The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing: Everything You Need to Know from Blue Jeans to Ballgowns

by Boorstein, Steven P.

• ISBN13: 9780971766907
• ISBN10: 0971766908
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Boutique Books

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
Part 1: Shopping
Shopping in the Retail World	1	(18)
Reading Care Labels	1	(2)
Questions for Salespeople	3	(1)
Specialty Stores, Boutiques, and Department Stores	3	(1)
Shopping by Appointment	4	(1)
The Next Step: Assessing Your Personal Needs	5	(1)
Perspective of Boutique Owners and Department Stores	6	(12)
Interviews With Owners and Personal Shoppers	6	(12)
My Take	18	(1)
Part 2: Basics for Men and Women
Fabric Basics	19	(12)
Identifying Fabrics	19	(1)
Blended Fabrics	20	(1)
Common Fabric Problems	21	(4)
Synthetic Fibers versus Natural Fibers	25	(2)
Fabrics at a Glance: Fabric Table	27	(4)
Buttons and Trims	31	(10)
Button Styles	31	(3)
Button Breakage and Protection	34	(1)
Melting, Fading, and Resewing	35	(1)
Let's Go Shopping. Buttons	36	(1)
Trims, Beads, and Sequins	36	(2)
Designs: Painted, Raised, and Embossed	38	(1)
Let's Go Shopping: Trims	38	(1)
At the Cleaners	39	(2)
Women's Accessories	41	(4)
Scarves: Silk---Fabric and Care	41	(1)
Scarves: Other Fabrics	42	(1)
Bows, Flowers, and Sashes	43	(1)
Specific Stains	43	(1)
At the Cleaners	44	(1)
Pleats, Textures, and Linings	45	(8)
Before Shopping	45	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	46	(1)
Textures	47	(1)
Linings: Everything You Need to Know	48	(5)
Removable Accessories	53	(10)
Collars and Cuffs: Cleaning and Care	53	(3)
Two-Toned Clothing: (Color-Blocked)	56	(1)
Belts: Construction, Cleaning, and Care	57	(2)
Underarm Shields	59	(1)
Shoulder Pads	60	(3)
Silk and Satin	63	(8)
Silk	63	(2)
How Silk Is Damaged	65	(4)
How to Avoid Damage	69	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	70	(1)
At the Cleaners	70	(1)
Stains and Their Treatment	71	(6)
Determine the Nature of the Stain	71	(2)
You've Identified the Stain; Now Treat it	73	(1)
Survival Techniques	74	(2)
Stain Care ``At a Glance''	76	(1)
Part 3: Steaming and Pressing
The Finished Product	77	(4)
Steaming	77	(1)
Hand Ironing	78	(1)
Machine Pressing	79	(1)
In Summary	80	(1)
Finishing Problems	81	(8)
Wrinkles	81	(1)
Shine	82	(1)
Fusible Bubbles	83	(1)
Creases	84	(2)
Hangers	86	(3)
Part 4: Women's Clothing
Women's Clothing	89	(10)
Save Time, Money, and Frustration	89	(1)
Before Shopping	90	(3)
Let's Go Shopping	93	(3)
At the Cleaners	96	(3)
Party Dresses	99	(6)
Velvet	99	(1)
Chiffon	100	(1)
Organza	101	(1)
Taffeta	102	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	103	(1)
At the Cleaners	103	(1)
Special Care for Couture Clothing	104	(1)
Bridal Gowns	105	(14)
Selecting a Gown	105	(1)
A New Wedding Gown	106	(1)
Secondhand Gowns	107	(2)
Last Details Before the Wedding	109	(1)
After the Wedding	110	(6)
Stain Diagram for Gown, Veil, and Headpiece	116	(1)
Wedding Gown Inspection Sheet	117	(2)
The Christening Outfit	119	(8)
Mistakes with Older Outfits	119	(2)
Cleaning, Care, and Preservation	121	(2)
Christening Day Family Diary	123	(1)
Christening Outfit Diary	124	(3)
Part 5: Men's Clothing
Men's Clothing	127	(14)
Before Shopping: Sports Jackets and Suit Jackets	127	(3)
Let's Go Shopping	130	(1)
Jacket and Suit Fabrics	131	(3)
Suit and Dress Slacks	134	(1)
At the Cleaners	134	(2)
Casual Clothing	136	(4)
Travel Ideas	140	(1)
Neckties	141	(10)
Basics	141	(5)
Taking Off Your Tie at Night	146	(1)
Stain Emergencies and Faux Pas	147	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	148	(1)
At the Cleaners	149	(2)
Men's Shirts	151	(12)
What a Well-Pressed Shirt Looks Like	151	(1)
Before You Buy	151	(2)
More Basics Before Shopping	153	(2)
Let's Go Shopping: Custom Made and Designer Shirts	155	(3)
Decisions about Cleaning	158	(3)
Button Philosophy	161	(1)
At the Cleaners	162	(1)
Shirt Machines	163	(4)
Shirt Presses	163	(1)
Collar and Cuff Wrinkles	164	(3)
Shirt Loss or Damage	167	(4)
Holes, Tears, and Lost Shirts	167	(1)
Resolving Damaged or Lost Shirts	168	(3)
Tuxedos and Accessories	171	(6)
Before Shopping	171	(3)
Renting a Tux	174	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	174	(1)
The Cummerbund and Bow-Tie	175	(1)
At the Cleaners	176	(1)
Tuxedo Shirts	177	(8)
Before Shopping	177	(3)
Let's Go Shopping	180	(1)
Before the Cleaners	180	(1)
Important Incidentals	181	(2)
At the Cleaners	183	(2)
Part 6: Unisex Clothing
Sweaters	185	(8)
Before Shopping	185	(1)
Fabric Choices	186	(3)
Beads, Trims, and Zippers	189	(2)
Let's Go Shopping	191	(1)
Important Incidentals	192	(1)
At the Cleaners	192	(1)
Outerwear	193	(16)
Before Shopping	193	(5)
Down-Filled Outerwear	198	(1)
Stain Removal for Light-Colored Outerwear	199	(1)
Know Your Fabrics	200	(1)
Linings	201	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	201	(5)
At the Cleaners	206	(3)
Suede, Leather, and Fur	209	(14)
About Skins	210	(1)
Finished or Pigmented Leathers	210	(1)
Dyed Leather	210	(1)
Suede	211	(1)
Pigskin	212	(1)
Sheepskin (Sheepsuede), and Shearling	212	(1)
Nubuck	213	(1)
Care and Stain Removal: For All Suede	213	(1)
What You Can Do: Suede and Leather	214	(1)
Leather and Suede: Common Traits	215	(1)
Let's Go Shopping	216	(1)
Repairs, Alterations, and Restyling	217	(2)
At the Cleaners	219	(2)
Fur Care and Storage	221	(1)
At the Cleaners: Fur	221	(2)
Part 7: Home and Storage
Ironing at Home	223	(4)
Your Turn to Iron	223	(1)
Creases	224	(1)
Ironing Fine Fabrics	225	(2)
Good Habits---Long Life	227	(8)
It's Time to Put Away Your Clothing	227	(2)
What Not to Put Away	229	(1)
Folding versus Hanging	230	(5)
Reweaving: A True Savior	235	(4)
What You Need to Know	235	(4)
Seasonal Storage	239	(10)
What Insects Want	240	(1)
What You Can Do to Combat Damage	241	(1)
Conditions in Your Home	241	(3)
Storing Clothing Outside Your Home	244	(3)
At the Cleaners	247	(2)
Part 8: Drycleaning
Drycleaning 101	249	(8)
What Is Drycleaning and What Does It Do Best?	249	(1)
Characteristics of Drycleaning	250	(1)
Drycleaning Solvents	251	(2)
What is Wet Cleaning?	253	(1)
Do-It-Yourself Washing	254	(3)
Selecting a Drycleaner	257	(12)
The Whole Process	257	(2)
In Conclusion	259	(1)
Story Time	260	(1)
Nuts and Bolts of a Decision	261	(3)
Services Offered	264	(1)
How Does Your Drycleaner Rate? --- Take the Test!	265	(1)
Business Relations	266	(1)
Claims for Damaged or Lost Clothing	266	(3)
Glossary	269	(14)
Appendixes --- ``The Ultimate Helpers'' (Tear-out Sheets)
Wedding Gown Inspection Sheet	275	(1)
Wedding Gown Stain Diagram for Gown, Veil, and Headpiece	276	(1)
Christening Day Diary	277	(1)
Christening Outfit Preservation Diary	278	(1)
Questions for a Key Person at the Cleaners: Suede and Leather	279	(2)
Questions for Salespeople	281	(1)
The Next Step: Assessing Your Personal Needs	281	(2)
Index	283	(21)
Resources	304	(1)
Your Online Resource: www.clothingdoctor.com	305