How should I clean this beautiful dress?

W

westfirst

Registered Guest
How would you recommend cleaning this chiffon overlay dress? It has a couple stains (coffee or tea colored - the worst is pictured) and is a bit dingy all over. I am so new at analyzing vintage clothes, but I believe the slip underneath is acetate? Am I correct that this is from the 70s? Also, what would you call the accordian type folds in the chiffon that curl up at the bottom of the dress?

Thanks so much for your help!!! I am thoroughly enjoying gleaning from all of your knowledge; what a wonderful site! ;)

Tara
 




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I have not had good luck using water based home treatments for crystal pleated or accordian pleated chiffon, which is normally what I would try on this kind of stain. Even with steaming, I've had pleating relax and disappear.
 
Thank you all! I'll look for a dry cleaner in my area. I've never used one for cleaning vintage. Do you have any suggestions of good questions to ask when trying to find a knowledgable cleaner? I've heard some horror stories regarding dry cleaning vintage! Yikes!
 
Hmmm... that dress reminds me of my Miss Elliette dress - same kinds of pleats, I guess mine's 70s too. I once washed it by hand (no rubbig - I just sort of soaked it, it was dingy from cigarette smoke etc.) after I wore it to a carnival party, and it survived it well enough, but I guess it ultimately depends on the material, if that works well. That was some 10 years ago, when I bought vintage mostly "for fun". Nowadays I would take it to the dry cleaners too.

Re. finding a dry cleaner, I can't say much. I was lucky my mom had heard of one that one turned out to be the one and only here that does anything "special" perfectly. They also do evening wear etc. It's a small family-run business. I guess it's more that kind of thing to look out for - not some kind of chain shop.

Karin
 
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