How to de-wrinkle and clean vintage netting

British Emma

Registered Guest
Hello all.

I have a vintage 40s/50s evening dress, the skirt of which is all netting. It is terribly wrinkled. Any help on how to deal with the wrinkles and cleaning?
 
A steamer is my go-to for wrinkled tulle.
What type of cleaning is needed?
 
Thanks, Marsha. Wow, a steamer really? I haven't actually had a good look at the netting for dirt yet. The question was mainly about dewrinkling.
Yes, I pretty much use a steamer for everything vintage, as it is much kinder/gentler than an iron and can even be therapeutic for aged textiles. Mine is a professional grade Jiffy workhorse, but you can purchase a hand steamer for as little as $30. A worthwhile investment!
 
Yes, I pretty much use a steamer for everything vintage, as it is much kinder/gentler than an iron and can even be therapeutic for aged textiles. Mine is a professional grade Jiffy workhorse, but you can purchase a hand steamer for as little as $30. A worthwhile investment!
Thanks, Martha. I have a steamer already, but I have just never dealt with vintage netting before. Also, I checked the dress for dirt and it is amazingly clean! No marks on the netting and not even a suspicion of underarm staining.
 
So, here are some "before" pics, including a pic of a few brown marks I found on the netting. I would dab at them with a solution of Woolite - good idea?
 

Attachments

  • 0-5.jpeg
    0-5.jpeg
    33.1 KB · Views: 181
  • 0-6.jpeg
    0-6.jpeg
    61.2 KB · Views: 181
  • 0-7.jpeg
    0-7.jpeg
    73.4 KB · Views: 182
Thanks, Marsha.

This dress has a long piece of fabric hanging down the back which I have seen before on 50s dresses. Do you think this dress is 50s?

I am seeing 40s, 50s even possibly 30s in it. But the fabric (same fabric as the straps) down the back has me thinking 50s.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, Marsha.

This dress has a long piece of fabric hanging down the back which I have seen before on 50s dresses. Do you think this dress is 50s?

I am seeing 40s, 50s even possibly 30s in it. But the fabric (same fabric as the straps) down the back has me thinking 50s.
Hard to say from these images... my first impression is '40s, but it would help to see more images with details, including seams and closure.
 
Back
Top