Mention regular maintenance work and, at first, a gentleman may think to himself: cars, appliances, a broken pair of AirPods. But updating and repairing the shoes, watches, or clothes in one’s wardrobe is a necessary evil that also requires consistent tending to – and it demands expert help, too. Luckily, a city such as New York has a bevy of options, whether you need a good tailor or a cobbler. The only problem? Knowing which one to go for. But fear not: we asked three men’s fashion insiders for their go-to spots for altering their clothes, shoes and accessories in New York. From local favourites to popular hotspots, these destinations need to be added to your service list pronto. Upkeep is crucial.

“I was first introduced to Express Tailor Shop in the Lower East Side 12 years ago by my good friend Touré, one of the chicest men I know. I had just purchased my first tuxedo and, since then, I’ve had board shorts transformed to above-the-knee lengths, had denim patched, jackets cinched, sleeves shortened, and shirts darted. Express has this familiar, family-run atmosphere that I love. They can also get small jobs done while you wait.

“I use Park West Valet on 57th and 9th Avenue for my dry-cleaning. Once, I had a pair of trousers I had taken to another cleaners, and they had completed pressed all the pleats out. Park West took the trousers and replaced the triple pleats perfectly. Reliability is what I like most about them.

“I never thought I would need a shoe repair. It wasn’t until I realised that I had a high arch and a lot of my leather shoes needed to be stretched for the top part of my foot. Rostelle Shoe Services is on 8th Avenue, between 54th and 55th Street. I love that, for one fee, Rostelle will continue to stretch the same pair of shoes until they are perfect.”

“My primary motivation for choosing service spots is convenience. For alterations, I used to use Shanan Tailor & Cleaners, mostly because they were on the ground floor of my building. They recently shuttered, so I’ve been going to G&G Cleaners on West Broadway (it moved from its original Grand Street location recently). It’s still close by, and some of the most exacting men’s fashion connoisseurs (read: everyone from the Thom Browne team) uses them. Recently I had a suit altered for a red-carpet appearance. And the team there are now friendly, familiar faces.

“Cornerstone Laundromat on Sullivan Street is where I do my laundry, drop my wash and fold, and take my dry cleaning. Previously, the place was worn down and poorly organised, like most laundromats, but it was recently renovated and has been given a new life. The staff are nice, and even better, you can pay or get quarters from them via the Venmo app.

“Vince’s Village Cobbler on the same street does a great job whether I’m getting a new pair of shoes stretched, resoled, or just a simple shine.”

“I go to Naturalee Cleaners – it’s in University Place, by my apartment. I have been going there forever and they know my specific requirements when it comes to ironing and starching shirts. They’re always playing Spanish music, from salsa to tango and even Julio Iglesias. What’s not to love about that?

“For shoe repairs, I go to Eddie’s in Grand Central Terminal. It is a very old school shoe shining and repair shop. I found them by chance while going to the office one day. They do an impeccable job with shoe repairs, and I have gotten my shoes shined there while reading the paper more than once. Such a great New York experience.

“[For watch repairs] I have a great relationship with Rolex and I deal with their headquarters’ customer service for cleaning and repairs. It’s a lengthy process but it is worth the wait – my watches always come back looking brand new.”