Care

A simple and considered care ritual goes a long way. We asked our friends and garment care experts, Zach and Jerry of Jeeves New York, to create a care guide for PlayLoveWin shirts.

A few words then, from those who fuss over such things for a living.

Cotton

A good cotton shirt asks very little of you and repays your kindness handsomely. Treat it well, and it will look immaculate for years.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger, wood or padded, if you please. Not wire, not the floor, not the chair, and never that hopeful pile in the corner of the bedroom. The exercise bike is not a valet. However convenient it may seem, it was not built to hold your shirt. Spare it the indignity, and spare yourself the wrinkles.

Steam lightly between wearings.

A quick pass with a steamer relaxes the day’s creases and freshens things up. No full clean required, unless it’s been soiled, sweated in, or otherwise led astray.

Let it rest for a day.

A little time between wearings lets the cotton recover its shape, and its composure. Rushed shirts, like rushed people, rarely look their best.

When it’s time for a proper wash.

Check the label first, some cotton wants a machine, some want a professional. Treat stains the moment they happen; a fresh one can be persuaded to leave, an old one tends to settle in and stay. Sort by color, empty the pockets, turn it inside out, and wash cold on a gentle cycle with a modest amount of good detergent, crowding the machine helps no one. Skip the hot dryer; hang it while damp and press while barely dry for the crispest finish, or steam once dry for something softer.

Handwash if you like.

We have used with great success the hand-wash detergents, Soak and Eucalan. Both are no rinse formulas which contain conditioners needed for protein fibers; wool, cashmere and silk. These conditioners are required for silk to ensure it stays shiny and smooth.

Do all this, and your cotton shirt will last a very long time. And if you’ve played hard in it and it needs a bit more love, professional cleaning and pressing is always in good taste.

Shop cotton shirts
Breeze

A good cotton shirt asks very little of you and repays your kindness handsomely. Treat it well, and it will look immaculate for years.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger, wood or padded, if you please. Not wire, not the floor, not the chair, and never that hopeful pile in the corner of the bedroom. The exercise bike is not a valet. However convenient it may seem, it was not built to hold your shirt. Spare it the indignity, and spare yourself the wrinkles.

Steam lightly between wearings.

A quick pass with a steamer relaxes the day’s creases and freshens things up. No full clean required, unless it’s been soiled, sweated in, or otherwise led astray.

Let it rest for a day.

A little time between wearings lets the cotton recover its shape, and its composure. Rushed shirts, like rushed people, rarely look their best.

When it’s time for a proper wash.

Check the label first, some cotton wants a machine, some want a professional. Treat stains the moment they happen; a fresh one can be persuaded to leave, an old one tends to settle in and stay. Sort by color, empty the pockets, turn it inside out, and wash cold on a gentle cycle with a modest amount of good detergent, crowding the machine helps no one. Skip the hot dryer; hang it while damp and press while barely dry for the crispest finish, or steam once dry for something softer.

Do all this, and your cotton shirt will last a very long time. And if you’ve played hard in it and it needs a bit more love, professional cleaning and pressing is always in good taste.

Shop breeze shirts
Poplin

A good cotton shirt asks very little of you and repays your kindness handsomely. Treat it well, and it will look immaculate for years.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger, wood or padded, if you please. Not wire, not the floor, not the chair, and never that hopeful pile in the corner of the bedroom. The exercise bike is not a valet. However convenient it may seem, it was not built to hold your shirt. Spare it the indignity, and spare yourself the wrinkles.

Steam lightly between wearings.

A quick pass with a steamer relaxes the day’s creases and freshens things up. No full clean required, unless it’s been soiled, sweated in, or otherwise led astray.

Let it rest for a day.

A little time between wearings lets the cotton recover its shape, and its composure. Rushed shirts, like rushed people, rarely look their best.

When it’s time for a proper wash.

Check the label first, some cotton wants a machine, some want a professional. Treat stains the moment they happen; a fresh one can be persuaded to leave, an old one tends to settle in and stay. Sort by color, empty the pockets, turn it inside out, and wash cold on a gentle cycle with a modest amount of good detergent, crowding the machine helps no one. Skip the hot dryer; hang it while damp and press while barely dry for the crispest finish, or steam once dry for something softer.

Do all this, and your cotton shirt will last a very long time. And if you’ve played hard in it and it needs a bit more love, professional cleaning and pressing is always in good taste.

Shop poplin shirts
Cotton Cashmere

Cotton cashmere is an undemanding fabric with a long memory: treat it well, and it returns the favor for years. Handled properly, it will see you through far more years than your resolutions ever will.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger, wood or padded, thank you. Not wire, not the floor, not the chair, and certainly not that hopeful pile in the corner that you keep meaning to deal with.

Let it breathe.

A day’s work leaves a bit of perspiration behind, and perspiration left unaired turns musty in a hurry. Give your shirt an hour or two out in the open before it rejoins polite company in your closet.

Mind the moths.

Clean any stains promptly, and always before storing the shirt away for the season. Cashmere is a moth’s idea of fine dining, and they have a particular fondness for anything seasoned with sweat. Give breathable, cold sweater bags a try for off season storage.

Keep it out of the sun (and the sauna).

A sunny windowsill or a sweltering closet will fade and damage the fibers over time. Your shirt would prefer somewhere cool, dark, and dignified.

Professional needed, dry cleaning preferred.

Cotton-Cashmere fabric prizes softness above all else, and softness is the first thing a washing machine takes away. Dry cleaning preserves the fabric’s loft and drape without the agitation that leads to pilling or a tired, matted feel. Treated well, it stays soft for years rather than seasons.

Hand washing? Sure, tread lightly.

If you dare, and have experience. Hand wash in cold water with a wool-safe detergent. Skip the fabric softener, it does the fibers no favors and never wring. Hand-shape and lay flat on a clean towel to dry; the clothes dryer is not invited.

Follow the wash instructions to the letter, and your shirt will serve you faithfully for years. And if it’s had a particularly adventurous outing and needs more than the usual TLC, a professional cleaning and press never goes amiss. Think of all the time you will save not reshaping by hand.

Cashmere Wool

A cashmere wool shirt is a bit like a good butler: sturdier than it looks, but still deserving of a gentle hand. Treat it accordingly, and it will serve you for many winters to come.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger, wood or padded, if you please. Not wire, not the floor, not the chair, and never that hopeful pile in the corner.

Let it breathe.

Wool is remarkably good at shrugging off odor on its own, but it still appreciates an hour or two of open air before returning to the closet. Consider it decompression time.

Mind the moths, seriously.

If cashmere is a delicacy to moths, wool is the main course. Clean any stains without delay, and never, ever box this shirt away for the season while it’s soiled. A cedar block or lavender sachet nearby is cheap insurance.

Keep it out of the sun (and the sauna).

Direct sunlight fades it, a hot closet or radiator can warp it. This shirt prefers somewhere cool, dark, and dignified, much like Jeeves himself.

Dry clean. Full stop.

Wool fibers are built to hold their shape, but heat and moisture (from home washing) can undo that structure permanently through shrinking or felting. Dry cleaning sidesteps this entirely, keeping the weave tight and the fit true. It’s the difference between a shirt that lasts a decade and one that doesn’t survive a season.

Wash if you must. We’ll say no more.

For those with experience only, hand wash in cold water with a wool-safe detergent, gently pressing rather than scrubbing or wringing. Reshape while damp and dry flat, never on a hanger, which will stretch it into something unrecognizable. Never use a clothes dryer unless you want to see your shirt shrink before your eyes.

Do all this, and your shirt will outlast several winters and at least one wardrobe trend. If this is more work than you intended between wearings, a professional dry cleaning and press is always in good taste.

Shop cashmere wool shirts
Silk

Silk is the aristocrat of fabrics, glorious to wear, but not one for rough treatment. A little consideration goes a long way, and it will reward you with a shine that never quite fades.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a padded hanger. Wire hangers leave marks, and silk does not forgive easily. The floor, the chair, and the “I’ll deal with it later” pile are all beneath it.

Let it breathe. Away from perfume and hairspray.

Silk fibers are sensitive souls. Perspiration, perfume, and deodorant residue can weaken and even discolor them over time, so let the shirt air out fully before it’s put away, and try to let fragrances settle before dressing.

Mind the stains, promptly.

Silk holds a grudge against anything left to sit. Treat spots and perspiration marks quickly and gently, a delicate touch now saves a trip to the cleaners later. Never rub to remove a stain on silk, tamp only, otherwise the fabric could be chafed.

Keep it out of the sun.

Direct sunlight is silk’s greatest enemy, fading color and weakening fiber faster than almost anything else. Store it somewhere cool, dark, and out of the spotlight, the shirt gets to be the star, not the sun.

Dry cleaning isn’t a suggestion in this case.

Dry cleaning is needed as silk is unusually candid about mistreatment, water can spot it, and a wash cycle can dull its signature sheen almost overnight. Dry cleaning avoids both, keeping the fiber’s natural luster and drape intact. It’s a fabric that rewards a light touch, and dry cleaning is the lightest touch available.

If you’d like to hand wash, we won’t stop you. Just take it slow.

Hand wash in cold water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent made for silk, never wring, just swish gently. Roll it in a towel to press out excess water. Reshape, hang or lay flat away from direct sun to dry. If it’s structured, printed, or simply looking at you funny, spare yourself the drama and send it to the dry cleaner.

Do all this, and your silk shirt will keep its luster for years. For anything beyond the routine, professional dry cleaning is money well spent.

Shop silk shirts
Tencel

Tencel is the low-maintenance member of the family, soft, breathable, and remarkably good at behaving itself. Still, even the easygoing ones appreciate a bit of attention.

Hang it up. Immediately.

Off your shoulders and onto a proper hanger. Tencel resists wrinkles better than most, but there’s no sense testing that talent by leaving it in a heap.

Let it breathe.

Tencel is naturally moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, so a wash after every single wear is rarely necessary. Give it some open air and it will usually be ready to go again.

No moths to mind here.

Being plant-based, Tencel holds no appeal whatsoever to moths, one less thing to fuss over when it’s time to pack it away.

Keep it out of harsh sun and high heat.

Direct sunlight will still fade the color, and high heat can undo its lovely drape. Somewhere cool and shaded will keep it looking its best.

This one belongs to the professionals: dry clean only.

Tencel drapes beautifully precisely because its fibers are so fine, which is also why machine or hand washing tends to leave it stiff, shrunken, or out of shape. Dry cleaning respects that delicacy, preserving the fluid drape and structure that is intended by the design. Handled properly, it keeps its character after every wearing and gentle dry cleaning.

Never, never wash.

Not by hand, not by machine, don’t do it. Tencel’s famous drape comes from delicate cellulose fibers that swell and lose structure the moment they’re agitated in water. Once that happens, the drape doesn’t return. Dry cleaning is the only option that respects Tencel and keeps it lasting for years.
Shop tencel shirts