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