We love to get thank you notes here in the office. It’s always unexpected and a great feeling to come across mail that’s both handwritten and thoughtful. Of course, it goes both ways — we at Meurice send maybe a thousand of our own thank-you notes every year.
On Feb. 23rd, ginger-locked gold medalist Shaun White was on hand in NYC to open the New York Stock Exchange. And when he needed the perfect western-style button down to ring in the market, he brought it to Meurice for alterations.
Shaun White at NYSE w/ gold medal (for effect?)
Sorry it’s a tiny picture, but we didn’t go to take photos with him — we had no idea where he planned to wear the shirt! Our tailor Jon really did outdo himself on this one; it’s a shame we can’t show it to you a little closer-up.
If you’d like to see Shaun’s photo album from his trip to Wall Street, the pics are all on his Facebook page. And, just because it’s hilarious, if you missed his appearance on the Colbert Report, you really owe it to yourself to have a look.
Suede is a tricky material for even experienced cleaners to work with — and on top of that, vegetable oil is a notoriously difficult stain to remove.
No problem!
Have a look at these great before and after photos… even I thought I was looking at a new clutch for a moment.
Stained Hermes clutch before cleaning
Hermes portfolio clutch after cleaning
Last Friday, we at Meurice were privileged to work at Filene’s Basement in Union Square during a little event called Running of the Brides.
It was great to get away from the occasionally testosterone-heavy atmosphere in our production office – but these brides were no shrinking violets. Close to a thousand women (and a handful of men) slammed through the doors when Filene’s opened at 8AM, picking the racks clean in about 90 seconds.
Here’s a brief Youtube video of the gates opening and brides descending on the racks:
Hundreds of brides quickly staked claim to as many dresses as they could. One team that set up shop next to Meurice’s alterations table claimed that they had over 200 gowns. Why, might you ask, did the brides take so many gowns? Unlike leisurely bridal salons, competition for Filene’s gowns was fierce. Teams in brightly-colored uniforms indiscriminately stockpiled gowns, then sent ambassadors to trade with other teams. Each bride knew which particular dress they were after, say, a size 2 cream-colored mermaid gown. Particularly industrious teams plied aisles with photos cut out from magazines and pasted on signs.
Here’s a few shots of the carnage:
Wayne bracing the shelves in the calm before the storm
First wave of brides
Wayne teetering above the fray
Of course, Meurice wasn’t there just to watch. Our booth was positioned toward the makeshift changing room – the perfect placement to advise brides unsure of how much work their dream gown needed.
A lot of brides wanted to know if it was worth cleaning a particular gown – and if it was, how many of the blemishes would come out. On the whole, ROTB gowns were fairly clean, given that most were samples or floor models. We saw a good deal of ‘pickup’ dirt, often along hemlines that were bound to be shortened anyway. Fortunately, nearly all the imperfections on ROTB gowns were well within the realm of cleanability.
Another common question from Filene’s brides: Why are alterations so expensive? If I’m buying a $249 gown, why would I pay $400 to have it tailored? The short answer is alterations are a labor-intensive process that requires skilled technicians. Our three tailors at Meurice have over 90 years combined experience… so their efforts do not come for free. Of course, the upside is that they are all extremely talented. Tailoring gowns while preserving the designers’ lines is a true art form, and we’ve seen our share of gowns mangled by lesser seamstresses.
Roma works her wedding gown alteration magic
Our consultations are always complimentary, and we have no minimum charge for our services. We’ve completed elaborate alterations for more than $2,500, and we’ve also made minor repairs for less than $25. Alteration costs really vary widely from gown to gown.
As Meurice’s owner, Wayne, is fond of saying, a bride’s perfect gown can always be tailored to fit her perfectly. On the other hand, if a bride finds a gown that fits her perfectly, but isn’t exactly up to her standards, there’s not much we can do.
Was the chaos at ROTB worth it? For the hundreds of happy customers we saw, the answer was a resounding ‘yes!
The deals were so great, as a matter of fact, we saw ‘brides’ that weren’t even engaged yet! One of the best moments of the event came as the crowds has dwindled toward the end of the day. We helped a young woman into a stunning gown that just happened to fit her like a glove. As the remaining spectators (yes, spectators) clapped and shouted their congratulations, the woman admitted she wasn’t getting married, or even dating.
“I just work here,” she said, grinning mischievously.
The whole Meurice team in front of our booth
For more photos of Running of the Brides, see our photostream on Flickr.
Running of the Brides at Filene’s Basement in Union Square is this Friday, February 5th — and we know it’s going to be NUTS! The key to getting the right gown: preparation. Here’s the top ten tips we’ve compiled to successfully run with Filene’s brides:
From NY Daily News
10). Buy a size bigger
You may think you’re a size four, and we know you’ll starve yourself right up until the wedding… but if you can’t get just the right size, you’re best buying up. All our tailors agree – it’s easier to take a gown out than to add more in!
9). Think about the season you’re planning your wedding for
If you’re planning a tropical wedding, it goes without saying that less gown is more comfortable. On the other hand, brides planning to get married in the fall or winter may appreciate a little extra coverage. You’ll be in the dress all day – make sure you’re comfortable.
8). Consider your comfort when choosing a gown
You’ll wear your gown all day… through the ceremony and dancing as well. Make sure it’s comfortable! We’ll never forget the bride who comes in to preserve a gown two week after the wedding with marks still in her shoulders from her 50lb gown!
7). Planning a destination wedding?
Transporting a gown onboard an airline is major hassle than often ends in wrinkles. Fortunately, we have the solution – specialized travel kits that can comfortably fit in an overhead luggage compartment (and of course we’ll pack it to ensure proper pressing).
6). Don’t be afraid to try on a gown that’s not exactly what you had in mind.
At the Running of the Brides pricing, it very well may be worth your while to have us tweak a dress that’s close to, but not exactly, the gown of your dreams. And with the frenzy of brides out there… those who dawdle may end up empty-handed.
5). If you’re the indecisive type, and can’t decide between more than one dress…
Don’t worry about taking two home. Many brides don’t settle on just one gown during the bridal event, and later consign a second gown, or sell it on eBay (often at a profit!)
4). You like the bodice on one dress… and the skirt from another…
Buy them both! Not only can our seamstresses alter single gowns, but our unique reconstructive surgery can easily merge two gowns.
3). Know your dirt.
Some of the gowns at Running of the Brides have blemishes which may or may not clean completely. On almost all kinds of fabric we can remove surface, or ‘pickup’ dirt. Fabric abrasions, on the other hand, are more difficult to clear up, especially in silk.
2). If a gown has one particular imperfection
Don’t fret! Even if we can’t repair worn fabric, we may be able to help. Some old tailoring tricks include cover-up through ornamentation such as beading or lace, or shifting a fabric panel to move the blemish behind the seam.
1). If you’re mostly happy with a gown, but find it a bit dull
Let us add a little pizzazz! We work closely with M&J Trimming, who will be on hand to supply beads, lace and embellishment. It’s easy to add tasteful accents while preserving the lines envisioned by your gown’s designer.
Meurice Garment Care wristbands
Check out or brandy new wristbands. Wait until you see what we’ve got _on_ our sleeves (sorry about that!) for these!
We love wedding gowns. We love interacting with brides. We’ve just never answered questions for more than five hundred of them at one time before!
For the uninitiated, here’s the basic premise: once a year, each Filene’s Basement location holds a massive bridal event. Overstock gowns that might have originally sold from $900 to $9,000 are marked down to either $249, $499 or $699. Filene’s Basement doesn’t ordinarily sell gowns. Thousands of brides form a line wrapping around the block before dawn, and when the doors are open, the scene turns to no-holds-barred insanity.
Have a look at this video on YouTube to get an idea of the bedlam we’re in for!
What’s really cool is that many of these gowns are prototypes that never made it into production… which means there’s a good chance Filene’s brides are bringing home truly one-of-a-kind gowns.
Of course, the event isn’t just about saving money. Brides come from all across the country for the excitement, camaraderie and slight hint of danger in the air.
Naturally, we couldn’t resist the chance to be on hand. This February 5th, Meurice is running with the brides at Filene’s Basement in Union Square – just around the corner from our downtown store on University Place. The whole team will be there (in white Clothes Doctor labcoats!) offering Meurice’s unique reconstructive surgery.
Filene’s estimates there will be more than 2,500 gowns at the once-a-year bridal special, but inevitably some brides will be disappointed to see that the gown of their dreams isn’t in their size, lacks a bit of pizzazz or may simply be a bit shopworn.
We’re happy to help! We’ll offer our expert advice on alterations, cleaning, even adding trimming or merging gowns. With Filene’s rock bottom prices, it makes sense for many brides to let us transform gowns which might not be 100% perfect for a particular bride.
In the meantime, we’ll focus on surviving the pandemonium. From what we’ve heard, the best times to shop are early in the day (when the full selection is briefly available) and toward the end of the event (when staffers have had a chance to pull the racks back together).
If you’re in the market for a gown, don’t miss this very unique bridal opportunity.
And if you’re not in the market for a gown, check back on our blog February 6th. We’ll be sure to take plenty of pics of the fun so you can shop vicariously.
We listen to our clients. So, when we heard our alterations were fabulous, but a hassle for people with multiple pieces to revamp, we listened.
We’re now excited to introduce at-home tailoring with Meurice. Simply call ( 800.240.3377) or email us to set up an appointment. Enjoy our fine tailoring, and leave the schlepping to us.
Expert seamstress Roma, with decades of experience, is available for travel on alterations anywhere within the five boroughs. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of fittings in your own home, along with Roma’s one-on-one attention.
Don’t replace your wardrobe. Let us make it better.
Roma hard at work with her alterations
As Lloyd de Vries wrote an article for CBS News, “Concerned about picking up a nasty bug while in the hospital? Forget about whether your doctor washed his hands before examining you. Ask when he last dry-cleaned his tie.”
Most doctors frequently wash their hands, sterilize their white medical coats, and regularly discard their disposable pens. Few doctors are as diligent about cleaning their neckties.
Last year, the American Medical Association introduced a resolution to recommend bans on doctors wearing ties. (That resolution has not yet come to a vote.) The British Medical Association has already adopted a similar measure, barring neckgear in 2006.
We at Meurice have a better idea – hygienic tie cleaning. Our unique cleaning process, available nationwide via UPS, is gentle on textiles while being tough on bacteria. Regular cleanings with Meurice can also extend the life of your favorite necktie and reduce unsightly pulls and abrasion. Of course, no measure will completely halt the spread of germs in hospitals, but we’re still happy to offer one more tool to control their spread.
Hygenic tie cleaning with Meurice
This phil & ted sport stroller came to us a bit haggard. The owner tried cleaning it repeatedly, but the dark splotchy stains came back. When she brought it into us, we saw that we were dealing with a severe case of mold.
Stroller cleaned by Meurice Garment Care
We disassembled the buggy, cleaned each fabric surface individually, and carefully put it back together. Here’s the final product; better than new! Of course, as with all childrens’ items, we used only our safe, gentle, ECO-care processes.
phil & teds stroller, cleaned good as new!