Tips » winter jacket
Tips » winter jacket
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How To Properly Take Care Of Your Winter Coat How To Properly Take Care Of Your Winter Coat
Buying a coat takes some serious consideration in this neck of the woods, we wear it for at least 5 months of the year. We need a coat that we like, but also that protects us from the harsh Canadian winters. On top of that, its often a financial investment. So don't make a mistake! One you have found the coat of your dreams... how do you keep it top notch for the years to come? Here are a few tips to properly take care of your purchase.
**IMPORTANT**
Always read the coat tag for cleaning instructions!!
--- CLEANING ---
- We recommend cleaning your coat once a year, ideally at the start of the winter season.
- If your coat is machine-washable, follow the instructions on the coat tag.
- If your coat is dry-clean only, make sure to take it to a specialist (in leather or down, depending on your jacket).
- Make sure to take off the fur if it's removable, before taking it to be cleaned. Otherwise, make sure to mention to the dry-cleaner that they'll need to protect the fur during cleaning.
- Natural fur can be delicately combed while dry, or with a bit of clean snow (snow helps to pump up the volume of the fur).
--- STORAGE ---
- Store the coat in a coat bag, in a cool place.
- If the coat has removable fur, take it off before storing.
- Natural fur can be stored in a bag.. in the fridge. (Yes, you read that right. Heat is the #1 enemy of natural fur, the cold of the fridge helps to conserve the quality. DO NOT store it in the freezer!).
- At the start of the winter season, once it has been cleaned, use a waterproofing spray. Most coats are treated before purchase, but cleaning agents may reduce the efficacy of the protection.
**WARNING**
Choose a CLEAR spray that is for both the fabric AND the leather! Take off or cover any fur before applying.- Wait 4-6 hours before wearing your coat outside to make sure that the product has dried completely.
--- LEATHER ---
If your jacket is made out of leather, or has leather parts (eg. sleeves) it is important to take extra care.
- Choose a dry-cleaner who specializes in leather to make sure they don't damage it.
- Apply a leather hydrating cream, at least once per season to keep it supple and shiny.
- Apply the cream on a clean surface : clean the leather beforehand with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
- Once the cream has been applied to the coat, use a waterproofing spray, as suggested above.
It may seem like a lot... but it's quick and easy and worth it in the long-run! You can always contact-us if you're not sure of what to do or have any questions about the care of your purchase, it's our pleasure to help you! You can also pop into one of our boutiques to purchase the cream or waterproofing sprays and receive specialized help.
Check-out our video on facebook for more information (french only) :
Buying a coat takes some serious consideration in this neck of the woods, we wear it for at least 5 months of the year. We need a coat that we like, but also that protects us from the harsh Canadian winters. On top of that, its often a financial investment. So don't make a mistake! One you have found the coat of your dreams... how do you keep it top notch for the years to come? Here are a few tips to properly take care of your purchase.
**IMPORTANT**
Always read the coat tag for cleaning instructions!!
--- CLEANING ---
- We recommend cleaning your coat once a year, ideally at the start of the winter season.
- If your coat is machine-washable, follow the instructions on the coat tag.
- If your coat is dry-clean only, make sure to take it to a specialist (in leather or down, depending on your jacket).
- Make sure to take off the fur if it's removable, before taking it to be cleaned. Otherwise, make sure to mention to the dry-cleaner that they'll need to protect the fur during cleaning.
- Natural fur can be delicately combed while dry, or with a bit of clean snow (snow helps to pump up the volume of the fur).
--- STORAGE ---
- Store the coat in a coat bag, in a cool place.
- If the coat has removable fur, take it off before storing.
- Natural fur can be stored in a bag.. in the fridge. (Yes, you read that right. Heat is the #1 enemy of natural fur, the cold of the fridge helps to conserve the quality. DO NOT store it in the freezer!).
- At the start of the winter season, once it has been cleaned, use a waterproofing spray. Most coats are treated before purchase, but cleaning agents may reduce the efficacy of the protection.
**WARNING**
Choose a CLEAR spray that is for both the fabric AND the leather! Take off or cover any fur before applying.- Wait 4-6 hours before wearing your coat outside to make sure that the product has dried completely.
--- LEATHER ---
If your jacket is made out of leather, or has leather parts (eg. sleeves) it is important to take extra care.
- Choose a dry-cleaner who specializes in leather to make sure they don't damage it.
- Apply a leather hydrating cream, at least once per season to keep it supple and shiny.
- Apply the cream on a clean surface : clean the leather beforehand with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
- Once the cream has been applied to the coat, use a waterproofing spray, as suggested above.
It may seem like a lot... but it's quick and easy and worth it in the long-run! You can always contact-us if you're not sure of what to do or have any questions about the care of your purchase, it's our pleasure to help you! You can also pop into one of our boutiques to purchase the cream or waterproofing sprays and receive specialized help.
Check-out our video on facebook for more information (french only) :
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3 tips to appreciate winter (and stay toasty warm) 3 tips to appreciate winter (and stay toasty warm)
Ahhh winter! The season when you feel like hibernating under your blankets for the next three months. Personally, I like the winter. In fact, I learned to appreciate it when I realized that adding too many layers underneath a cheap jacket was never gonna make me all cosy and warm. Today I want to share my findings and provide motivation to get you out of bed even when its -40.
1 - Down is your friend !!
Most coats are insulated with a mixture of down and feathers. The higher the percentage of down, the warmer the coat is. I advise a minimum of 50/50, and you can go up to 90/10 (90% down and 10% feathers). What is really great about the down is that not only does it mold to your body, but it breathes! So if you get a little hot while sludging through the snow, the down will absorb your sweat and you're not gonna overheat! Coats with polyester are more affordable but the thing with polyester, is that it breathes less. Which means that if you get all hot and sweaty, the moisture will get into your coat, and you'll freeze!
2 – Hide those thighs !!
Yeah yeah, I know, you want to be all cute and sexy even in winter and don’t want to hide under a jacket all the way to your ankles. But ... the longer your jacket is the warmer you are. I’m sure you’ve all had the experience of walking headlong into chilly wind and thinking you may lose your legs to frostbite. Well the solution to this is (insert drum roll here) to choose a long coat! Slightly above the knee is perfect. Most coats even have a zipper that unzips at the bottom to give you some much needed space when you’re sitting on the subway or in your car. Wonderful, right?
3 – Hooded comfort
My last criteria necessary for a good winter coat: a big hood. I’ve never much liked wearing a hat so the quality of the hood is very important to me! With or without fur, your hood will protect your face from the wind and (if like me you never wear a hat) keep the ears toasty warm. Warning, if the hood is large, check that there’s a possibility to attach it. Otherwise you might lose it the minute there’s a bit of wind. Worst case scenario, you can easily head to your local seamstress to add a button. I have a soft spot for Soïa & Kyo’s super comfortable hoodsAnd there it is! My 3 little tips for investing in a quality warm coat. Winter becomes much more enjoyable and if you take care of your coat you’ll have it for year’s to come!
Ahhh winter! The season when you feel like hibernating under your blankets for the next three months. Personally, I like the winter. In fact, I learned to appreciate it when I realized that adding too many layers underneath a cheap jacket was never gonna make me all cosy and warm. Today I want to share my findings and provide motivation to get you out of bed even when its -40.
1 - Down is your friend !!
Most coats are insulated with a mixture of down and feathers. The higher the percentage of down, the warmer the coat is. I advise a minimum of 50/50, and you can go up to 90/10 (90% down and 10% feathers). What is really great about the down is that not only does it mold to your body, but it breathes! So if you get a little hot while sludging through the snow, the down will absorb your sweat and you're not gonna overheat! Coats with polyester are more affordable but the thing with polyester, is that it breathes less. Which means that if you get all hot and sweaty, the moisture will get into your coat, and you'll freeze!
2 – Hide those thighs !!
Yeah yeah, I know, you want to be all cute and sexy even in winter and don’t want to hide under a jacket all the way to your ankles. But ... the longer your jacket is the warmer you are. I’m sure you’ve all had the experience of walking headlong into chilly wind and thinking you may lose your legs to frostbite. Well the solution to this is (insert drum roll here) to choose a long coat! Slightly above the knee is perfect. Most coats even have a zipper that unzips at the bottom to give you some much needed space when you’re sitting on the subway or in your car. Wonderful, right?
3 – Hooded comfort
My last criteria necessary for a good winter coat: a big hood. I’ve never much liked wearing a hat so the quality of the hood is very important to me! With or without fur, your hood will protect your face from the wind and (if like me you never wear a hat) keep the ears toasty warm. Warning, if the hood is large, check that there’s a possibility to attach it. Otherwise you might lose it the minute there’s a bit of wind. Worst case scenario, you can easily head to your local seamstress to add a button. I have a soft spot for Soïa & Kyo’s super comfortable hoodsAnd there it is! My 3 little tips for investing in a quality warm coat. Winter becomes much more enjoyable and if you take care of your coat you’ll have it for year’s to come!
1 - Down is your friend !!
2 – Hide those thighs !!
3 – Hooded comfort