touch ups. The steamer is awesome, though, when traveling. I don’t trust hotel irons (I’ve stained a couple of shirts that way), and the steamer is just quicker.
Fair point. I primarily meant wool.
Suitsupply suits come with a really nice garment bag. Also their Sienna suit comes with a heavy wide shoulder hanger in a cool Ferrari red color. Oh yeah, the bag and hanger come with a pretty sweet suit.
http://www.styleforum.net/t/101326/please-comment-on-pictures-of-lapel-bowing-out#post_1723007
I have almost no experience with steamers, but I did a bit of research a while back, and what I read lead me to believe that only steamers that pressurize the steam they’re outputting are worth it. The idea was that you don’t want the steam just kinda sitting on the garment, you want it injected into the garment quickly and with some pressure so it really gets the wrinkles out quickly. I think an analogy would be the difference between injecting meat with a marinade vs soaking it in the marinade overnight and allowing it to seep in naturally.
Take it to a tailor you trust and ask them. I’ve had my tailor tell me to just take the jacket back, rather than pretend to be able to fix a bad fit and charge a bunch for it.
more on the safety of steamers: http://putthison.com/post/38959291784/beware-of-steamers-a-garment-steamer-like-the-one
I use this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Press-and-Refresh-GS500/dp/B0047E11LC/
Mainly because it comes with a vertical pad that you can hang on a door and hang your clothes from.
I’ve replaced my iron + ironing board with it because it’s so much easier.
One thing to be mindful of with garment bags is that they very often do not allow for the wide-shouldered hangers under the suit jackets. I bought some from Bed, Bath, and Beyond due to this fact. Haven’t found a brand yet that can handle to bigger hangers without ‘smooshing’ the shoulders alarmingly.
If someone else has a brand or a source, I’m all ears. Thanks.
Can anybody recommend a place to pick up some cedar and decent hangers? I see a bunch of cedar on amazon for fairly cheap but the most common complaint appears to be that the scent doesn’t lost very long.
Any suggestions on affordable natural shoulder blazers or suits? I was fortunate enough to snag a winter 100% wool one from the Suitsupply outlet, but would like a summer blazer and a full suit with natural shoulders- any kind of padding really looks exaggerated on me (athletic build). Does anyone know if the outlet is coming back or is that just hype still?
Use sandpaper on the wood after the scent is gone. You’ll need to do this with all cedar.
First thing after opening vents and pockets and de-tgging, put it on even if you aren’t going anywhere. Wear it around the house, watch TV with it on, go water the plants, do whatever. Why? By doing so, you get used to it and is the first step to figuring out what you need to do with it tailoring wise. And then wear it out at the first chance you get. The last thing you want is to merely store it away until that ‘special’ event that won’t happen until weeks away.
I figured as much, just wasn’t sure if there was a difference in quality
If it’s 100% cedar wood, it shouldn’t matter if it is a better cut or anything – it’s literally going to be sitting in your closet. I mean, you CAN pay for better cedar, but at least I personally can’t justify the added expense.
Skip the nail scissors for opening pocket stitches. Go right for the seam ripper. Can be purchased at the dollar store is you must. The thing was designed for opening stitches after all!
awesome, thanks!