As the leaves change from their monotonous tones of green to vibrant red, yellow, and orange, our wardrobes follow suit and assimilate to the changing of the seasons.  Fall embodies transition allowing us to experiment with layers, form, color, and texture.  It permits an understanding of playfulness and experimentation when creating a look which, in turn, provides us with the most intriguing lines and runways of the year.  This fall, keep your eyes peeled for fur and leather accent pieces to grace the runways and streets alike.
All along the runway, furs were a prominent part of many shows at fashion week.  Despite the economic downturn, designers kept the glamour alive by using fur accents to create a luxurious palette.  By utilizing these accents, designers can give a look texture and a sense of opulence to an otherwise structured line.  Unlike past seasons, we are seeing fur done in more bold colors- Gucci paired brilliantly bright fur with vintage inspired structural suits to create an era driven storyline.  Fur is even showing up in the accessory closet with hats, purses, and even shoes embodying the ultimate cozy chic ensemble.  In order to preserve these pieces in all their glory, make sure to properly clean and store each garment.  Jeeves will properly remove stains or oils before storage in order to ensure your fur will endure many more seasons.
Along with fur, leather seems to be making a full force comeback.  We’ve seen many leather accented pieces this fall that give an outfit the right amount of edge.  Look for knitwear and jackets with leather sleeves or dresses adorned with leather inserts.  It is important to be aware that leather is best treated by blotting the material and taking it to the proper place to get cleaned.  During cleaning, leather has the ability to bleed so make sure to consult the care tag before any cleaning process.
So, enjoy the evolution of life from light to dark and embrace the endless possibilities fall brings- just remember, with endless opportunity brings garment responsibility.

As the visions of fashion week still dance in our heads, we’re eager to begin our transition into the much awaited selections of the fall season.

Although miss Mother Nature has kept us believing that summer days seem like yesterday, with daydreams of florals and summer whites, as the sun beams along Park Avenue, we must not forget the fall season is under way.  Unfortunately, this means most of those whimsical linen dresses and white cotton slacks shall be kept away for another spring day.
We all know that with great fashion opportunity comes great fashion responsibility; therefore, our beloved ‘summer whites’ must be properly cleaned and stored until their next ‘Memorial Debut’.  There’s nothing worse than realizing your favorite summer dinner dress wasn’t hibernating during the long winter months; rather, it was being thoroughly enjoyed by your favorite closet critters: moths.
These wardrobe munchers have an uncanny sixth sense when it comes to clothing – their ‘fashion instincts’ are so keen that we’re borderline envious of their abilities to detect microscopic traces of food, oil, and perfume.

These criminals of couture will seek out many liquid stains that dry clear and become virtually naked to the human eye.  So while we’re cozying up in comfy cashmere, our resident moths are snacking away on our summer staples.  These invisible stains have another culprit; during storage, they can become oxidized resulting in an unflattering brown or yellow pigment.  These scenarios are entirely avoidable by properly cleaning and preserving your precious pieces.
So, before such responsibilities are lost in the haze of martini-induced amnesia produced by the last few valiant garden parties, put this little note on your end-of-summer to do list: Take your summer whites to Jeeves, preserve & store! Let’s savor the memories, not the stains.

The decision to clean and preserve your wedding dress is very important.  Whether you’re hoping your dress becomes a family heirloom or you expect to wear it again yourself one day, understanding the delicate nature of your special garment may help make the decision a bit easier.

In normal wearing, skin oils and perspiration are absorbed into the fabric – wine, champagne or other sugary beverages may have even spilled on your dress; these organic compounds will undoubtedly damage the fabric if they are not neutralized or properly removed.

Here at Jeeves, we uphold the importance of having your bridal gown professionally cleaned before being stored long-term.  In fact, in addition to cleaning, proper storage is vital to the overall safety and security of such a special garment.  Scientific research proves that archival materials can protect delicate fabric from age and decay.  For these reasons, we strongly advise against having gown vacuum-sealed as plastics are used.  Instead, the preservation process must ensure that your gown be wrapped in acid-free materials before being placed in an acid-free textile storage box.

The box should be stored in an area where temperature and humidity levels are as constant as possible, preferably in a closet that is located on an interior wall; attics or basements are not appropriate locations for storage – in fact, spaces that are in close proximity to heating or air conditioning vents, pipes and even spaces that are exposed to direct sunlight should be carefully avoided.

Upon storage, about every 2-3 years your box should be opened and your gown inspected.  But brides remember, always wash your hands with a small amount of baking soda and warm water before handling this precious garment or wear cotton gloves.

For your convenience, if you live or work in the Manhattan area, we would love to arrange a pick-up and return of your gown after it has been cleaned and preserved; outside of Manhattan we can arrange for pick-up and delivery with our partnership with FEDEX. This is just the final detail that protects all of your wedding day memories and guarantees your gown’s perfect preservation for years to come!

Ever heard the phrase “desperate times call for desperate measures?”  Well, in our case the phrase is “drastic times call for drastic measures” because sometimes it takes drastic measures to achieve the most drastically-perfect results.  This week, a drastic time was met with drastic measures in making a one-of-a-kind gold lame Jackie Rogers gown camera-ready for the Bravo TV show, “Fashion Hunters” (airing soon).

A red ink stain from a Sharpie marker that found its way onto the silk lame of this beautiful gown would undoubtedly be no match made in heaven for any dry cleaner; the fabric is whisper thin and oh, so fragile – one small error and you’re left with yards of what is then nothing but worthless gold lame.

This “drastic task” inspired us to reflect upon the story of an old dry cleaner who once told Jeeves he could get any stain out of any garment – 100% of the time. We were thoroughly impressed – he had mastered the delicate art of using a pair of scissors.

Meanwhile, our lads in the workshop tried and tried to free the gown of its horrid red stain, but it just wouldn’t release its hold on the lame.  Was Jeeves defeated?

As if in a light-bulb moment we thought, “what if we used scissors?!” and instantly our head tailor got to work nipping and tucking to create a beautiful gather and perfect fold.  The result?  No more red stain, gold lame ready for its fashionista close-up!

Oh, and the answer to that “drastic” question? No, Jeeves remains undefeated!

Did you know that Ralph Lauren boutiques world-wide have a small selection of vintage and antique garments in their collection? Jeeves is currently working on another cleaning project from Ralph Lauren to get these remarkable finds ready for sale.

The staff of Jeeves has cleaned thousands of vintage and antique garments for Ralph Lauren and we are seeing lots of crochet, lace, fringed shawls and beads and sequins from the late 1800‘s to early 1900‘s.

The last two cleaning projects that Jeeves received were items shopped from London and Paris. The buyers at Ralph Lauren have great eyes and bring back amazing one of a kind items for their boutiques.

Because vintage is so hot in the high-end market, Jeeves has assembled tips on “How to Buy Vintage Clothing”. Our next blog will be “How to Care for Vintage Clothing”.

How to Buy Vintage Clothing:

• Look for quality first, is the garment well made? Well made garments will have less issues with wear and tear. They may be more expensive to being with, but worth it in the long run.
• Check the fabric; is it separating? Vintage garments may have been exposed to excessive amounts of heat which will cause the fabric to “dry rot”. Fabric in this condition is fragile and may start to tear after the first wearing. Check the collar, cuffs, under the arms and across the seat for signs of fabric separation.
• Stains? Vintage garments may have oxidized stains which will be light to dark brown or yellow in color. Oxidized stains are very difficult to impossible to remove in some cases.
• Odor? Musty odors could indicate mold, look over the garment for small dark grey to black stains. Mold stains are difficult to remove unless the garment can be bleached. Strong body odors in vintage garments that can’t we washed may not be removable; let your nose be your guide.
• Loose beads and sequins can be repaired but this type of work in time consuming and expensive if you are not handy with a needle and thread.

Jeeves specializes in the care of vintage and antique garments, with a team of craftsmen who care for, clean and repair these types of garments on a daily basis. Jeeves is the source in New York City for expert vintage garment cleaning, repair and care.

The staff of Jeeves got a call about 2 weeks ago from an assistant at Vogue.

Vogue, “Do you clean purses?”

Jeeves, “Yes”.

Vogue, “Can you clean a silk clutch with a awful grease stain for tomorrow? It happens to be for a VIP at Vogue.”

Jeeves, “Usually we need more time, but we never say no to VIP’s at Vogue.” (Actually we try never to say no to anyone in distress.)

About an hour later a smartly dressed assistant from Vogue shows up with the purse. It is beautiful and it does have a nasty stain.

Not an easy project when we ask for a week, but one day? And for a VIP.

Well all’s well that ends well. The lads at the Jeeves workshop rose to occasion again, toiling hard into the wee hours of the night. The next morning, when the purse arrived at our 65th Street shop, it looked amazing, all traces of the stain was gone.

A call to Vogue, another smartly dressed assistant arrives with AMEX in hand. name on the card? Anna Wintour. I hope she was pleased.

As summer is full tilt here in New York City, with the temperature reaching over 90 today, we have been seeing a lot of bold colors at Jeeves.

Nothing is quite as bold as the Dolce & Gabbana jacket that we collected from a client last week for cleaning. BRIGHT and ORANGE do not do this garment justice. If this garment had a dial to regulate the brightness it would be on “11″.

It seems that the Italian designers have turned on bold since the New York and London based designers were showing sheer and nude for this Spring/Summer season. One must give the nod to Versace and Dolce & Gabbana, as their shops radiate color and pattern.

This jacket is not for the “faint of heart” and my hat is off to the gentleman who will be wearing it this week after we delivered it to him today.

As you all know your man Jeeves allegiances are to The Union Jack, so it should come as no surprise to you that the upcoming nuptials between Kate Middleton and Prince William have Jeeves excited.

What peaks Jeeves’ interests more than guest lists,caterers, and floral arrangements is the one thing that brides for centuries to come will be attempting to replicate, the dress.

It was first rumored that Ms. Middleton will be walking down the aisle wearing Alexander McQueen, next it was Victoria Beckham, also Sophie Cranston, and Alice Temperley. With the wedding a mere 48 hours away and nothing but speculation to answer to Jeeves is on the edge of his seat waiting to see what world renowned designer has earned this high honor.

The London branch of Jeeves has sent a note to the Royal Family to clean and preserve Kate’s gown after her big day. Jeeves will keep you posted if he has any insider information about the dress.

Jeeves handles gorgeous gowns from brides just as lovely as Kate Middleton on a day to day basis. Your man also offers shipping throughout the United State, if he didn’t have so many established shops across the pond perhaps he could be as lucky as to assist.

For all your wedding needs, simply ring your man Jeeves.

Orange seems to be everywhere this spring (if spring will ever arrive) on Madison Avenue this year. Around the corner from Jeeves is J. Mendel and I love the orange that they are showing for the season.

Somewhat subtle and muted, J. Mendel’s orange is not eye popping, it’s just luscious.

In their window currently are three dresses all of the same hue. They are featuring a full length gown with a tightly pleated skirt that goes on forever. The top is fur, with 3/4 length sleeves and is belted. The combination of the fur top (that has a loose feeling) with the movement of the pleated skirt just works. Every time I walk past the window I stop and stare at these dresses, I find the color mesmerizing.

I had the opportunity to see this dress in the early stages of production as J. Mendel’s workroom had Jeeves test the pleats to see what the most appropriate cleaning method would be. I always enjoy handling J. Mendel as the construction of the garment is always flawless and beautiful.

If you want to stop and stare, J. Mendel is at 723 Madison Avenue between 63rd and 64th.

New York Magazine unveiled it’s 2011 Best Of New York issue yesterday and Jeeves was the only dry cleaning company included. We are honored.

Jeeves was named the Best Dry Cleaner for Difficult Jobs, a title that we are proud of. First and foremost Jeeves will almost always figure out a way to clean just about anything you can possibly think of that is made of fabric, leather or suede, anywhere.

The lads at Jeeves have risen to the occasion over the past year by taking on some amazing and unusual projects from hand cleaning costumes during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, paint splattered uniforms for Agent Provocature, blood splattered (stage blood mind you) costumes for the Metropolitan Opera House, and champagne soaked silk covered walls (don’t ask).

My favorite quote from the article is the lead sentence, “What Jeeves does differently from your everyday cleaner constitutes a long list.” The rest of the article is here.

Thanks for listening, the lads at Jeeves.