Woman’s Day Magazine

January 15, 2007 by
When it’s time to swap your wool sweaters for flip flops, follow these storage tips, from Steve Boorstein, author of  The Ultimate Guide to Shopping & Caring for Clothing.
Sort. Ask yourself, “Will I wear that next year?” Now is a good time to donate items that may not fit you or your lifestyle anymore.Inspect and clean. Start at the collar, work your way down the garment, checking both front and back of sleeves for stains. Hold skirts, slacks and sweaters under a bright light. If you have worn something, or if you see a stain, your clothes need cleaning. Deodorant, body oils,
and perfumes attract many critters.Store. Clothing should be hung on plastic, or wooden hangers. Remove plastic dry cleaning bags (paper shoulder covers may be left on). After you vacuum the bottom and top corners of your closet, drape a freshly washed, unbleached white sheet over your garments.

Find more space. If your closets are full, store your items in the basement. Use a dehumidifier and check clothes every two weeks for moist or musty smells. Another option: Store clothing inside plastic containers underneath your bed. Put a freshly washed, unbleached sheet inside to absorb moisture.

Consider a dry cleaner. Store coats, suits and fur items at a local dry cleaner. Make a list of items your storing and keep a backup copy. Do repairs beforehand, put monograms on inside linings and get insurance. Ask where the clothes are being stored: on the premises, in a volt, or at a professional storage facility. Deborah DeSanto

Filed Under: Media Interviews

Lifewise Style Magazine

January 15, 2007 by
By MARY MARTIN NIEPOLD, Associated Press — Stains and poor storage are two things that can effectively shrink your wardrobe as fast as an extra 20 pounds. But all it takes to help your clothes go the distance is a shift in the way you think about them.

Move from careless to careful, and your clothes become the investment they were meant to be.
Steve Boorstein, known as the “clothing doctor,” is a fourth-generation drycleaner who operated a top dry cleaning establishment in Washington, D.C. for 16 years, so he knows the worst — and best — about clothes.

Today, he counts Chanel, Nordstrom’s and Joan & David as clients who bought multiple copies of his book, Ultimate Guide to Shopping & Caring for Clothes (Boutique Books) for their colleagues. Most recently, he began hosting a call-in radio show by the same name.

“The secret is building your wardrobe and maintaining it,” says Boorstein. “That’s my whole philosophy.”

Storing and cleaning are his specialities. They’re also the tools that will keep clothes looking their best and lasting for more than one season:

Storage: According to Boorstein, “The biggest mistake when storing is not cleaning before you store.” He says that if you put a garment away that has something on it for even five minutes — everything from perspiration, foodstuffs, body oils, deodorant — it immediately becomes foodstuff for insects. “Whatever could possibly be part of a human or have food quality becomes insect bait,” Boorstein says.

Another danger is that people store clothes with old stains. He says that a person simply forgets there may be a stain on a certain piece, wears it for a while, then puts it away. He says to inspect your clothes immediately after wearing and get those that are soiled to a reputable cleaner (or washing machine) as quickly as possible.

Take collar or cuff soil. This could be perfume, a splatter of oil, a squirt of lemon juice. Boorstein explains that these are called “invisible stains.” They’re invisible at first, but over time, through oxidation and heat, take on colour. Oxidation is the process that happens, say, to an apple. You take a bite and within five minutes, it has started turning brown. With clothing, these oxidized stains become exponentially worse if left in a closet or drawer without cleaning.

“Pull your clothing out each season and inspect it,” he advises. If there are stains, get them cleaned before storage. Best, get everything cleaned before storing.

If you’re storing at home, avoid plastic or nylon garment bags since they don’t let clothing breathe. When there’s extra moisture, two things happen. Stains become extra bait for insects and mildew, and they may show colour even faster. Also, your closet or drawers must be thoroughly cleaned before storage since insects thrive in dust or cobwebs.

Filed Under: Media Interviews

Business Week Magazine

January 15, 2007 by
In an article called Out, Damned Spot in BusinessWeek’s fashion section, The Clothing Doctor offered this advice for keeping your business clothes in tip-top shape.

What should you think about when you buy clothing?
Think about how you will wear, care for, clean, and store the garment for its entire life. Although brand names are often synonymous with quality, they should not be the deciding factor; fit, fabric, and style should be.

How do you know which fabrics will wear best?
Silk and linen blends are very high-maintenance. Gabardine tends to shine on the seat, thighs, and elbows from sliding in and out of the car or your desk and from poor pressing. People who are hard on their clothes should buy softer fabrics. A good worsted wool has nap or texture, is less subject to shine, and will wear longer than gabardine. Buy fabrics that breathe. If you travel often, buy clothing that resists wrinkling – textures soft wools and rayon blends.

What about triacetate? It shows up a lot in women’s suits.
Acetate is very popular, but it shines prematurely. If you buy an acetate that is subject to wear, you can ask your cleaner to soft-press and brush the areas likely to get shiny.

What about stain emergencies?
Never rub a stain. All stains can be blotted with a dry, white napkin. For an oily stain, avoid putting water or club soda on it, and have it dry cleaned within 48 hours. If you know that the stain is water-based and that the garment is washable. O.K., go ahead and blot it, and wash it when you get home.

What are the worst stains to deal with?
Lipstick and ink are two of the most stubborn – also coffee and wine. They all require expert professional help. Always put on your hairspray. perfume, or deodorant before you dress, and let it dry completely. All three contribute to permanent staining.

How do you find a good dry cleaner?
Call the ritziest clothing store in town and ask where the manager sends things. If you are spill-prone, you need a cleaner with a good stain technician. Do you wear fine wools, acetate, or silks? Better clothing requires soft-pressing and hand ironing. Go for quality, service, convenience, and price – in that order.

Filed Under: Media Interviews

Maxim’s Tackles Dry Cleaning

January 15, 2007 by
Maxim Magazine relied on The Clothing Doctor, Steve Boorstein, in a discussion on dry cleaning in it’s “Ask Us Anything” column:

 

Q. How do they dry-clean clothes?
“The term dry cleaning is kind of a misnomer,” admits Steve Boorstein, a fourth-generation dry cleaner and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing. “It refers to the nature of the cleaning solvent, which is highly evaporative and not water-soluble.” Dry cleaning machines look like front-load washing machines but use solvents containing percholoroethylene or tetrachloroethylene–or a somewhat less toxic petroleum-based concoction. Since the solutions aren’t absorbed by fabric and evaporate easily, they prevent shrinking and stretching.
After being washed, clothes are steamed and pressed for that woefully unhip “clean” look. Since dry cleaning is safe for most fabrics, some manufacturers slap dry-clean-only tags on all their clothing. But if it isn’t wool or silk, it may not need to be dry cleaned–so wash that tuxedo T-shirt to your heart’s content.
Filed Under: Media Interviews

Quoted in InStyle Magazine

January 15, 2007 by

A recent article in InStyle magazine titled “Be a Shopping Pro,” quoted Steve Boorstein for a couple of its tips. Here’s what the magazine said:

Make a Rough Budget
Looking for a plan for the year? Fall and winter clothes cost more than spring and summer ones, so allocate two thirds of your budget for cold-weather months. “Nationally, people spend between 5 and 10 percent of their take-home income on clothing,” says Steve Boorstein, author of The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing.

Are You an Impulse Shopper?
Buying with little thought can create “deadbeat” items that take up valuable closet space and eat into our clothing budget. “Try the 48-hour-rule,” suggests Steve Boorstein, author of The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing. “If you pass up the item and you still want it 48 hours later, it’s probably a good investment.

Filed Under: Media Interviews

Men’s Health Style Guide

January 15, 2007 by
The Style Guide section of Men’s Health offered these tips from The Clothing Doctor.
Dry-clean your suit within 48 hours of the big spill.
“That’s true of any garment,” says Steve Boorstein, author of The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing. “Otherwise, stains can set.” You ned to dry-clean your suit only two or three times a year, which also means it will last longer. “Inspect it for stains,” says Boorstein. “If you’ve got a stain on your lap or wrinkles in the crotch, have your pants cleaned. The jacket can wait.”
Dry-clean a dress coat before you store it for the season.
“When you wear a garment for even 5 minutes, it becomes moth bait because insects love perspiration, body oil, fragrance, and food, says author Steve Boorstein. When you pull a clean coat out 9 months later, it’s like you just brought it home from the store, with no credit-card bill attached.
Know the right moment to switch from your business suit to your birthday suit.
“When you get home from work, immediately hang your suit in an open area and let it air out for a couple of hours,” says Boorstein. “If you haven’t gotten any stains on it, you can then move it to your closet.” Use a wooden or plastic hanger with wide ends to preserve the broad shape of the shoulders.
Filed Under: Media Interviews

Purse-Cleaning

January 15, 2007 by

Don’t discard or retire expensive handbags and purses when they become

soiled! Cloth and leather handbags and purses – new and heirloom – can

be professionally cleaned and restored by our Certified Couture

Cleaners.

Simply

send the bag(s) to our experts in New York or San Diego and you’ll be

wearing them with pride in 2 weeks! It’s very easy and cost effective.

You will get a phone call or email as soon as your bag arrives.

Select a link below to learn more about Expert Purse Cleaning:

Filed Under: Purse Cleaning

Privacy Policy

January 14, 2007 by

Thank you for visiting our web site. This privacy policy tells you how we use personal information collected at Clothing Doctor. Please read the information below before using the site or submitting any personal information.

Policy Changes
By using the site, you are accepting the practices described within this privacy policy. These practices may be changed occasionally, but any changes will be posted. Changes will only apply to current and future activities; they will not apply on a retroactive basis. You are encouraged to review the privacy policy whenever you visit the site to remain current  with this topic.

Note: the privacy practices set forth in this privacy policy are for this web site only. If you link to other web sites, please review the privacy policies posted at those sites.

Collection of Information
We collect personally identifiable information, like names, postal addresses, email addresses, etc., when voluntarily submitted by our visitors. The information you provide is used to fulfill your specific request, unless you give us permission to use it in another manner, for example to add you to one of our mailing lists.

Cookie/Tracking Technology
The Site may use cookie and tracking technology depending on the features offered. Cookie and tracking technology are useful for gathering information such as browser type and operating system, tracking the number of visitors to the Site, and understanding how visitors use the Site. Cookies can also help customize the Site for visitors. Personal information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking technology, however, if you previously provided personally identifiable information, cookies may be tied to such information. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties.

Distribution of Information
We may share information with governmental agencies or other companies assisting us in fraud prevention or investigation. We may do so when: (1) permitted or required by law; or, (2) trying to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud or unauthorized transactions; or, (3) investigating fraud which has already taken place. The information is not provided to these companies for marketing purposes.

Commitment to Data Security
Your personally identifiable information is kept secure. Only authorized employees, agents and contractors (who have agreed to keep information secure and confidential) have access to this information. All emails and newsletters from this site allow you to opt out of further mailings.

Privacy Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about our privacy policy you may contact us here.

Filed Under: Policy

Actor Kathleen Noone

January 13, 2007 by
visit www.kathleennoone.comKathleen Noone, best know for her Emmy-award winning portrayal as ‘Ellen Dalton’ on ALL MY CHILDREN and as conniving ‘Claudia Whittaker’ on KNOTS LANDING, SUNSET BEACH audiences fell in love with eccentric ‘Aunt Bette’, a wild and personable socialite who managed to get into more mischief than a lovesick teenager, and Kathleen received her third Emmy nomination for her portrayal.

Kathleen Noone plays Mrs. Edna Wallace, the invalid, yet scheming and manipulative mother of Beth, whose caretaker is Precious, the orangutan on the NBC Daytime Soap, Passions.

Noone, a classically trained actress, is well remembered by fans of the soap opera genre as ‘Ellen Dalton’ on “All My Children,” ‘Claudia Whittaker’ on “Knots Landing” and as ‘Bette’ on Aaron Spelling’s “Sunset Beach.” Noone has also had numerous recurring roles on hits such as “Ellen,” “Frasier,” “Love and War,” “Ned and Stacy” and “Murphy Brown.” Noone also currently recurs as ‘Maggie’ on “According To Jim.”

Her other credits include the movies of the week, “What Love Sees” with Richard Thomas and Annabelle Gish, “Hearts Adrift” with Don Murray, and feature films “Citizen Ruth” with Laura Dern, “Skeletons” with James Coburn and Ron Silver and “Serpants Liar.” Prior to her television career, Noone spent 13 years in repertory companies, off-Broadway, was a co-founding member of the Scott Repertory Theatre, the Globe Theatre (both in Texas), and the acclaimed Colonnaides Theatre in New York City, where she co-produced and developed plays with founder/director Michael Lessac. She is currently a member of the Playwrights Kitchen Ensemble at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles, which helps introduce playwrights to the Hollywood community through play readings in which she performs and directs.

Noone earned a BFA degree from Ithaca College and West Virginia University as well as a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Southern Methodist University. Recently, she went back to school and received a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology, studying with Dr. Jean Huston, a renowned scholar and best selling author in the field of human potential. Upon receiving this degree, Noone started her own company called “Kathleen Noone’s Emotional Fitness” under which she conducts “The Vent Room” where she helps students develop skills to deal with the challenges of the industry, and the weekend “Emotional Fitness” and “Creating and Sustaining a Successful Career in Theatre and the Entertainment Industry” seminars.

Noone has been nominated for three Emmy Awards, two for her portrayal of Ellen Dalton on “All My Children” and one for her portrayal of Bette on “Sunset Beach.” Kathleen won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama in 1987.

www.kathleennoone.com

Filed Under: aaa

Bra Fitter Maureen Stabnau

January 13, 2007 by
Maureen Stabnau joined Bare Necessities 3 years ago with more than 25 years of retail experience. The majority of her career was spent at Lord and Taylor. She started as a buyer and progressed to Vice President of Intimate Apparel. She held this position for 6 years. She also worked for Federated Department Stores ( Macy’s, Burdine’s, Rich’s) Corporate as the Merchandise Manager for sleepwear, panties, and daywear before joining Bare Necessities.

As an Intimate Apparel expert and a bra “maven,” Maureen knows and has seen first firsthand, in the Bare Necessities stores, how important the right fitting bra is to woman’s health and overall appearance.

“I am always amazed and excited to see a new customer who we have expertly fit for the right bra. They not only look better physically, but have a new look emotionally and in the way they present themselves. A lot of our first time customers hug the sales associate who has helped them. They are so happy to have finally solved the mystery of finding the right bra. It is a great feeling to know that we are helping women, even if it is in a small but important way.”

Visit Bare Necessities at www.bareneccessities.com

Filed Under: aaa

Lifestyle Expert / Stylist Allison Dickson

January 13, 2007 by
Lifestyle Expert/ Stylist, Allison Dickson has over 12 years of experience and expertise in the compatible fields of fashion, accessories, style, design, still and television production. Her experience as a fashion stylist as well as in art direction, business, brand marketing, modeling, writing and editing also serve to enhance her knowledge and proficiency

An insatiable appetite for fashion began after college at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas where Allison and her twin sister both attended on full athletic scholarships. She then moved to Los Angeles and enjoyed (along with her sister) a very successful career in modeling. Her experience ranged from the runway, to print, to television appearances and commercials as well as featured profiles on ‘Extra’ and ‘American Journal’. The twins also had a very successful line of posters.

STYLING, ART & CREATIVE DIRECTION:
After leaving the modeling world, Allison worked in fashion and still-photo production, art and creative direction. Allison continues to work behind the camera and has a vast portfolio of her wide range of work. She strongly feels that the diversity she has fostered in her career brings a unique, fresh and distinctive level of expertise to her work as a STYLE EXPERT.

DESIGN:
During her time behind the camera, she and her sister also worked on their burgeoning line of accessories. They are widely credited as the original creators/designers of ‘THE ROSE BOUQUET HANDBAG’. They enjoyed great success with a strong A-List celebrity following and showrooms on both coasts featuring their original designs.

Allison’s designs have been featured on NBC’s ‘Will and Grace’ and ‘In-Style Magazine’s Weddings Special’ and in numerous publications such as Brides, Victoria, US, Weddingbells and InStyle. Her creations have been carried at ‘The Emmy’s’ and ‘The Academy Awards’ where her company is credited as a contributing designer. It was also a real honor to outfit the entire ‘Millennium Rose Bowl’ Rose Queen and Royal Court with ‘Bouquet Bags’.

BUSINESS:
The success of the ‘Rose Bouquet Handbag’ inspired Allison to create a catalog featuring their designs as well as others. Allison served as buyer, creative/art director and publisher of the retail division of their company. The girls were able to access their knowledge of business and marketing to create the catalog, ‘ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES’.

This all lead to ‘Designer Profiles’ on both ‘Videofashion” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which remains one of their proudest moments.

STYLE EXPERT:
All of this background, history and experience serve to enhance Allison’s ability to speak not only on style, trend and craftsmanship, but with her vast design experience, Allison can explain what makes and item more valuable, or desirable, what trends are worth paying for and what trends are worth having – but at the right price – what makes a fabric or skin more appealing or durable and what companies need and look for in marketing their product to consumers and how to get the point across.

She is the perfect mix of industry professional and enthusiastic consumer…

Allison has appeared as a STYLE EXPERT/LIFESTYLE CORRESPONDENT for several networks such as NBC, CBS, FOX, FOX NEWS CHANNEL, ABC Family and the WB and on shows such as ‘FOX AND FRIENDS’, ‘GOOD DAY LA’, ‘LIVING THE LIFE’ and (Daytime Emmy Nominated) ‘SOAP TALK’ as well as a reoccurring trend segment on Daytime Emmy Nominated NBC’s ‘THE OTHER HALF’.

WRITER:
Allison is also a trained writer. She regularly contributes to style, lifestyle and trend stories, has an online column on fashion and style for a major catalog company, is a contributing writer to ‘The Woman’s Newspapers Group’ – and is in the process of writing a book while daily editing yet another online column www.TheA-List.com
Constant research is the key to her extensive knowledge. Allison reads an array of consumer and trade publications daily, covering a wide range of industries from fashion, design, business, lifestyle, current events, culture and entertainment.

PRODUCTION:
Her experience in television production – from audience coordinator to executive producing a mini-pilot for a new talk show – is also an asset. Allison not only knows what a producer is looking for but can produce her own spots when necessary.

PASSIONS:
Allison’s hobbies and interests include travel (several countries) and sports. She is an animal fanatic (!) with her family including 3 dogs and 1 cat (and working with the ‘Golden Retriever Rescue Society’). (Her sister Diane’s family consists of 3 rabbits (!) and she serves as a member of the House Rabbit Society).

Allison works on both coasts and hails from the third coast….of Texas!

www.allisondickson.com

Filed Under: aaa

Trend & Color Forecasting & Analysis

January 13, 2007 by
David Wolfe is a Creative Director for Doneger Creative Services, The Doneger Group’s trend and color forecasting and analysis service for womenswear, menswear and youth apparel and accessories. Doneger Creative Services clients include an international roster of designers, manufacturers and retailers. As Creative Director, David analyzes trends influencing the men’s, women’s and youth apparel and accessories markets as well as big-picture developments in style, culture and society.

David Wolfe is a Creative Director for Doneger Creative Services, The Doneger Group’s trend and color forecasting and analysis service for womenswear, menswear and youth apparel and accessories. Doneger Creative Services clients include an international roster of designers, manufacturers and retailers. As Creative Director, David analyzes trends influencing the men’s, women’s and youth apparel and accessories markets as well as big-picture developments in style, culture and society.

A high-profile personality, David’s wit and wisdom have earned him a stellar reputation over his thirty-five years in the fashion industry. He is known as “America’s Foremost Fashion Forecaster” and is the most quoted authority in the industry, his views and quips appearing in such diverse publications as The Wall Street Journal, Women’s Wear Daily, Vogue, Glamour and Forbes. He has been on CNN, QVC, “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Today Show” as well as talk shows and news
programming. A regular guest lecturer at the Fashion Institute of Technology, David has also spoken at the International Fashion Fabric Exhibition, the New York Premier Show, the Kids‚ International Fashion Fair, the National Retail Federation, MAGIC and New York and regional fashion groups.

David also serves as International Fashion Editor of Men Mode and Couture magazines, glossy high fashion publications in the Far East.

David began his career in a small town department store where his responsibilities included that of fashion coordinator, buyer, copywriter, illustrator and advertising manager. In the 1960s he moved to London, where he quickly established himself as a leading fashion artist published in Vogue, Women‚s Wear Daily, and The London Times. In 1969 David joined the infant “fashion service” industry and as Creative Director of I.M. International became one of the world’s leading fashion forecasters
and authorities, among the first to discover talents such as Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace. Early in the 1980s, David helped to found TFS The Fashion Service and returned to the U.S. to head TFS as President for a decade. He joined The Doneger Group in 1990.

Today David devotes much of his time to public appearances. His informative and amusing lectures, slides shows and television appearances make him a popular personality on the fashion scene.

The Doneger Group

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