Originated by French tennis champion René Lacoste and introduced at the 1926 U.S. Open, the polo shirt quickly became favored tennis attire. The combination of comfort, breathability, long tuckable tail and soft collar quickly made the Lacoste popular for golfers. In 1972 Ralph Lauren founded his company on the “Polo” shirt. Today, every major clothing line includes polo shirts, worn by men, women and children for work, play, school and even for tennis. Nothing brings out the style of a polo shirt better than our professional cleaning and pressing. Try it next time, we think you’ll like the combination of crisp and casual.

White canvas shoes are perfect for summer – until they start looking beige. Here’s how to freshen stained sneakers, thanks to How to Clean Stuff. Scrub away dirt stains with shampoo on a nail brush, wipe residue away with a damp sponge. Use dish soap on grass stains and nail polish remover on grease or tar. After you’ve removed as much as possible, apply oxygen bleach with a nailbrush or toothbrush to any remaining off-white areas. If you don’t mind losing the new look, canvas shoes can usually be machine washed on a gentle cycle with warm water. Hang to air dry.

We all have a favorite pair that fits like an old friend. When you buy a pair made of untreated raw denim, some experts recommend wearing for six months before washing. Why? It takes wear to break down super-stiff fibers, and during the process the jeans actually conform to your shape. When you do wash (or have us expertly wash or dry clean), turn inside out, use cold water in a gentle cycle. If you want them to fade, use hot water. Lay flat or hang upside down to air dry, avoid a hot dryer.

After a shower or bath, there’s nothing as refreshing as a big, clean terrycloth towel. Home laundry fabric softener can prevent a towel from soaking up water, incompletely rinsed detergent can harden the fibers. If towels aren’t smelling so fresh, add a cup of baking soda to the wash. White vinegar freshens mildewy staleness. Nothing smells better than a towel that’s dried on a clothesline in the sunshine.

Summer boating adds a chance you’ll bring home more than memories, even on the cleanest vessel. Rust stains are common wherever there’s water and metal. We use concentrated professional products but for home use, try Oxyclean or Wink. Mold and mildew can stain sailing whites in a second—diluted laundry bleach removes just as fast. There’s always grease and oil whenever there’s an engine, and when the heavy-duty petroleum soaks into fabric, you’re going to need our help.  We take most stains out almost every time.

Warm weather means chinos for most guys, dressed up with a white cotton shirt, dressed down with t-shirt or polo. Chinos come in colors way beyond khaki like classic blue, green, grey, brown and black. And there are a lot more colors in chinos than ever before (try Dockers).  For a crisp tailored look, let us clean and press your cotton trousers.  For home care, wash chinos inside out in warm water, avoid bleach and over-drying. Touch up wrinkles with a steam iron. Then hang on a trouser hanger, ready for wear.

Women have it easy with a simple non-white dress. In summer, a man’s traditional dark suit can be too warm, somber and predictable. For a city wedding, choose a lightweight suit in gray, blue or a subtle pattern. Style it up with a pastel Oxford or poplin shirt. In the country, blazers and sport coats reign, paired with well-cut chinos. Seaside or resort? A tailored white shirt, colored chinos and a light-colored linen blazer. Keep everything understated and appropriate for the venue. And always be ready with a clever toast.

Choosing in-season flowers makes great sense. They’re not only less expensive, they’re fresher and travel less to your bouquet. Favorites include elegant delphiniums, showy dahlias, garden roses, classic astilbe or cosmos. Hydrangeas and sunflowers add splashes of bright color, while Queen Anne’s lace and tuberose fill out a bouquet with volume and delicious fragrance. We’re always ready to help with your wedding garments – from alterations to last-minute wrinkle removal.

Christie’s London sale room will feature a collection of the beloved star’s clothing this fall.  Key fashion pieces include a Burberry trench coat, with an estimated price tag of $8,000-10,000, a selection of her ballet pumps and a blue satin cocktail dress by Hubert de Givenchy, one of Hepburn’s favorite designers. Of course, we can help care for heirlooms, collector’s items and couture.

Linen’s looser weave allows more air to flow than with tighter wool or cotton. It’s also very absorbent and conductive —wicking moisture back into the air and naturally feels cooler. The wrinkled, rumpled look of linen is a side-effect of the flax fiber’s inherent structure, considered by some to be a sign of comfortable elegance. Linen’s long-lasting quality costs a bit more, and takes a little more care but linen can be a summer pleasure.