How to Keep Your Bespoke Dress Shirt Looking Sharp

If you're buying bespoke menswear, you already understand the importance of investing in your wardrobe and the value a solid lineup of versatile pieces can hold. The second point to understand is that your investment needs to be protected. By washing, pressing, and storing your garments properly, you extend the lifetime of your hardest working garments.

Your bespoke dress shirt is designed to grow better with wear. We calculate shrinkage in all of Lingo Luxe Bespoke shirts which are made of natural fibres. Most natural fibres such as cotton and linen have a shrinkage allowance of 1-5%, however your Lingo Luxe Bespoke dress shirt is crafted of high twist yarns with a shrinkage rate of 1-2%, so your shirt will fit nicely upon delivery, and perfectly after your first wash.

Your shirt can be washed at home or by a wash and press service. Wash with like colours and avoid including abrasive garments in the cycle with your shirt 

Avoid washing your shirt after every wear to maintain colour vibrancy. Spot cleaning collars and cuffs is a great way to keep your shirt looking fresh without over-stressing the fabric finish.

To keep the fabric of your shirt looking vibrant and crisp, avoid drying your shirt as the heat and friction caused in the tumble dry can wear at the finish over time.

Wearing a high quality undershirt can help you to maximize the number of wears before washing. 

How to Iron Your Dress Shirt

The key to a sharp looking dress shirt is a good press; it keeps wrinkles at bay, as well as maintains positioning and crispness of collars and cuffs. When ironing, use the lowest heat setting possible to reduce stress on the fabric. When pressing a garment, it is often easiest to start with larger areas, like the body of the shirt before finishing with the smaller components including the cuff, collar and front placket.

For stubborn wrinkles in cellulose-based natural fibres, such as cotton or linen, press the inside of the shirt first, then the outside. Always allow the garment to cool slightly with each section pass to ensure the press takes.

To maintain a fresh looking shirt, start with the largest areas, moving to the smaller details. Consider which aspects of the garment get the most attention; a wrinkled collar, cuffs or front placket will be quickly noticed. Extra care should be employed for these areas.

The body of the shirt is the first area to be pressed, with care taken at seams and hems to keep fabric joins and overlaps in place. The front placket, or button closure should then be pressed, again taking care to avoid pressing over buttons. The buttonhole side should be pressed carefully as it will be an area of focus; first the body of the shirt up to the placket, then the placket itself.

Remove the stays from the collar before laying the collar flat and pressing to prevent indentation. For buttoned style cuffs, unbutton the cuff, including the placket button, and press flat, carefully maneuvering around the buttons. Iron the inside cuff before the outside of the cuff. Do not iron over the buttons, as they will cause indentations in your fabric. Unfold French cuffs before pressing to iron them flat before defining your crease.

Don’t be afraid to utilize the edges of the ironing board when pressing; it is shaped to help you press the body of your garment without creating more wrinkles in maneuvering. If you are finding it difficult to shape your garment or to reach certain areas, consider purchasing a pressing tool to help shape and press your garment to your standards. A pressing mitt or tailors ham can make the task an easier one.

Use starch sparingly, if you prefer a crisper shirt, use a heavy starch, rather than layering a lighter starch solution. If you prefer to avoid starch, use a spray bottle of water to help press stubborn wrinkles.

After washing and pressing your shirt, make sure it has cooled and is fully dry. Natural fibres stored in an enclosed space while still damp can develop mildew without proper airflow. Hang on a wood hanger with a smooth slope and point to help maintain the shape of your shirts and avoid creating indentations in your shoulder line. Storing while still warm from pressing can also increase the likelihood of these indentations appearing in the fabric.