Fashion Tragedies / Damage Control

[eizhowa]

I soaked the blazer and worked some soap into the fabric, both into the corduroy and the acetate lining. It didn't really help with the odor, but the blazer took no damage from it, despite the quite vigorous scrubbing. I am considering washing it on the gentle cycle in the machine. I know vinegar is used to remove smells from the washing machine. Do ou guys think it might damage the blazer? I have washed clothes with vinegar and fabric softener before, without any bad results, but my washables are not 30+ years old...hehe

 

[Caramel]

Does anyone know of a good solution for a torn purse lining? A quick online search led me to this post where someone used fabric glue to fix a ripped lining. My problem is pretty much the same as in that blog post, I have a bag where the lining is torn right beneath the zipper of the interior pocket. Anyone know if this is a decent solution, or if there is something else I ought to do? The bag is not too expensive and precious, but I like it a lot and just want to be able to use it again.

 

[eizhowa]

I would glue it first and then add some stitches. Do you have a steady hand? Nobody wants superglue all over their bag!

But you know, bags without any lining is very "in" right now

 

[Caramel]

^ That's a good idea to add some stitches too. I will get some fabric glue tomorrow and see how it goes!

 

[fashionista-ta]

I would take it to the shoe repair, along with some replacement fabric. Or it may be that some tailors would be willing to fix it. You might call your usual people & see if they're willing to work on it ...

 

[softgrey]

near tragedy...averted...

whilst trying on clothes in a big store, i removed my vest to try on something and in my excitement, i left the store without my vest...
the store was closed by the time i realized that part of my outfit was missing...

fortunately- i went back to the store the next day and found it...
hanging on a rack...
so- i just put it on and continued on my way...

 

[eizhowa]

^Haha. Lucky they for you they didn't tag it

I was washing a white blazer and I hung it to dry on its hanger. Turns out, my hanger is not a natural dark wood. It had a water based finish that made it look dark... Luckily I was able to save my blazer before it turned permanently pink...

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I have plastic hangers specifically for hanging things to dry

 

[fashionista-ta]

I soaked the blazer and worked some soap into the fabric, both into the corduroy and the acetate lining. It didn't really help with the odor, but the blazer took no damage from it, despite the quite vigorous scrubbing. I am considering washing it on the gentle cycle in the machine. I know vinegar is used to remove smells from the washing machine. Do ou guys think it might damage the blazer? I have washed clothes with vinegar and fabric softener before, without any bad results, but my washables are not 30+ years old...hehe

I would try wadding up newspaper & stuffing into the sleeves, etc. I would find a cardboard box about the size of the blazer, stuff it full of newspaper, leave it for a week or so, and see ...

 

[BerlinRocks]

near tragedy...averted...

whilst trying on clothes in a big store, i removed my vest to try on something and in my excitement, i left the store without my vest...
the store was closed by the time i realized that part of my outfit was missing...

fortunately- i went back to the store the next day and found it...
hanging on a rack...
so- i just put it on and continued on my way...

W T F ? Soft !

Lucky

 

[Fewormany]

^I did some research, and apparantly it is the acetate lining that is the problem. I am thinking the silicone finish might have dissapeared in the last 30-40 years anyway None of the sites say why (how annoying!), but all agree that vintage acetate must be dry cleaned.

I will try to think of something clever when I get back from vacation

Weird tip, but have you tried putting it in the freezer to get rid of the odor? I've done that with some items that couldn't be washed (I don't do dry cleaners.. ) and it always worked so far. It's worth a shot I think, it's a pretty safe method so you probably won't damage the garment in any way. Just make sure your freezer is clean.

 

[Caramel]

I would take it to the shoe repair, along with some replacement fabric. Or it may be that some tailors would be willing to fix it. You might call your usual people & see if they're willing to work on it ...

Well, I asked around at a few shoe repair places, but none of them would do it, so I went ahead with the fabric glue. It worked out great and nothing is visible on the right side of the lining! I will add some stitches too, I just need to find my leather needles.

Weird tip, but have you tried putting it in the freezer to get rid of the odor? I've done that with some items that couldn't be washed (I don't do dry cleaners.. ) and it always worked so far. It's worth a shot I think, it's a pretty safe method so you probably won't damage the garment in any way. Just make sure your freezer is clean.

I've heard the freezer tip too! Never tried it though. I also remember reading an interview with the costume designer on Mad Men, and she said that she would spray vintage garments with alcohol to get rid of smells. I tried it on a vintage dress once too, and it worked pretty well. I have read somewhere since that the alcohol might damage the fabric, but I didn't have any problems with mine.

 

[eizhowa]

^I have heard that about alcohol (well, perfume...) as well. Almost nobody explains why you shouldn't do this or do that, though...

My freezer is quite small... It might sound silly, but I am worried that folding my blazer in the freezer might cause some stress to the fabric or something


Ta-ta: I didn't really understand your advice... Stuffing the blazer with newspaper, is it to increase air circulation? Or do newspaper have some properties I am not familiar with?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ The newspaper is to absorb the odor.

Caramel, when you say alcohol, do you mean like vodka?

 

[Caramel]

^ Yes, that's what I used.

 

[eizhowa]

^Red wine wouldn't be as effective I think.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Smart aleck

 

[softgrey]

^I have heard that about alcohol (well, perfume...) as well. Almost nobody explains why you shouldn't do this or do that, though...

My freezer is quite small... It might sound silly, but I am worried that folding my blazer in the freezer might cause some stress to the fabric or something


Ta-ta: I didn't really understand your advice... Stuffing the blazer with newspaper, is it to increase air circulation? Or do newspaper have some properties I am not familiar with?

no way it can hurt anything...
stick it in some plastic to protect it from any moisture and shove it in there...

 

[squilliam]

^I have heard that about alcohol (well, perfume...) as well. Almost nobody explains why you shouldn't do this or do that, though...

My freezer is quite small... It might sound silly, but I am worried that folding my blazer in the freezer might cause some stress to the fabric or something


Ta-ta: I didn't really understand your advice... Stuffing the blazer with newspaper, is it to increase air circulation? Or do newspaper have some properties I am not familiar with?

Well alcohol is a solvent, so I assume that property is what makes it work. But one should be careful, since alcohol is a solvent it can start removing the color of something. I'm not sure about fabrics but alcohol can remove the color of permanent marker marks, wood finishes, sometimes pen ink, and I used it to clean semi-permanent pink hair dye off my sink counter. I've never seen it affect the color of fabric, but since these are vintage garments I would be careful.

 

[Fewormany]

I have a merino wool cardigan wich accidentally ended up in the washing machine. According to the label it should be able to handle a 30 degrees program, in reality it shrunk. Not a big amount but enough for it to be uncomfortable to wear.

Returning it isn't an option, I've had for several years now. Does anyone have any tips/tricks to get it back to normal size (if that's even possible..)?