Fashion Tragedies / Damage Control

[snowqueen]

Ok I had a bronze jumper..made from knitted black wool with then almost like gold leaf/spray paint over the top. Well me being stupid I put it on a too hot wash & most of the metallics faded off leaving it looking ugly. It was one of my favorite pieces though. Is there anyways I can re-spray paint it or something? or is it fit for the bin?

 

[softgrey]

Ok I had a bronze jumper..made from knitted black wool with then almost like gold leaf/spray paint over the top. Well me being stupid I put it on a too hot wash & most of the metallics faded off leaving it looking ugly. It was one of my favorite pieces though. Is there anyways I can re-spray paint it or something? or is it fit for the bin?

i would check some fabric stores or online about fabric paint to see what is available and what might work...

 

[snowqueen]

^^ think I have found something that will work by doing just that thanks

 

[eizhowa]

I bought a new tan leather handbag last November, but I have noticed that it has some grey/black discoloration(?) around the edges and the lower part of the handbag. The discoloration/wear is where the handbag brushes against my legs or my jacket when I carry it. I don't know if my clothes have discolored it, or if it is just "wear".

Does anyone know if there is a way to remove it/clean it and protect it for the future?

I have already sprayed it with a water-proofing spray and the leather was treated when I bought it. The bag was very expensive for me, and I would be so sad if there is nothing I could do about it

Karma to anyone who can help

Pictures are my own.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ i'd suggest trying saddle soap. it could be wear, could be picking up dye. but honestly it doesn't look terrible to me ... i call that patina

 

[eizhowa]

^I call it damage

Saddle soap. My mother has horses. Horses use saddles. Surely she'll have saddle soap!

I think I'll give it a go! Thank you, Fashionista-ta! Karma

 

[lucy92]

i agree, your color transfer doesnt look that bad. check the shoe polish section next time you are at the store - thats where the saddle soap usually is.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ that's right ... and if the saddle soap doesn't take care of it, you could try some polish that matches the bag. For the saddle soap you'll need a soft cloth rag.

 

[eizhowa]

Thank you ta-ta and lucy92. I used the saddle soap per your suggestion

The shoe shops had nothing btw. I think they would prefere if we just bought new stuff

I used the saddle soap last night (and had a sensory trip down memory lane... I washed and scubbed my mothers saddles when I was a child). I am very happy with the result. I could have scrubbed harder and gotten more off, but I am lazy and the original treatment of the leather conceals the color transfer quite well.

I did read somewhere that saddle soap should not be used on handbags. Something about the PH being too high for delicate leathers. I reasoned that my handbag is not a Chanel "baby-butt" soft leather and delicate bag, but quite sturdy. Also, the bottle said "ALL LEATHERS" My bag kind of smelled like "new saddle" too

The back (that was stained) now matches the front of the bag (unless you study it closely). I will try to add the shine back to it after the leather dries completely. Right now it is a bit matte where I cleaned it.

 

[twistelette]

^ it looks great, eizhowa. that's a beautiful bag, by the way.

 

[lucy92]

thanks for the update eizhowa! i'm glad there is an improvement...and i think you've killed two birds with one stones - a lot of our handbags carry harmful bacteria picked up from being out and about.

in fact i'm going to clean mine today.

 

[softgrey]

took out the old rubber cement glue and some tools and repaired 5 pairs of shoes/boots...

...

awesome!!!...

 

[barbaraaa]

I have a dress that got torn in the cleavage area somehow... took it to a seamstress today, hopefully it will work out okay.

I also need to find a cobbler for my patent oxfords that are way too scratched

 

[lucy92]

i need advice. do you think this big scuffs in these leather boots can be fixed?
some boots can look better with age. i'm not sure if this is applicable in this situation.
ebay

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[softgrey]

i had a shoemaker make a pair of boots look like new...
no idea how he really did it though...
i was completely amazed...

it's hard to say lucy---
that is a really bad scuff...
polish would definitely improve it...
hard to tell if that's enough based on that shot of the toes though...
can't see the whole boot...

good luck!

 

[softgrey]

took out the old rubber cement glue and some tools and repaired 5 pairs of shoes/boots...

...

awesome!!!...

still have about 5 more pairs that i need to find a shoemaker for...
i want a very thin natural crepe sole put on some of my shoes/boots that are not black...
but i can't find a shoemaker who does that...
they use regular rubber in a nude colour and i don't like the way that looks...
......

 

[lucy92]

yeah, i think you might be right. the scuff is too darn big.

earlier today i bought my shearling aviator coat to a dry cleaning place to be leather cleaned. they quoted me $51.
i only wore it for one season and not a huge number of times. maybe 40 times in one season. there are no stains on it. id say the sleeves have a slight amount of fading due to me being caught in the rain a few times wearing it - but nothing major.

has anyone paid to get shearling cleaned before?
also has anyone sent away a leather jacket to be leather dyed?

 

[eizhowa]

^I think there are some people on tfs who dye their own leather... Don't know if you would consider something like that I know I wouldn't (coward).

From my point of view, 51 dollars for a dry clean sounds completely normal. That's why I don't use them

 

[softgrey]

yeah- everyone i know, including me have done their own dying, so i can't say anything about sending something to be dyed...

and i don't know anyone who has had shearling or fur cleaned...
from my experience...
the dirtier the shearling gets...the cooler it looks...
unless you have gotten some awful stain...

i would suggest not going to a regular cleaner but finding someone who specializes in leather or fur...
the price doesn't sound crazy to me though...

 

[fashionista-ta]

It costs me just under $50 to have my suede skirt cleaned ... it's expensive. I take it to my cleaners, who send it to a leather specialist a few hours away.

I had scrapes on a pair of glazed kid pumps down past the dye, and my cobbler made them look presentable. Yours are nothing compared to the damage I had ... Do you have someone you trust? They should be able to tell you whether they can work with them successfully or not ...