It’s Wedding season so we’ve been blogging about wedding planning, wedding colors, and wedding invitations. You may not be planning a wedding but if you are attending one this summer, do you know what to wear to a wedding?

Many invitations will specify attire but if it’s not specified on the invitation look at the time of day, location, and the formality of the invitation as a guide.  Keep reading for our tips on what to wear to a wedding. 

INVITATION SPECIFIES ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

“Black Tie, Black Tie Preferred, Black Tie Invited or Black Tie Optional”:
•  Men should rent and wear a tux if possible.  If a tux is not accessible, men should wear a very dark suit with a white shirt and black tie.
•  Women should wear a formal dress, usually to the floor.  Accessories include beaded bags, fancy wraps, formal jewelry, and maybe gloves.

“Formal or Cocktail Attire”:
•  Men should wear a Dark suit and a tie, day or evening.
•  Women should wear a long or short cocktail dress that could include beading, formal jewelry & a wrap.

“Semi Formal”:
•  Men should wear a suit – light colored for day, dark suit with a tie if evening.
•  Women could wear a cocktail dress or a skirt and top.

“Casual”:
•  Men should wear a dress shirt and pants, possibly a Blazer/sports jacket for day and a suit for an evening wedding.
•  Women should wear a summer sundress, skirt, or pants with a nice blouse;   everyday jewelry and accessories.
*** Jeans, shorts and tank tops are not recommended.

“Beach Formal”:
•  Men should wear a summer suite and sandals.
•  Women could wear a more formal summer sundress with flat sandals.
***Men and Women should assume an elegant beach wedding and dress to impress but be mindful of the sun, sand and water.

INVITATION DOES NOT SPECIFY ATTIRE:

Daytime Wedding – Morning or Afternoon:
•  Men should not wear a tuxedo during the day time, regardless of the formality of the event.  A light colored suit for summer or if it’s winter, slacks with a shirt & tie under a sweater.  Dress it up more with a Blazer.
•  Women could wear a fun floral dress, a skirt and sweater set or even a light colored suit.  Business attire is also okay for this type of setting.  Hats or gloves are optional if it’s on wedding is on the formal side.  No black or sequins during the day time.

Evening Wedding:
•  Men cannot go wrong wearing a dark suit with a tie.
•  Women cannot go wrong with a little black dress.  But, women have a lot of options with color of dresses and even a dressy suit.  Stick to a sophisticated look and avoid too many sequins or beads.  Carry a small evening bag rather than a purse.

Whatever you wear, keep in mind that your attire reflects your respect for the Bride and Groom and you can rarely be over dressed.  Please don’t show up in jeans, anything too sexy or revealing, or anything torn or with holes.  And it’s probably a good idea to avoid wearing all white no matter what trendy fashion magazines may advise.

- S.O.

Going “Green” means taking measures to become environmentally conscious in your decisions – using various every day methods to reduce the harm that your living does to the environment.  Another popular term is “Sustainable living” which means “living a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources and his/her own resources”.

If you want to “go Green”, you’re not expected to throw everything out and do a 180 today.  If you try to do that, most likely you’ll give up due to the overwhelming-ness of it all.  Just make a few small changes in your daily life to begin to go green.

For example, recycling is a huge way to begin to go green and do your part to encourage re-usable resources.  Instead of plastic, paper, aluminum and glass ending up in a landfill, it can be re purposed and used again.  By recycling, you are “going Green”.

Another to go green is when your cleaning products run out, try to replace them with products that are ”organic” or “chemically free”.  When you use products containing harmful chemicals, the chemicals get washed down the drain and end up back in our water sources.

When you’re in the market for a new vehicle, look for one that is more fuel efficient.  You don’t need to sell your existing car now to go green.  Remember, small steps.  For now, try to reduce how much you let your car idle at drive through windows, carpool pick up lines and while waiting for someone.  For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile.

More ways to slowly go green:

• When your batteries run out, replace them with rechargeable batteries.  The electrical energy is used and than the battery can be re-used after its charging.
• When your gas powered lawn mower gives out, look for an electric one.While shopping at the grocery store, bring your own canvas sacks instead of taking home their plastic bags.
• Shop at Farmer’s Markets.  Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Ride your bike instead of driving when you’re able.Turn off your tap water while brushing your teeth and turn off lights when they are not necessary.
• Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
• Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.  Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
• Skip buying bottled water and purchase a re-usable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, to use and refill.
• Create a compost pile for use in your garden.
• Shop re-sale for clothing and use your local library to borrow books.
• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
• Keep your cell phones, computers and other electronics as long as possible then donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes.  See our last Earth Day 2012 post for resources on where to do that.

You might already be implementing some of the above tips and if you are, you’re helping the environment and you are being “green”. You don’t have to implement everything on this list.  Going green can mean just starting out with one simple step and then growing from there.   Make one small change then make another, then another, then another.

- S.O.

Dress For Success Indianapolis boutique at 820 North Meridian Street

The annual Send One Suit Week 2012 drive has begun!  Classic Cleaners is going on it’s 10th year partnering with Dress for Success Indianapolis as a year round drop off location and this week we are asking for suit donations from our valued customers.

During the week of April 16 through April 20, 2012, Classic Cleaners is a donation site for the drive and we are asking our customers to donate suits to benefit Dress for Success Indianapolis.  In return, they will receive a coupon via email for $10 off a $20 or more order of dry cleaning.

The donation should be an interview appropriate full suit which includes pants/skirt and a jacket.  If you choose, you may also include a blouse/shirt to complete the ensemble.  Classic Cleaners will professionally dry clean the suits and donate them to Dress for Success Indianapolis on our customer’s behalf.

Dress for Success’s mission is “To promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life”.

Interviewing for a position can be stressful even without worrying about what to wear.  Dress for Success solves the catch-22 that confronts disadvantaged women trying to enter the workforce: without a job, how can you afford a suit? But without a suit, how can you get a job?

Job-ready women come to Dress for Success by referral only from a range of non-profit organizations. Each client works one-on-one with a highly-trained volunteer Personal Shopper, who helps her select professional attire and also provides support and encouragement as she prepares for her upcoming interviews.

Dress for Success has helped thousands of women get the professional look and self-esteem they need to start fresh and improve their lives. If you have contributed to Dress for Success, we offer our sincere thanks. If you have not yet, please consider donating during this drive. “On average, about 40% of Dress for Success Indianapolis’ annual suit needs are met through S.O.S. – Week donations”.

Year round, Classic Cleaners accepts suits and blouses at any of our 17 Classic Cleaners locations.  Or, you may donate via your route driver if you are part Classic Cleaner’s free pick up and delivery service.

Please visit the Dress for Success Indianapolis website for more information and to learn about individual and company volunteer opportunities.

- S.O.

Meet Jennifer Hollenbaugh, one of our dedicated CSRs.  Jennifer started with Classic Cleaners, Inc. in August 2007.   Get to know her via our recent Q-&-A session.  You’ll notice that while Jennifer is behind the counter at our Oaklandon Road location, providing excellent customer service is at the top of her priority list.

Q:        If you had to change your full name, what would you call yourself ?
A:        Jennifer Lopez

Q:        Where were you born?
A:        Indianapolis, IN

Q:        What is your favorite kind of challenge on the job?
A:        Making sure the Customers are 100% satisfied.

Q:        What is your favorite tool at Classic Cleaners and why?
A:        Express service (express bags).

Q:        What do you enjoy most about working at Classic Cleaners?
A:        Making Customers happy and comfortable

Q:        What is your favorite type of fabric and why?
A:        Silk.  It’s soft and cool!

Q:        What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
A:        Spending time with my Son and going to Church.

Q:        If you were a toy, what toy would you be?
A:        Minnie Mouse because she is so cute.

Q:        If you were asked to speak to a graduating high school class, what would you say?
A:        Keep your head held high, no matter what you do in life.  Anything is possible, if you put your mind to it.  Stay positive and focused.  Keep moving forward.

Q:        If you had a time machine and could be transported to any time, the past or the future, what time and place would you choose and why?
A:         I would choose the future because I’m excited to know what plans God has for my life.

Q:        If you had to spend 100 days on a deserted island, what five things would you take with you and why?
A:
1.   Lots of bottled water to stay hydrated.
2.   My Bible to stay close to God.
3.   My cell phone to keep contact with family.
4.   A sleeping bag to sleep comfortably.
5.   A toothbrush to keep my teeth clean.

Thank you, Jennifer, for letting our Customers get to know you.

You can meet Jennifer at our Oaklandon Road Classic Cleaners store where we offer express drop off service 24hours a day and drive thru service during normal business hours.  On Wednesdays, Jennifer’s store offers a weekly special on pants, skirts and shirts.  Stop in and say Hi!

- S.O.