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Welcome to The Information, a collection of the very best advice pulled from a decade's worth of Esquire's Big Black Book—plus even more new, indispensable guidance delivered regularly. Life is complicated. We're here to uncomplicate it.
Treating your treasured items with care and consideration is a given, but sometimes life just happens. An unexpected thunderstorm soaks your shoes. An errant nail snags your sweater. A suit jacket that seemed fine—fine!—the last time you looked at it suddenly has bubbling along the lapel. Some of these things can be fixed. Others can't. Here's a quick rundown of seven common issues and an assessment of whether the situation is salvageable.
The problem:
A small, clean cut through a suit.
Can it be saved? Yes, provided it’s a cut rather than a rip and that the weave does not have a complicated pattern.
The solution: The services of a good reweaver, also known as an invisible mender. Trouble is, invisible menders are very hard to spot.
The problem:
Shoes whose leather has become cracked by too-rapid drying after a downpour.
Can they be saved? Sorry. Consider this a cautionary tale. Leather is organic, and if you dry it too quickly, it’ll go stiff and the fibers will break at the stress points.
The solution: Next time, wipe down your wet shoes and then dry them slowly, away from direct heat. Put newspaper inside to absorb the moisture.
The problem:
Salt-stained shoes.
Can they be saved? Yes, provided they aren’t also dried out (see above).
The solution: Take a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar or Leather Mate (urad-leathermate.com) and wipe it sparingly over the shoes. Wipe off the excess. Once the salt stains have disappeared, treat your shoes to a loving, liberal repolish at the cobbler’s.
The problem:
A hole in a T-shirt.
Can it be saved? Is it worth it?
The solution: Most of the time, it's best to buy a new one and move on. If it's a particularly important specimen—a vintage grail, something sentimental—there are T-shirt repair specialists out there.
The problem:
A suit jacket with bubbly lapels.
Can it be saved? No. The bubbles happen when a cheap suit—the kind that has a fused construction, made with glue rather than stitched— is caught in the rain. The glue dissolves.
The solution: Spend more on your next suit.
The problem:
A sweater with a hole in it.
Can it be saved? The more unraveled the fabric and the finer the knit, the more difficult it is to mend without being obvious.
The solution: Find someone who can reattach the loose knitted ends. Whatever you do, don’t wear a sweater with a hole in it if you plan on saving it.
The problem:
A sock with a hole in it.
Can it be saved? See T-shirt, above.
The solution: Use for cleaning car windshields.
