We guarantee our garments to be made with the highest quality/craftsmanship. However, the quality will only last as long as you take care of your garments. Below, you will find recommendations/tips on how to care for your garments as well as other items in your closet that accompany them. We will cover everything from laundering/dry-cleaning, daily use/care, and some everyday tips.
Shirts
DRY-CLEANING:
We recommend having all of your shirts purchased through Richards Bespoke to be “dry-cleaned” from any reputable dry-cleaner nearest you. Always inform them this is a custom-made shirt.
We do not recommend getting your shirts “starched.” If you prefer to have them starched, request “light” to “minimum” starch.
Do not let the dry cleaners “launder” your shirts! This may cause the shirts to shrink in size.
We do not recommend washing the shirts yourself. If you must, wash the shirt(s) on “cold” with like-garments but do not dry them in the dryer. Instead, hang-dry and then iron.
DAILY USE/CARE:
Collar Stays
If your shirt collar is not a button-down collar, we recommend to either utilize the plastic collar stays that came with your shirt or the metal collar stays we provided with your purchase. Collar stays will help keep the collar’s shape by not folding/rippling.
To keep the collar standing up properly and not laying over your jacket lapel (collar), place the small magnets that came with your metal collar stays on the inside of your shirt where it will connect to the stays.
Stains
If you spill something on your shirt, take it to the dry-cleaners and ask for them to remove the stain. If you would like to remove the stain yourself, we recommend “Amodex Ink & Stain Remover”
SUITS
DRY-CLEANING:
Despite popular belief, you do not need to have your suits dry-cleaned after each wear. We have suits in our closet that we have had for over 5 years that we’ve never had dry-cleaned. If you sweat through your suit (e.g. dancing at an outdoor wedding in the summer), we would recommend taking it to the cleaners to have it dry-cleaned.
If you’re wanting your suits to look their best or to remove any wrinkles, have your suit “pressed” at the dry-cleaners (especially if you desire creases down the front of your pants and the jacket looking crisp).
If you insist on having them dry-cleaned, we recommend not having them cleaned more than 4x/year and make sure to take both pieces of the suit (jacket and pant) in together (otherwise, the chemicals used in dry-cleaning could potentially cause discoloration between the two).
Never wash your suit in the washing machine. Ever.
DAILY USE/CARE TIPS:
Our biggest piece of advice: Invest in a quality garment steamer. We personally own a Jiffy Steamer and have had it for over 10 years with no issues. After each wear, hang the jacket and pants up separately and run the steamer around any areas where wrinkles are present to remove those wrinkles.
Never wear your jacket while riding in a car. This will cause wrinkles down the back of your jacket. If driving, either hang it up on a hanger or lay it flat in the backseat. If riding, take it off and hold it.
Avoid wearing your jacket while sitting at your desk. This will help eliminate the elbows of your jacket wearing out and/or causing wrinkles in the back of your jacket.
Never iron your suit. Most forms of wool are not meant to be ironed. Instead, use a garment steamer or have them pressed at the cleaners.
Avoid putting anything in the front pockets of your jacket. This will cause the fabric, lining, and canvassing to stretch and lose its shape.
If you spill something on your suit, ask the dry-cleaners to “spot-clean” where the stain is.
SPORT COATS
Everything that applies to the jacket portion of the suits section would also apply to sport coats.
SLACKS
This does not pertain to suit pants, only individual slacks.
DRY-CLEANING:
Request that your dry-cleaners “press” your slacks if you’re wanting them to look crisp and new
We recommend having your slacks “dry-cleaned” once per month, especially if you are wearing them regularly (1-2 times per week).
If you get a stain on your slacks, take them to your cleaners and request they “spot-clean” to remove the stain(s).
DAILY USE/CARE TIPS:
Never iron your slacks (if they are wool). If they are cotton (such as chinos), you can iron them.
If your closet is designed/equipped with vertical hanging space for longer garments, we recommend purchasing clamping trouser hangers to hang your pants upside down. This will help release wrinkles in the pants.
If you own a garment steamer, utilizing the clamping hangers is also helpful when steaming out your slacks.
Blue Delta Jeans & Chinos
How do I care for raw denim?
Blue Delta Jeans should be washed in cold water on delicate cycle and hung out to dry. Raw denim’s worst enemy is heat. If you have them dry cleaned, please be sure to let your dry cleaner know that your jeans are raw denim and require a no moisture cleaning. We recommend using Lapels Dry Cleaning, a nationwide company whose GreenEarth Cleaning process is perfect for your Blue Delta Jeans.
How often should I dry-clean my Blue Delta Jeans?
Jeans should be dry cleaned as often as you might dry clean a suit or a coat. Depending on frequency of wear, 1-4x/year.
What is the deal with people soaking raw denim in a bathtub or keeping them in the freezer?
As you learn more about raw denim, you will discover some interesting ways to clean and care for your jeans to achieve different fades. Some work well while others can damage your jeans. Here is a good article to get you started if you choose to venture beyond the recommended dry cleaning method.
How do I break in raw denim jeans?
Raw denim breaks in like real leather! Work in it, play in it, live your life. The more you wear it, the softer it becomes.
SHOES
We recommend using shoe trees to maintain the shape of your shoes. They can be easily purchased through Richards Bespoke, any store that sells dress shoes, Amazon, etc.
For leather shoes, wipe them down with a damp cloth after each time you wear them. This will help remove scuffs or other debris.
For professional cleaning, we recommend taking them to any local shoe shining store.
TRAVEL
Suits/Sport Coats/Slacks/Shirts: When traveling on a plane, use a hanging garment bag (either the one that came with your suit/sport coat or invest in a more durable travel one that can be checked/withstand being under the plane). We recommend carrying the hanging bag on the plane with you and either placing it in the overhead compartment or asking a flight attendant if they have a closet you can hang it up in.
If you must pack your suit in your suitcase, follow these instructions on how to fold suits properly to prevent wrinkles:
Regardless of where you pack your suit, place each individual garment in a plastic covering (like the ones your clothes are separated in when you pick them up from the dry-cleaners). This will reduce the amount of friction caused between the garments and will keep them from wrinkling.
To release any wrinkles from packing, first ask the hotel if they have a garment steamer. If not, hang your suits/sport coats/slacks up in the bathroom (either on the shower curtain rod or towel rack), turn on the shower as hot as it will go, and close the door. The steam from the shower will help eliminate/release most (if not all) wrinkles.
If you’re taking dress shoes, wear them to the airport and stop by a shoe-shining station either before your flight or after you land. Almost all airports have them and it’s a good excuse to get them shined.
When packing your suitcase, place your socks or underwear in your dress shoes. This will create the same solution as shoe trees and can free up space in your suitcase.
HANGERS
For jackets, you should have the hanger that Richards Bespoke provided at purchase, but if you happen to lose it or have other jackets not purchased from us, we recommend using wide (or extra-wide) shoulder hangers. This will help keep the structure of your shoulders in the jacket.
For suit pants/slacks, we recommend using clamping trouser hangers to hang them upside down, especially if your closet is designed with vertical storage for longer garments.
WEDDING PREPERATION
See “Travel” section if you are traveling for your wedding
Have your tuxedo or suit “pressed” (not “laundered” or “dry-cleaned”) by the cleaners at least one week prior to your wedding
Have your shirt “dry-cleaned” by your cleaners at least one week before the wedding
If you’ve received your wedding day attire weeks/months before your wedding, keep the shirt and suit/tux in the plastic slip inside your Richards Bespoke garment bag. This will keep it/them from collecting dust in your closet.
SWEATERS/TURTLENECKS/POLOS/OTHER KNITWEAR
HOW TO WEAR?
HOW TO WASH?
HOW TO STORE?
HOW TO CARE?