I'm fairly ignorant on the matter. Now let me preface with saying that i prefer to launder my shirts at home. That being the case, i've noticed that some of my shirts maintain their "shape", so to speak, better than others through the process. My nicer shirts, e.g. Varvatos, Poggianti, keep a crispness to them, especially on the collar, after washing while my cheaper shirts don't (the seams become wrinkled).

Is this a matter of construction or material or both? And recommendations on brands or other details?

10/14/2011 2:20:58 PM

It's a matter of both. Get the cheaper shirts starched every once in awhile and it'll bring back the rigidness.

10/14/2011 2:22:20 PM

I'm not an expert on materials, but it seems like a lot of the damage done to shirts is when you run them through the dryer. I have had better luck when I use the washer, then hang shirts out to dry.

10/14/2011 2:22:31 PM

dry clean yo shit, it lasts way longer and keeps it looking new

10/14/2011 2:31:31 PM

^ also uses nasty chemicals...pass

10/14/2011 2:38:17 PM

Both. If you're already buying Varvatos you probably aren't going to get much better in terms of material or construction unless you start getting things tailored for you.

10/14/2011 2:43:45 PM

I wash all my shit at home. dry cleaning is a waste of money.

as far as the OP, yes, material, manufacturing, and chemical treatments all affect how your clothes hold up

10/14/2011 2:44:07 PM

When you take a men's shirt to a dry cleaners I think they usually launder rather than dry clean it anyway. Comes out looking nice because they press and starch it afterward.

10/14/2011 3:19:52 PM

Last two dry cleaners I went to, I told them that there was a stain on the shirt and asked if they could work on it and let me know before dry cleaning.

After picking up my shirts, I realized that those stains has just been baked into my shirts.

The woman behind the counter yells, "NO STAIN".

10/14/2011 3:50:54 PM

I once had a similar experience trying to explain to them how to get a gum stain out of my dungarees

They heard something else

10/14/2011 5:23:41 PM