"You're going to pick up some of it anyway in the dry cleaner's system. It's in the water in their machines. Starch is a chemical, and it deteriorates the fabric.
'' a new shirt before wearing it. Unwashed fabric is "very porous,'' Behar says. So if you wear a new shirt and spill something on it, the stain can be locked in for good.
If you wash it first, the threads in the fabric close up, so it's more likely to resist a stain. Don't dry clean linen. While some manufacturers recommend that linen be dry cleaned, Behar says otherwise.
"When you wear linen, it tends to stretch,'' he says. "When you launder it, it brings the fabric back in.'' The plot of may be convoluted, but the shirts sure are cool.
In the new movie, Al Pacino sports several impeccably tailored dress shirts. Don Cheadle lounges in a casual linen paisley shirt, and Brad Pitt wears a slick-looking gray satin shirt. All the stars in the movie (except George Clooney, who has his own tailor) were outfitted by Miami-based shirtmaker Ike Behar.
For half a century, Behar and his sons have been making high-quality custom shirts for an exclusive clientele. They also sell ready-made shirts at Bill Walker, Norton Ditto, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harold's in the Heights and M Penner. During a recent Houston visit, Behar's son Lawrence took time out from custom-fitting customers at Harold's to talk about his favorite topic.
Q: What are the advantages of a custom-made shirt ($185-$375 each)? A: Fit and style. Q: How do Houston men prefer their shirts?
A: A lot of them are not afraid to wear color. Q: What colors are popular here? A: For casual shirts, anywhere from orange to yellow to pink.
For dress shirts, we have a lot of different choices in our line, but blue stripes sell. After that, lavender is a great fashion color. It's a great way to show style.
Q: What's hot right now? A: In dress shirts, it's the spread collar what we call a modified spread. For sport shirts, it's across the board, from button-down to hidden button-down and soft collars.
A: There's definitely a demand for French cuffs right now. A lot of men are getting really dressed up. A: A few years ago, they were very wide and bold.
Now the trend is narrower and neater. Q: What's the biggest mistake men make when they buy a shirt? A: When you go to a larger department store, they measure your neck and your sleeve, and that automatically puts you into a bigger size.
You're wearing a shirt that's maybe too big in the body just to fit your neck. Q: What can you do about that? A: Either get custom-made shirts or take ready-made shirts to a tailor.
Q: When is it OK to wear a shirt untucked? A: It's a great look with denim or if you're going to a nightclub or bar. Obviously the shirt needs to be cut appropriately.
It doesn't need to be square, but it needs to be cut a little shorter if you wear it out. Q: Can you wear a button-down shirt with a suit? A: I prefer it with a sportcoat.
I love wearing a white button-down shirt with a pair of jeans and a sportcoat. "You're going to pick up some of it anyway in the dry cleaner's system.
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