Mar 13, 2009 2:27 pm US/Pacific
Designers Offering More Wash-And-Wear Clothing
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Americans spend more than $9 billion each year on dry cleaning, but this year's spring styles are designed to save you money and hassle because you can toss them right in the washing machine without worry. (File)
CBS
Americans spend more than $9 billion each year on dry cleaning, but this year's spring styles are designed to save you money and hassle because you can toss them right in the washing machine without worry.
Many consumers say dry cleaning has left them pressed for time and money these days, reports CBS station WCBS-TV.
Woodhaven resident Shahana Williams told us she spends $50 a week on dry cleaning. We told her that amounts to $2,400 a year.
"Wow, I never thought of it like that," she said.
This spring more and more top designers are responding to the complaints of cash-strapped consumers with wash-and-wear clothing.
"They're either machine wash/tumble dry or machine wash/hang dry. They eliminate a lot of time, and they eliminate sending everything to the dry cleaner," says Kathleen Huddy, Textiles Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute.
But Huddy says they're still stylish. She put a number of the new looks to the test. First up was a 100 percent cotton dress by Boden which she machine washed.
"It's a lightweight cotton lawn and its lined with lightweight cotton. So it gives you coverage, and it's also very flattering. It has an empire waist and a scoop neck," she says.
And all it needs to spring back to life after a washing? Drying on a line.
An absolute must have this spring is straight from the runway: the silk tunic. But unlike many silk garment, Huddy shows WCBS-TV a Dana Buchman style that can do without the dry cleaning.
"It skims all the trouble spots, its very flattering and it's washable. Just line-dry it and you're ready to go," she says.
And for every woman who is fed up with ironing a shirt for work in the morning, there's a Coldwater Creek blouse made of 100% cotton but has a no-iron finish.
"Comes in a lot of high-impact colors. It's a great machine wash/tumble dry that will always look good," she says.
And talk about green cleaning! Foregoing the dry cleaner each week can add up savings of nearly $500 a year.
For retailers offering wash-and-wear clothing, see the following links:
Boden
Coldwater Creek
Kohl's
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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