| Services such as eBay and Craig's List have | | | | wrinkles. |
| helped the market for used evening gowns | | | | |
| really grow in the last few years. If you | | | | Some dresses just have to be ironed-silk, |
| are going to resell your gown you want to | | | | satin, etc. Ironing with steam is acceptable |
| keep it in good condition in order to get the | | | | if you don't use any salt. But be very |
| best price. This combined with the huge | | | | careful---some fabrics will change color |
| expense of purchasing a new ball gown has | | | | slightly when ironed with steam--especially |
| made caring for your precious purchase all | | | | those that are of a lighter shade. So test a |
| the more important. Here are some valuable | | | | small portion first. This is typically not a |
| tips for caring for your dress. | | | | problem for black dresses. For extra |
| | | | protection you can place a piece of unprinted |
| Storing Your Ball Gown | | | | grocery sack between the dress and the iron. |
| | | | |
| There are two recommended ways of storing | | | | After the Party |
| your ball gown. One is to fold it carefully | | | | |
| in tissue paper and store it in a box with a | | | | The day after the party use a warm washcloth |
| few cedar balls and/or a few fabric softener | | | | to remove and deodorant stains under the |
| sheets. OR you can fold it over a hanger at | | | | arms. You really want to do this as soon as |
| the waist (back side over the hanger) and | | | | possible as some deodorants can lighten or |
| place it inside a garment bag. | | | | discolor fabric over time. Let your dress |
| | | | air out for a day or two before you store it. |
| Remember, this is a long, heavy dress. | | | | This is also a good time to mist it gently |
| Hanging it up by the shoulders or straps may | | | | with the water/fabric softener mixture. |
| cause stretching of the straps or the fabric | | | | |
| in the shoulders. You can also hang it by | | | | Dry-cleaning |
| the straps and ribbons and then drape the | | | | |
| rest of the dress over another hanger-at | | | | I don't dry-clean my dresses every time that |
| about the knees. This will also prevent | | | | I wear them. Dry-cleaning chemicals are very |
| stretching. Personally, I take no chances. | | | | harsh and can shorten the lifespan of very |
| I fold my all dresses. | | | | delicate fabrics. If you take care of your |
| | | | dress as described above it should not need |
| Coming Out of Storage | | | | to be dry-cleaned that often. Remember, you |
| | | | are only wearing it for one night once per |
| You'll need to bring the dress out of storage | | | | year. Unless you are standing near smokers, |
| several days before your event. There are | | | | spill something on it, or are dancing to the |
| several methods for removing wrinkles and | | | | point of heavy perspiration the dress |
| restoring freshness. | | | | shouldn't be that dirty. |
| | | | |
| One is to hang the dress in the bathroom | | | | I try to dry-clean white dresses only a few |
| while a hot shower steams the wrinkles from | | | | times during their lifetime as dry-cleaning |
| the dress. I prefer this method to using | | | | fluid will yellow as it ages. |
| hand steamers. Hand steamers require a | | | | |
| little bit of salt in the water to make them | | | | Mischelle Weedman-Davis is a freelance writer |
| work properly. Salt is very corrosive and | | | | and an authentic southern belle from the |
| can damage the fabric over time. I just | | | | Commonwealth of Kentucky who now lives with |
| don't risk it. | | | | her husband and son in Seattle, WA. Her |
| | | | husband is respected attorney Christopher M. |
| Another way to remove wrinkles is to | | | | Davis. Recently she left her 15-year |
| liberally mist the dress with a mixture of | | | | high-tech career and closed her baby food |
| water that contains a splash of fabric | | | | catering business to use her talents to |
| softener. Then hang the dress up somewhere | | | | support her husband's law firm, the Davis Law |
| out of the way. Allow the water and the | | | | Group. |
| weight of the dress to slowly remove the | | | | |