December arrives with a certain magic—twinkling lights, elegant gatherings, cozy get-togethers, and the welcome excuse to dress up a little more than usual. Whether you’re attending your company holiday party, hosting family dinners, or dressing for church services and hometown traditions, this is the season when our wardrobes work a little harder.
But between delicate fabrics, unpredictable weather, and a calendar full of events, preparing your clothing for December requires more than simply pulling last year’s attire from the back of the closet. Looking polished, intentional, and festive is all about attention to detail—something LeeAnn Gentry and her team at Deluxe Cleaners & Alterations know better than anyone. With decades of textile knowledge, a meticulously trained staff, and two convenient West Chester locations, they make it easy to step into every celebration looking beautifully put together.
Let’s walk through everything you can do—well before the first party invitation—to ensure your wardrobe is holiday-ready.
Start by Taking Inventory of Your Seasonal Favorites
Before you shop for anything new this season, take a quiet moment to rediscover what’s already in your closet. (Yes, consider this your Martha-Stewart-approved “wardrobe decluttering ritual.”)
Pull out:
- Holiday dresses
- Suits and sport coats
- Cashmere, wool, and winter knits
- Velvet, satin, and silk pieces
- Coats, wraps, and formal outerwear
Look for signs of wear such as lint, dullness, missing buttons, drooping hems, faint stains, or lingering musty odors. These are the small details that can make a beautiful garment look tired.
This is the perfect time to bring pieces to Deluxe Cleaners & Alterations—especially if they’re made from fabrics that require extra care. Wool, velvet, cashmere, silk, and embellished formal wear benefit from expert handling and proper pressing, which helps revive their richness and texture.
Tailoring: The Secret to Looking Instantly Polished
If there’s one thing that elevates your holiday look from “nice” to “wow,” it’s fit. A beautifully fitted garment feels more expensive and more flattering—regardless of the brand or price point.
LeeAnn and her alterations team specialize in:
- Hem adjustments for pants, skirts, and dresses
- Waistline taking-in or letting-out
- Sleeve shortening
- Seam repairs
- Suit and dress reshaping
- Evening gown and cocktail dress adjustments
- Strap shortening
- Adding darts or minor tailoring to enhance silhouettes
Even small changes make a big difference, especially with outfits you’ll be photographed in throughout the season.
Your Alterations Checklist for December
- Try on your holiday pieces now, not the day before the party.
- Move around—sit, reach, lift your arms. Comfort matters.
- Check if the garment pulls, gaps, droops, or feels boxy.
- Bring it in for adjustments before schedules get tight.
Holiday event calendars fill up fast, and the alterations team often books quickly this time of year. Getting in early guarantees your pieces are ready for every festive moment.
Professional Cleaning for Delicate Holiday Fabrics
Holiday attire often features textures and materials that need specialized care:
- Velvet loses its sheen if cleaned incorrectly.
- Satin can show water spots from DIY attempts.
- Wool and cashmere need gentle treatment to avoid shrinkage.
- Sequins and beads require careful handling, not standard laundering.
At Deluxe Cleaners & Alterations, every garment is examined for fabric type, stain pattern, construction details, and cleaning technique. With decades of hands-on textile experience, LeeAnn ensures that delicate garments return to you refreshed, restored, and ready to wear—not stiff, flattened, or mishandled the way home treatments sometimes risk.
This is especially important for seasonal pieces you only wear a few times a year. Proper cleaning helps them last for many holidays to come.
Holiday Stain Realities: Treat Now, Not Later
Peppermint mocha drips. Red wine splashes. Candle wax. Cranberry sauce. The list of festive stains is… extensive.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until after the holidays to bring stained items in. Time sets stains deeply into fabric fibers, especially acidity-based spots like wine and berries.
A Few Helpful Dos and Don’ts
Do:
- Blot stains gently with a clean cloth.
- Bring the garment in promptly—tell the cleaner what caused the stain.
- Store stained garments separately to avoid transfer.
Don’t:
- Scrub or rub.
- Use heat (including the dryer).
- Try home remedies you’re unsure of—many do more harm than good.
LeeAnn and her team have seen every holiday stain imaginable, and they treat each one with the least invasive method necessary to maintain your garment’s integrity. Their stain removal results are often remarkable because they understand the chemistry behind stains and how they interact with different fibers.
Prepare Your Coats and Outerwear for the Season
Holiday outfits don’t stop at dresses and suits—your outerwear matters too.
December is the ideal month to refresh:
- Wool coats
- Cashmere blend coats
- Down jackets
- Trench coats with weatherproofing
- Dress coats for formal events
- Faux fur or real fur accessories
Proper cleaning and pressing restore the shape of your coat and help it lay smoothly over your holiday attire. And if your coat needs small repairs—buttons, zippers, linings—Deluxe Cleaners & Alterations can take care of that before the coldest weeks arrive.
A polished coat is part of your holiday look. Make sure it complements it, not detracts from it.
Don’t Forget the “Supporting Cast” of Holiday Wardrobes
Sometimes the items that complete a festive outfit need love too:
- Scarves: Refresh and press wool or silk scarves.
- Dress shirts: Crisp pressing brings back a tailored look.
- Ties: Avoid DIY cleaning—ties are easy to distort.
- Holiday sweaters: Pilling removal and gentle cleaning revive them beautifully.
- Formal wraps: Especially those made of velvet or satin.
If you’re unsure whether something can be cleaned professionally, bring it in anyway—Deluxe’s staff will advise you honestly and confidently.
Plan Ahead for Multiple Events
If your December calendar includes several gatherings, consider planning your outfits in advance. Place cleaned and tailored items on sturdy hangers, use breathable garment bags, and store holiday accessories where you can easily find them.
This simple organization beats the chaos of last-minute searches and ensures you walk into each event feeling calm and polished—much like the gracefully prepared hostess you aspire to be (and already are).
A Final Touch of Local Holiday Charm
Deluxe Cleaners & Alterations isn’t just a business—it’s a part of the West Chester community. LeeAnn lives here, works here, and cares for your clothing with the kind of pride only a local, family-owned business can offer.