Dappered | 10 Things you need to take good care of your clothes and shoes

[Dappered | 10 Things you need to take good care of your clothes and shoes]() --------------------------------------------------------------- - [10 Things you need to take good care of your clothes and shoes](#1) - [Best of Threads: Best Beach Hats, Slippery Soles, And Hair Removal Methods](#2) - [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker](#3) [10 Things you need to take good care of your clothes and shoes](r/Dappered/~3/k50fpA1ni3k/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 02 Jul 2019 03:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. [Here’s why.]( An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And that applies to taking care of your clothes and shoes. Just because you don’t have a million dollar wardrobe doesn’t mean you can’t maintain and keep affordable clothes in good looking, very wearable condition for years upon years. You just need the right tools. Here’s ten of them… [The Right Hangers]( Hang a suit jacket or sweater on a wire hanger and you’re basically destroying the thing. Gravity, like time, is undefeated. 9.8 m/s2 is not something you want to mess around with. So give your suit jackets and outerwear the support they need with wide shouldered hangers. Pants/Trousers should go on a pants hanger, not something super skinny that’ll leave an ugly crease. Fold your sweaters, don’t hang them (heavier knits stretch out easily). [More info on what gets hung on what can be found here](. [A quality Iron (that you actually clean every so often)]( For whatever reason, if you’re young and broke, you most likely iron with something from the Nixon administration (Thanks Great Grandma!) or, you might not iron at all (because you think it’s hard). The thing is, ironing isn’t hard if you have a decent tool to work with [and you practice a little](. You want something with plenty of settings as well as a machine that steams up, well, nice and steamy. [I like Rowenta myself](. ALSO… and this is key: Irons need to be cleaned every so often. It’s not hard to do. Promise. Read the instruction manual. There’s almost certainly a self-clean setting on your iron. USE IT EVERY MONTH OR SO. Otherwise, you risk spitting hard water schmutz onto your favorite shirt and then ironing that rust stain in. Guaranteed it’ll happen when you can least afford it to. [A solid shoe care setup (cremes, conditioners, shoe trees, brushes)]( //www.brooksbrothers.com/Cedar-Shoe-Valet/090F,default,pd.html?dwvar_090F_Color=SHOW&contentpos=6&cgid=&cmp=AFC_US_CJ_Dappered_www.brooksbrothers.com_4025845&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=cj&utm_campaign=4025845&cvosrc=affiliate.cj.&cjeventid=850c28999c3111e98360000e0a1c0e0e Breaking News: [Your shoes touch the ground](. And there’s a lotta sh*t out there. So, taking care of your shoes is smart. No, you don’t need to shine the things every week. Or even every other week. Keep an eye on them. Like houseplants and hair, when they start to look bad, give them a little TLC. [And store your dress shoes with shoe trees in them](. A dependable dry cleaner (some are TERRIBLE) You’d think an industry like dry cleaning would be pretty consistent from one chain or store to the next. NOPE. I’ve had suits flat out ruined by bad dry cleaners (usually those that measure their wait time in “hours”). Seems like the crummy ones don’t know how to press a lapel to save their life. I’ve had suits come back from bad dry cleaners with pleats basically pressed into the lapels. I don’t know who was drunk running the press, but, man. Never went back there. Anyway, it seems like the local Mom & Pop chains seem to be the way to go. Look for the ones without flashy advertising. The ones with old-school logos (because they were created in 1951). Or the signs that say “we’re not the best because we’re the oldest, we’re the oldest because we’re the best!” behind the register. If you don’t know where to turn, ask someone you know who dresses well for where they go. Internet reviews are often unreliable (says the guy who runs a site that reviews things on the internet). [Above image credit](. [A steamer (so you can dry clean less… a lot less)]( Speaking of dry cleaners, even the BEST dry cleaners are still, wait for it, dry cleaners. And dry cleaning is a harsh chemical process that takes a toll on your duds. If you wore a suit or sportcoat and it’s now wrinkled, but isn’t stained and doesn’t stink, steam it. Don’t clean it. Steam those wrinkes out and freshen up the fabric at home. You’ll save money and your clothes will last longer. Like irons, [I prefer Rowenta](. Steamer shown above goes for around seventy bucks. Moth proof drawers, closets, or containers Clothes need to breathe. But if your closets or drawers are rickety and old, and you don’t live [in a hermetically sealed jar](, then you’re risking them [becoming a snack for moth babies](. It’s not the adult moths, it’s their larvae. PERSONAL NOSTALGIA BREAK: Now spiders happen to have diplomatic immunity in our house. It’s Mrs. Dappered’s rule. She must have been a big [Charlotte’s Web](27s_Web) fan as a kid. And when we first met, she had a pet black widow spider she’d make sure had water every day. It lived outside. In the garden. I’m not kidding. Anyway, in our house, spiders get ushered into a glass and then are released back outside into the wild. But MOTHS? For the love of Zeus man, I run Dappered. I have things*. If there’s a moth in the house it’s full red alert, arm all photon torpedoes, contain and kill ASAP. Make sure your drawers close tight enough, [get some cedar blocks](, and store your suits and sportcoats [in breathable but still moth proof garment bags](. [A Clothes Brush]( Sure, [those sticky rollers are great for quick fixes]( or for use on more casual clothes… but for nicer stuff? Consider a clothes brush. They’re specifically designed to lift dirt and hair out and up from a suit’s fabric, without damaging the weave, and without leaving any sort of sticky residue behind. Kent makes terrific clothes brushes. Shown above is an older model of [the two sided (soft/stiff) bristle brush](. [A decent, adjustable heat/agitation washer and dryer]( Look, many of us just don’t have the space, capability, or desire to have our own washer and dryer. It’s the laundromat for many. And I totally get that. But you have to be careful with those things. Because the machines in the laundromats (and shared apartment laundry facilities) I’ve used in the past almost always have one setting: Satan’s Salsa. Hot as F*ck. Nuclear bleepin’ fusion. Wash? HOT. Dry? HOT. Sure, it might SAY warm or cool on the machine, but the end result when you throw your hydrogen shirt and hydrogen socks into one of those things is often helium, uh… shocks? Whatever, you get my drift. If you are doomed to the hot-as-hell laundromat, just try and keep an eye on your laundry loads. Check on them. If it’s somewhere between damp and dry? Get that stuff outta there. [More laundry tips can be found here](. [A Good Cobbler (you’d be surprised at what they can fix)]( Shoes are one of the original pieces of technology. So, we humans have had more than a few years to practice taking care of them and maintaining them. And the wizards who are the best at this kind of thing are called cobblers. For resoling, heel saving, leather refurbishing magic of all kinds, find yourself a good cobbler. It’s becoming a bit of a lost art, but most big cities have them, and plenty of small towns have them too. [A Good Tailor (see Cobbler)]( One of [our cats]( (the [OG tripod mascot]() got hit by a car a few years back. We took him into the vet and were convinced he was gonna have to be put down. Despite a shattered pelvis and a femur basically ground into sand, the vet came out and said “yeah, we can fix him.” He was lucky. They fixed him. He lost a leg, but he’s been just as happy ever since. This tale of domestic short hair orange cat drama has been a roundabout way of basically saying that a good tailor is like a good doctor. They can fix a LOT more than you think they can. They can’t fix everything of course, but if you think an old favorite is destined for the garbage heap because of a blown seam or torn piece of fabric? It’s worth asking first. A good tailor will tell you if something is salvageable or not. [BONUS: Woolite, and the patience/commitment to hand wash](  Do I hand wash my delicates? Nope. I mean, once in a blue moon maybe. But I also don’t have a ton of delicates. If you do? Get used to hand washing and laying flat to dry. At the very least, don’t wash them as much as, say, your underwear or gym clothes. Most delicates are made of nicer materials (like fine wools) that DON’T need to be washed all that often. It’s true. If it’s not stained and/or doesn’t stink, then it can probably be worn again (and again and again and again) without a wash. *I know how stupid this sounds. It’s a joke. Just like this website. Ha HA! Beat you to it internet! Up yer nose with a rubber hose! ff/Dappered?a=k50fpA1ni3k:jOlT53oHSxo:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=k50fpA1ni3k:jOlT53oHSxo:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=k50fpA1ni3k:jOlT53oHSxo:gIN9vFwOqvQ [Best of Threads: Best Beach Hats, Slippery Soles, And Hair Removal Methods](r/Dappered/~3/HIyNPx6wtmI/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Jul 2019 02:00 PM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. [Here’s why.]( [What’s Dappered Threads?]( It’s our forum. Launched in 2011, Threads is a not too big, not too small, just-right-sized forum that doesn’t put up with snobbery. All thanks to the users and hardworking mods. Once a month, one of the users/mods from Threads provides us with a highlight package of the last few weeks. [Beach hat for vacation?]( Who doesn’t want to take their style in a new direction when on holidays? User [Pesape]( came to the forums looking for suggestions concerning hat recommendations for his upcoming trip to Mexico. A fedora was a popular suggestion with [idvsego]( [armedferret]( and [DocDave]( chiming in with their support. [Shade]( suggested going with a baseball hat, which started a side discussion about whether or not a baseball hat makes you look like an American. [LesserBlackDog]( then made the recommendation of trying hats on in-person to which [idvsego]( agreed. Lastly, [JohnR]( suggested keeping it simple and going with a Kangol Bucket style hat. [Climate and Clothes]( Recognizing that different users live in different geographical and climate locations, [Arête]( decided to find out how climate effects people’s style, especially with his upcoming move to Texas. [Loafer28]( indicated he dresses for the climate, and made a couple of suggestions on what to wear in the Texas heat. The need to expand upon hot weather clothes and not worry so much about cold weather clothes was made by [ModifiedMind]( while [julius12]( shared his dislike of hot climates because of how it limited his style options. [Hebrew Barrister]( said you just need to adjust to the climate and [robottawa]( said he’s grown accustomed to changing his wardrobe through the seasons. The thread then diversified in to a talk about cowboy boots with [Mark4]( saying Cowboy boots can work in many states outside of Texas. [Hair removal]( Ah, the joys of unwanted hair. [Creature]( wanted to know what forum users are doing regarding hair removal. LesserBlackDog shared his experiences, as did [JBarwick]( [DunkanWS]( advised waxing only if Creature was 100% certain he could handle it, although [C.Dubs]( claimed waxing wasn’t for him. [hockeysc23]( shared family tales of hair growing in thicker after laser hair removal and [Shade]( made the recommendation for a personal grooming device, although claims of the effectiveness of the device differs between LesserBlackDog and [ScottD](. [I’m new to shoes. Are leather soles slippery? What to do?]( [ChrisCashhh]( is buying his first pair of dress shoes, but had concerns about the leather soles being slippery. The consensus from the replies is that once the soles are scuffed up they will gain some traction although both [Shade]( and [Galcobar]( suggested having a cobbler glue a thin piece of rubber on the soles to help with traction. A short discussion ensued pertaining to the reason for having leather soles if the shoes are so slippery, with [Arête]( [evenparker]( and [Evenflow]( explaining why they prefer leather soled shoes. [ianr]( then offered the tip of sanding the first half of smooth leather soles to eliminate the break in period. Looking for some advice, direction, or just to connect with some cool guys? Perhaps you have some holidays coming up and are looking for a hat of your own. If so, then [Head on over to Threads]( and take a spin around. Many thanks to contributor [Dave I.]( for assembling this month’s Best of Threads. ff/Dappered?a=HIyNPx6wtmI:0QZk38Rju2Y:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=HIyNPx6wtmI:0QZk38Rju2Y:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=HIyNPx6wtmI:0QZk38Rju2Y:gIN9vFwOqvQ [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker](r/Dappered/~3/HBb_RkYxUWQ/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Jul 2019 08:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. [Here’s why.]( [Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker – $79.20 w/ YAYDAZE]( ($150) NOTE: DSW currently has the gum colored sole option for $99, and they’re running a 20% off code YAYDAZE. You do have to sign up for their email club to use it though. For other colors, [check Nordstrom Rack. They have a few colors there for around $79 as well]( At long last, a hands-on review of the much-ballyhooed Cole Haan GrandPro Turf Sneaker. Unless this is your first time on the Dappered site, [it’s likely]( you’ve [seen a mention]( or two of [these sneakers]( before. They’ve long been of intrigue for their classic gym-class aesthetics that play equally well with a quarter-zip or sport coat, gym pants or chinos. I decided to take them for a spin to see what all the fuss is about and if Joe’s musings on this shoe bear fruit on my feet. (Editor’s Note: If your feet bear fruit, see your podiatrist immediately.) [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( Materials used are surprisingly nice. Right out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the material quality. The leather on these is supple and far superior to most options in the sale price range. More on that later. The build quality is top notch, at least on my pair. Stitching on both the suede and leather was tight, with no superfluous strings or frayed pieces. “Cole Haan” is cleverly imprinted into the leather at the top of the side panel. Over-branding is common on casual sneakers ([looking at you, overrated Nike Killshots](), but subtle branding is nice. This is very well done. Fine details and flourishes on this pair help it stand out among other casual sneakers. A winged sand-colored suede toe and vamp (the piece running up the lace holes) produces depth and creates a nice contrast to the smooth leather of the side panels. It’s an exceptionally smooth suede, with very little nap to it, but it works with the slim silhouette. It really is a beautiful shade of beige, if there is such a thing as beautiful beige. [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( Sand suede. Ivory Leather. Navy heel accent. Gum sole. The leather side panels are in an ivory white, supplemented with a deep navy blue heel for another rich pop of color, while a traditional gum bottom rounds out the build. Overall, the color combo is executed in classic gym wear fashion. The shoe does come in other colors, but this is the one I believe most will want. Another note on the suede wings: you need to have some confidence to pull these off, and the aesthetics are highly subjective. When I first laced them up, my wife asked, “why did you buy bowling shoes?” Because of the wings and vamp standing out so much on the shoe, these can look a bit bowling alley-esque. It will be a matter of personal taste. In full disclosure, I’m not the biggest fan, but do find them unique. If you’re on the fence, the material quality alone makes it worth the effort of a home or store try-on. [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( Attractive sole, plus proprietary “Grand.Os energy foam.” Whatever that is. And whatever that is, it feels great. The fit was a bit odd. I went for my usual size 10 in both athletic and casual sneakers, and these ran long. The width was good, but there was a significant amount of volume above my toes in the right shoe. My right foot is a touch smaller than my left, but the volume was significant. This caused a looser fit, but considering these are athletic-inspired and not actual gym shoes, I didn’t mind too much. If you have narrow feet, be mindful of this if you order a pair. You might be best served going down half a size. Comfort is through the roof compared to other casual sneakers, especially straight out of the box. Part of that is the leather quality of the upper. The other part is the foam cushioning in the midsole. Cole Haan has what they call “proprietary Grand.Os energy foam,” and whatever that is, it feels great. Every athletic footwear manufacturer seems to claim energy return, some to varying levels of success. I wouldn’t classify this as a cushioning setup with energy return, but it doesn’t feel dead. There is a certain level of liveliness not present in other casual sneakers. [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( A few different colors going on, but they all play off each other nicely. The outsole itself increases the effectiveness of the foam cushioning. Diamond-pattern cutouts throughout the sole deliver unexpected flexibility, while providing an added benefit to the foam. When your foot compresses the foam, having space for it to expand will aid in the rebound – or energy return – process. My guess is that the foam compound itself plus these cutouts create the liveliness I felt when walking. [And in motion]( they almost disappear. [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( A bit on the long and lean side in terms of fit. Shockingly light for a pair of leather-built casual sneakers, I was impressed by how naturally the shoe moved with me. We have all experienced seeing something online, making the purchase, and then having our expectations dashed. As far as build quality and comfort, these exceed my expectations, especially at the $80 I paid. At $150, I would be hard-pressed to recommend these over a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths for almost half the cost. But, if you like the wingtip styling and can work with the fit, they’re a steal at $80 (what I paid), and a solid purchase at $99.99. There are a lot of casual sneakers to choose from, and you’ll see options from Nike, [Banana Republic](//bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=166850&tid=braff4025845&ap=2&siteID=brafcid11555231&cjevent=82905e4d33bf11e983cf00200a1c0e12), [Suitsupply]( Nordstrom, [Adidas](, and more on this site. But at the right price, and if you get the fit right, none provide the best bang for your buck in terms of style and all-day comfort like the Cole Haan. About the Author: Jason P. is a Dappered devotee, having curated the majority of his wardrobe through the site. He is an enthusiast of wool sweaters, chino pants, and affordable automatic watches. In his free time, you can find him at his boxing gym or antiquing with his wife. [In Review: The Cole Haan Grand Pro Turf Sneaker | Dappered.com]( ff/Dappered?a=HBb_RkYxUWQ:DXMtqzenuv0:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=HBb_RkYxUWQ:DXMtqzenuv0:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=HBb_RkYxUWQ:DXMtqzenuv0:gIN9vFwOqvQ You are subscribed to email updates from [Dappered Style Mail](). To stop receiving these emails, you may [unsubscribe now](. Email delivery powered by Google Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States