Key Highlights

Keep your suits looking sharp and fresh with these simple care tips:

  • Rotate your suits to reduce wear and tear, especially with fine fabrics like wool.

  • Mix and match suit pieces to extend their lifespan and versatility.

  • Spot clean stains promptly instead of frequent dry cleaning, which can damage the fabric.

  • Use vodka as a deodorizing spray for your suits.

  • Understand the fabric of your suits to determine their durability and frequency of wear.

  • Brush down your suit after each wear to remove lint, and hang it on a wide-brimmed hanger to maintain its shape.


April 12, 2023

Suit Care 101: Keep Your Wardrobe Pristine

Now that you've invested in your suit, it's essential to learn how to care for it to maximize its lifespan. Here are some invaluable tips to maintain your suits' pristine condition for years to come.

Switch Up Your Suits

Start by rotating your suits to avoid wearing the same one day in and day out. If you have several suits, wearing a different one each day will help them last longer, as less frequent use reduces wear and tear. This is especially important for fine fabrics that wear out quickly with frequent use. Having a basic menswear color palette of navy, grey, and brown is essential, as these cornerstone colors form the foundation of your wardrobe. Choosing these foundational colors ensures that your suit rotation remains as versatile as possible.

Mix and Match Your Suits

Splitting up your suits and wearing the different parts independently is an excellent way to extend their lifespan and care for them. By alternating pieces, each part of the suit will endure less use, thereby increasing its durability. Wearing the jacket one day and the trousers another helps reduce the stress and wear on each piece. Here again, the basic menswear color palette of navy, grey, and brown is your ally, as these colors mix and match well as separates. To add complexity to your ensemble, experiment with textures and patterns.

Clean with Care, Avoid Dry Cleaning

Keeping your suits as clean as possible is essential, but this doesn’t mean frequent trips to the dry cleaner. Instead, focus on spot cleaning. If you get a stain, address it quickly by blotting with a damp cloth. Some stains are more stubborn than others, so exercise caution depending on the type. When cleaning your suits, prioritize areas like the armholes of jackets and the crotch and zipper areas of trousers. Request that the dry cleaner only clean specific areas, as the majority of the suit is likely fine and doesn’t require a full cleaning. A suit can only endure dry cleaning about 10-12 times in its lifetime, so minimize trips to the cleaners whenever possible.

Quick Cleaning Tip

An effective and unconventional way to deodorize your suits is to use vodka. Head to the store and get a bottle of the cheapest, plain vodka you can find. Pour it into a spray bottle and lightly spritz the areas that need freshening up. As the alcohol evaporates, it will take the odors with it. While this method won’t make your suit smell brand new, it will significantly reduce any prominent smells.

Know the Fabric

Understanding the fabric of your suits is crucial for determining how often you can wear each one. For example, a fine Super 170s wool suit should be worn sparingly, as the delicate fabric wears out quickly, especially with regular use. In contrast, a Super 110s wool suit is more durable and can be worn more frequently due to its resilience. Similarly, a pure wool suit will generally last longer than those blended with cotton, silk, cashmere, or other materials. By knowing more about the fabric, you can ensure the longevity of both your finer suits and your everyday suits.

Brush Off and Hang

After a day's wear, promptly brush down your suit with a clothes brush and hang it on a wide-brimmed hanger. Brushing removes any lint that may have accumulated, particularly noticeable on darker fabrics. Hanging the suit on a wide-brimmed hanger supports the jacket's shoulders, preventing misshaping, especially for jackets with shoulder padding. Louis Copeland jackets come with wider hangers to facilitate proper storage and care for your suits.