Your wardrobe is essential — to say the least. And no matter how fly your blazer, suit jacket, or shirt may be, it's all for naught if your dress pants do not follow suit.
Fortunately, the experts at Butler Luxury have created a helpful, comprehensive Care Guide for your Dress Pants. We'll cover everything you need to know about maintaining those trousers, slacks, and breeches to always look and feel your best.
1. Understanding Dress Pant Fabrics
The most formal types of dress pants derive from woolen blends or woven wool. However, this is only the beginning.
Wool Dress Pants
Wool can be heavyweight or lightweight, which means these dress pants exist for virtually every season. While this material is a highly-durable fabric, it does tend to require more care. Most wool pants will need to be dry cleaned after every four or five wears.
When you're storing your wool pants, make sure to use mothballs or cedar chips to ward off moths. If you're looking for wool with the softest look and feel, search for dress pants made from 120 wool or more.
Rayon Dress Pants
Rayon is a remarkable material — ideal for those living in warmer climates. These stylish dress pants boast a look and feel that almost mimics cotton. Similar to wool pants, rayon pants feature a design meant to be dry cleaned.
Again, like wool pants, you don't have to wash rayon pants every time you wear them. Because rayon pants will crease easily, you can use a steamer between dry cleaning visits to keep your slacks looking fresh.
Polyester Dress Pants
Offering the best of both worlds, polyester blend pants boast wrinkle-resistance and added durability. Polyester is regularly blended with other fibers to create blends. In addition to these desirable attributes, polyester-blend pants are much more affordable and can go through the regular wash cycle at home. If you're looking to iron polyester or blend dress pants at home, you can place a cloth between the iron and the pants to prevent your slacks from looking shiny.
Learn More About Dress Pants Fabrics
2. A Closer Look at Dress Pants Options
Now that we've discussed popular dress pant materials let's look at the popular styles available for you to add to your closet — and you have many!
Flat-Front Dress Pants vs. Pleated Front Dress Pants
If you have more massive thighs or tend to carry additional weight toward the lower torso, you may prefer pleated dress pants
The addition of a pleat or two can add some classic appeal to your overall look. Pleated dress pants, however, can be a bit too much noise on a more slender individual. For this body type, flat front pants seem to fit the bill much better.
Dress Pant Cuffs
The majority of dress pants will have a small band at the ankle - known as the cuff. Cuffs aren't always necessary but can add a flair of style and extra weight to the garment. This feature can help pull the pants straight at the bottom.
A well-fitted cuff should gently rest against the rear of the shoe and droop just over the front of the garment.
Wide-Leg vs. Slim-Fit Dress Pants
When it comes to choosing between wide-leg vs. slim-fit dress pants, it's much more than a matter of style. Different looks will work better on different body types.
will work better on different body types.
For instance, slim-fitting slacks are usually better suited for more slender individuals, while those who carry more weight on top may find wide-leg pants to add much-needed balance.
Zipper vs. Button
When it comes to choosing dress pants, make sure you pay attention to whether the slacks feature a zipper-fly vs. button-fly area. While some men do not feel strongly one way or the other, there are functional differences to consider.
Button fly dress pants require a bit more effort to fasten and unfasten. On the other hand, zipper pants are more comfortable to use, making them a more suitable option for anyone with dexterity issues. For most, however, it's a matter of personal style.
Slash vs. Slit Pockets
The majority of dress pants and slacks will have angled pockets located on the sides, which are called slash pockets. Make sure to notice any slight variations with slit pockets located on the seat of the pants. Slacks will usually feature slit pockets that have or may not have a button closure. Sometimes, only one pocket will have a button. In either case, you must understand and are comfortable with the pocket orientation. Most importantly, make sure the types of pockets featured on the pants are best suited for you and your needs.
Lining vs. No Lining
The lining is a detail that is commonly underappreciated and overlooked on dress pants and slacks. There is a range of reasons one would want to consider pants with or without lining. For instance, if you live in an area with a colder climate, dress pants with lining may be the way to go. In contrast, if you consider yourself to be a Southern Gent from warmer climates, you may want to forgo the lining altogether.
The type of fabric will also dictate whether lining is ideal. Most pants made from wool will have a lining that extends from the waist to the knees. And if you prefer the smooth sensation of silk on your skin, you should undoubtedly look for the lining. In addition to comfort, the lining can help your slacks retain their shape by protecting the interior of the pants from wear. And finally, if you have a slimmer body type, the lining can add the appearance of weight to the slacks, which can create a more flattering look.
Learn More About Dress Pants Options
3. Cleaning & Caring for Your Dress Pants
Now that we've laid the foundation let's move onto caring for your dress pants. First things first, there is no one-size-fits-all, universal approach to caring for your dress pants. It is, however, up to you to find the best option. One of the best places to start, however, is the label. If the directions say the pants are machine washable and dictate special care parameters, make sure you follow them!
On the other hand, some dress pants— like wool dress pants and rayon slacks — are designed to be dry cleaned only. This fact means you should take the pants to a professional dry cleaner. There are relatively newer products that promise "At-Home Dry Cleaning,” but most manufacturers will strongly suggest against this.
A third option is to hand-wash your dress pants. No matter which method you're considering, it's of the utmost importance to check the clothing label and follow it. The clothing label is the only way for you to achieve the desired results time after time.
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4. Storing Your Dress Pants
Because your dress pants will spend more time in storage than being worn, you must store them the right way. Let's look at what you should and shouldn't do when storing your dress pants.
Plastic Bags Can Cause More Harm Than Good
Leaving those freshly dry cleaned dress pants in that dry cleaning bag is a no-no! It can lead to staining, yellowing, mildew growth, and the weakening of your fibers. The changes in garment color come from an antioxidant used in the creation of the plastic bag called butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). When this chemical comes in contact with impurities in the air and moisture, it creates a yellowish pigment that transfers to the fabric.
Even though you "dry" clean your dress pants, this term is a misnomer because moisture is involved in the cleaning of your garments. In addition, the pressing of your pants to remove wrinkles uses steam. When you leave your clothes in the dry cleaning plastic bag, it traps all of this remaining moisture, leading to mildew growth and all of the other previously-mentioned problems. And it's not just dry cleaning bags that can cause problems after a professional treatment. You should avoid using any type of plastic or non-woven garment bag when storing garments to prevent similar issues.
How to Properly Store Dress Pants for Short-Term
If you are looking to store your dress pants for typical every day or every week wear, the best solution is to opt for premium trouser hangers from Butler Luxury. Trouser hangers are uniquely formulated to preserve the quality and integrity of dress pants. Storing your pants on trouser hangers will work toward preventing wrinkles and keeping your dress pants on call. One of the best ways to hang your dress pants on trouser hangers is the tri-fold method.
Long-Term Dress Pants Storage Solutions
Instead of leaving your dress pants to fend for themselves in the plastic coffin, the best way to store your clothes is in a premium garment bag. Premium garment bags work to offer exceptional protection from humidity and will help ensure your dress pants are wrinkle-free when you need them.
These breathable, fabric garment bags will help promote circulation, which is critical to protecting your dress pants.
For the Environmentally Conscious
The worst enemies of your dress pants when placing them in storage are sunlight, temperature, moisture, and material-damaging insects.
Heat and Sunlight Can Destroy Clothes
Heat can expedite the degradation of fabrics, while sunlight can actually fade the color of your dress pants. Sun fading can occur in as little as a few hours, so you should be particularly careful when hanging a pair of dress pants in the back of a vehicle.
Moisture Causes Mold & Mildew
As we previously mentioned, moisture equals mildew and mold. Your closet is already a dark place with minimal air movement. If you add moisture, you have a perfect recipe for disaster and decay. You can protect your dress pants and other garments by making it a practice to circulate in the closet regularly.
Insects Like Fabric
To prevent insects like moths from destroying your dress pants, dry clean, or wash them before long-term storage. Body oils, perfume, perspiration, and other factors can produce discoloration over time and welcome insects. While traditional moth balls give off a noticeable scent, cedar and lavender blocks are natural solutions that are perfect for warding off moths and other insects.
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5. Tailoring Your Dress Pants
If you've invested money in a pair or multiple pairs of quality dress pants, it only makes sense to forge a relationship with a tailor. Let's look at why a tailor can be your best friend and examine some of the critical services they offer.
Save Money with Tailored Dress Pants
Tailoring a pair of your dress pants is always worth the investment because it can save you from replacement. On the other hand, tailoring is an excellent solution for when you find great deals on new or used dress pants that may need a bit of tweaking. Instead of bypassing a seriously discounted pair of dress pants because they are too long, a tailor can evolve them into the perfect fit.
Get Hemmed Up
Probably, the most basic service a tailor shop offers is a hem job. It's actually one of the least expensive and can make an enormous difference in the fit of your dress pants. A hem is when the tailor gets rid of the additional fabric at the base of your dress pants. It immediately adds a cleaner, more put-together look.
A Hem Let Down
While hemming involves neatly tapering the end of your dress slacks to reduce excess fabric, the hem let down is the opposite. It's where the tailor lets down a hem to provide you with extra length on a pair of slacks or dress pants. This simple tailor service can transform a pair of on-sale or second-hand slacks from high water pants to a perfect fit.
Is Your Waist Too Big or Small?
Whether you have lost weight and your pants are now falling off, or you've gained a few pounds, and your favorite slacks look as if they're painted on you, a tailor can help. A tailor typically can either take the waist in or let it out to give you space and comfort you deserve — without the use of paint thinner.
Need More Private Space?
If the crotch area of your dress pants is too roomy or uncomfortably tight, your tailor can help. A good, experienced tailor will be able to find a comfortable medium quickly, so you can have the private space you deserve and feel good.
Suspenders Are In!
One thing is for sure - suspenders are in. In addition to making a super chic statement with your style, suspender will create the illusion of an elongated torso. In other words, they can make you look slimmer. And if you are looking to strap up and tap into this growing trend, your tailor can help by adding custom suspender buttons to your dress pants. The alternative is to go for the clip-on suspenders (not as gentlemanly).
Get Tapered Up
Another frequent service offered by tailors is tapering of the pant leg. When your pant legs are tapered, you can gain a slimmer-fitting dress pant around the calves that extends to the ankles.
And the List Goes On
Most tailor shops will offer the following services as well:
- Align the creases of your dress pants
- Garment tears/hole repair
- Waistband alterations to create new belt loop
- Reduce pants to more than one size
- Remove pleats
- And more
Learn More About Tailoring Your Dress Pants
6. Choosing the Right Trouser Hangers
When it comes to choosing the right trouser hanger, multiple options exist. You have plastic trouser hangers, wire trouser hangers, acrylic trouser hangers, luxury wooden hangers, and more colors than most of us know to exist. With so many options, how do you know which one is the best for your dress pants? Fortunately, you're not alone, and the experts at Butler Luxury can help. Let's take a quick look at your options, and then we'll explain why Butler Luxury offers the best trouser hangers available on the market today.
Plastic Trouser Hangers
These hangers come in a bevy of unique colors and can be instrumental if you want your closet to look like a rainbow troll's closet. The problem with plastic trouser hangers is that they are super flimsy and break easily. Because of this, plastic trouser hangers are likely to give way and leave your dress pants crumpled in the corner or bunched on one side of the item. In either case, these options aren't ideal trouser hangers.
Wire Trouser Hangers
If you're using wire hangers as trouser hangers, you should stop...immediately. Wire hangers are super cheap (if not free), extremely flimsy, and will buckle under the weight of a quality pair of dress pants. When this happens, your dress pants will sag the middle of the wire hangers, causing wrinkles — if you're lucky. If you're not so fortunate, wire hangers can ruin your pants with snags and snares caused by jagged ends and rust damage.
Acrylic Trouser Hangers
Acrylic trouser hangers are a modest improvement over wire and plastic hangers. Even better, these hangers can help your closet look like a retail store. However, acrylic options will also crack under the pressure or weight of a heavy pair of dress pants — similar to plastic hangers. Yet, acrylic trouser hangers can be significantly more expensive than plastic hangers.
Wooden Trouser Hangers by Butler Luxury Are the Best
If you're looking for the best trouser hangers, Butler Luxury's wooden trouser hangers are simply in a class of their own. Each wooden trouser hanger comes engineered to provide the ultimate in garment care. Every accessory is meticulously crafted from solid Grade-A Beech Wood imported from Germany.
Experts recognize this unique wood from around the world as being the best and most reliable wood for trouser hangers and suit hangers alike. Engineered with "No Compromise" insight, Butler Luxury produces trouser hangers that will sustain the beautiful crease and finish of your best trousers — regardless of material.
Wooden Hangers with Premium Velvet Covered Trouser Bar
Even incredibly slick and soft materials such as Super 180's merino wool will confidently stick to the solid round of our trouser hangers — thanks to a velvet-covered bar. The extra-reliable, round shape of the bar comes designed to never leave an impression on your dress pants. This fact means, even if you've left your trousers or dress pants on our trouser hangers for weeks, you can expect them to look and feel fresh.
Wooden Hangers for Pants of All Size
The long length of Butler Luxury trouser hangers is designed to accommodate any shape or size of slacks. And the extra thickness of the premium wood delivers a long-term storage solution for your best dress pants. Butler Luxury trouser hangers are specially formulated to protect your dress pants like no other product available on the market.
