Need cleaning advice for Helen Rose Dress

onceoza

onceoza

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I mentioned that I had acquired a Helen Rose cocktail dress. I took it to the cleaners last week and was so excited to be picking it up today. As excited as I was to get the dress back, I was as disappointed that the cleaners had done nothing with it because there 1. there wasn't a care label (DUH! a 1960ish dress wouldn't have a care label!) and 2. they were afraid to clean with the crystal rhinestone buckle that can't be removed without taking the bodice apart. So, the problem is that there are some dark spots and stains around the hem of the dress that are probably from getting splashed while walking in the rain.

So, what are my options? I can take it and have them attempt to dry clean it but of course, they won't guarantee the cleaning because of the lack of a care label. It's too valuable a dress that if ruined, I couldn't stand having such a work of art destroyed. I took it to 3 other cleaners after the first one refused to clean it and one lady told me that the skirt wasn't silk chiffon as I thought it was.
Should I sell as is?

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Beautiful dress - firstly, I recommend that you look again about that rhinestone buckle as they're almost always removable. I routinely take them off before dry cleaning. If you can't remove it, you can cover it in foil, which should protect it from damage.

Dry cleaners don't like to clean things with out labels but if the dress is strong and does not need repairs, it's probably fine - then again, it is a risk and you may not want to take it. You could sell as is but as you know, you will get a better price if you can get the marks out. I would do what I could to clean but then I routinely clean everything unless it's too old and delicate.
 
I did find a cleaners that felt they should be able to just spot clean the chiffon skirt. I get it back Wednesday and have my fingers crossed that it will be in one piece.
 
Well, surprise, surprise! I brought the dress to the dry cleaners and they said it would be done next Wednesday. The guy called me today and said it was all ready. He did an amazing job. He spot cleaned the chiffon skirt and it came out beautiful. I guess I have found a new guy to do my vintage cleaning. He does repairs too!

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