Suit Care Guide

Cleaning

Dry cleaning is as bad for your suits as it is for the environment. The chemicals used will damage and weaken the natural fibres in the cloth. So only dry clean very occasionally (a couple of times a year or so, at most), and as a last resort for the most stubborn stains and marks. If you do dry clean, use a reputable dry cleaner. And always have your suits dry cleaned in their entirety, by which we mean don’t clean the jacket and trousers separately, which can result in colour loss.

It is infinitely better to follow the time-honoured Savile Row method of spot cleaning and sponging and pressing. So simply dab at any marks or dirty areas with a damp cloth and leave to dry naturally. Return your suits to us for a proper sponge clean and hand press, or find a good local cleaner that can do it for you. It’s not cheap, but ultimately it will save you money as your suits will last longer and look better.

Brush your suits before and after you wear them with a boar or horse hair (that’s what’s best…) brush to remove dust and lint and perk up the natural fibres of the cloth. Use a lint roller, particularly on dark evening suits that you are going to be wearing under the lights.

Wearing

Rotate your suits so you don’t wear the same one two days running. This will air them and help them regain their shape.

And it’s always a good idea to buy a spare pair of trousers and rotate them too. Trousers are the first part of a suit to wear, particularly if you spend your days sitting at a desk.

Don’t overfill your pockets. Some people go so far as to say don’t use your pockets, but we are less militant. Overstuffed pockets will do to the silhouette of a suit what a mole will do to a rolled lawn. And they will also put unnecessary strain on the stitching of your suit.

This might sound obvious, but ensure that your suits fit you properly. If they are too tight, the cloth and stitching will be put under undue pressure, which can result in stretching, loose stitching and split seams. If they are too big, they are simply not going to look good. If you have gained or lost weight, bring your suits back to us so we can alter them for you.

Storing

Always hang your suits on substantial, preferably wooden, hangers. Good, thick hangers will keep the shoulders in shape, whereas wire hangers will not. And all the better if the cross bars on your hangers are felted or similar, which will stop your trousers from slipping off. You can also hang your trousers from the hem by using hangers with clips, though this can leave an imprint on the cloth.

Leave your suits to hang overnight to air before you put them in a suit bag in your wardrobe. Don’t overfill your wardrobe, which will squash and crease your suits.

And keep an eye out for moths, which are another story altogether…

Our new Spring/Summer '23 suits are arriving in-store and online now.