Advice sought for suit care for a dancer!

[salsatron]

Good folks of the lounge, serious question. I am going to a dance congress (a lambadazouk congress, in case anyone here actually knows what the dance is) in Prague at the end of March. One of the nights is going to be a gala night, and as such I would like to go in black tie. I do have a nice black jacket with pointed lapels and a little bit of lycra in it that I usually wear if I want to dress up for dancing, and I use it for nothing else, as it will inevitably get sweaty. I expect to be doing some very serious dancing at this congress, getting seriously sweaty, and I just wanted to get the advice of those in a bit more of the know than myself. I will be making a big mistake. If I get the suit dry-cleaned as soon as I get back to London will it be ok, or will I just completely ruin it. Perhaps I should just turn up in black tie and change into something else?

Thanks in advance.

[ccox]

When you get back to London, pop into someplace like Budd and ask where they get their cleaning taken care of. Someone knows a reputable drycleaner.

I use to be a dance instructor and we were required to wear coat and tie for evening dances. It will take a toll on your wardrobe. By resting the clothes between wearings and giving them a thorough airing out, a little steaming, a good brushing and a spritz of Fabreeze, I could get away with two wearings at most before having to have them cleaned professionally.

[storeynicholas]

Budd certainly used to use the Mayfair Laundry (out in far west London actually but they collect) and Lilliman & Cox in Bruton Place W1 are excellent clothing cleaners.

[salsatron]

Thanks for that. I will have to look them up.

And ccox, out of interest: I presume it was a tailsuit you were having to wear, rather than just black tie (or perhaps you do just mean a regular suit)? I've always wondered what it is like to dance in white tie - I have a proper traditional dresscoat in barathea, but it is so heavy I couldn't imagine dancing in it. But I have seen plenty of them made in lighter materials (and sadly, all too often, with stepped lapels).

[ccox]

For regular dances, it was a lounge suit. I've also danced in a dinner jacket and a tailcoat. The tailcoat was made from very lightweight wool and was very fitted. Another guy wore one made from some sort of spandex blend and the trousers were a sort of unitard thing that didn't require separate braces. Awful, but it looked great in photos.

[salsatron]

Spandex blend? Unitard trousers? The clothes horse in me recoils in horror, but the bigger dancer part of me has to respect the utility. Spandex blends always feel so good for dancing in!