Gown Cleaner Directory

Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park
284 Third Ave., nr. 22nd St.
212-677-3949
cameocleaners.com

Chloë Sevigny and Christina Ricci regularly drop off their duds with these high-end cleaners, and Tatum O'Neal entrusted her couture pieces to Cameo after her apartment was ravaged by a fire. With good cause: Owner Jerry Pozniak has been cleaning wedding gowns for about fifteen years, and his well-trained eye can identify and treat just about any stain ($400–800). Although Pozniak usually needs two or three weeks, he has fixed disasters overnight. Free pickup and delivery in Manhattan (it costs about $50 for the outer boroughs).

Chris French Cleaners
57 Fourth Ave., at 9th St.
212-475-5444
chriscleaners.com

Manhattan brides bring gowns from practically every designer to be cleaned here. Ordinarily, a dress takes four to six weeks, but French can rush it in one to three ($300–$700). He doesn't offer storage, but pickup and delivery are free.

Fashion Award Cleaners
2205 Broadway, nr. 78th St.
212-289-5623

These thorough cleaners use UV light to catch invisible stains that would show up as ugly yellow spots years from now. Two weeks for cleaning (from $600). No storage, and pickup and delivery are free only if you live in an area within a few blocks from the shop.

Hallak Cleaners
1232 Second Ave., nr. 65th St.
212-879-4694
hallakcleaners.com

This family-owned business uses four different methods of cleaning, depending on the gown. Hallak can clean in a week if you're in a hurry, but the average is three to four weeks (from $475). Pickup and delivery are available, and shipping is free; storage is $100 per year.

J. Scheer & Co.
21 E. 65th St., nr. Madison Ave.
212-570-1511
jscheer.com

Trained in textile science, owner Jonathan Scheer is a master at fabric preservation. He subjects what passes through his doors to a battery of tests to determine how best to clean it ($395–$795). Free pickup, delivery, and shipping.

Madame Paulette
1255 Second Ave., nr. 66th St.
877-268-8873
madamepaulette.com

Picture someone on his hands and knees with a Q-Tip and a magnifying glass—that's about the level of perfection you can expect here. Jobs take four to six weeks (from $500), but under special circumstances they can be done in 24 hours. Tailoring services are available for sample-sale gowns. Free pickup and delivery in Manhattan.

Meurice Garment Care
31 University Pl., nr. 9th St.
212-475-2778
245 E. 57th St., nr. Second Ave.
212-759-9057
20 Park Ave., nr. Plandome Rd., Manhasset, N.Y.
516-627-6060

Brides longing to wear their great-grandmother's dress bring their gowns here for the Über-treatment, which includes restoration (from $624), alteration (from $25), reconstruction (from $1,500), and cleaning and preservation (from $511). The cleaning process is right out of CSI: They'll use UV light to uncover stains invisible to the naked eye.

   

 
From the Fall 2005 New York Wedding Guide