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Costume Solutions
Thank you to the following companies for responding to this issue’s costume questions: A. Chatila Co., Art Stone/The Competitor, Cicci Dance Supplies, Dance Distributors, Dansco, Satin Stitches, and Weissman’s Designs for Dance.
I know it’s unusual, but I produce my recital in January because my school is open year-round. So when it comes to the costume catalogs, I feel like my school doesn’t fit in. I start to think about costumes in July, but the catalogs come to me in October and November, which is too late for the January performance. Do you have suggestions for schools that don’t stick to the normal dance-school cycle?
—Maggie
Consult costume and dancewear websites
year-round for new and continuing items. Not only do some costume
companies begin posting some items from their fall catalogs as early
as summer, but they also often list overstock and discontinued
styles at significant discounts.
Also, directly contact the companies
whose styles you like. Often they can work with you on an individual
basis, especially if they do their own manufacturing. Some companies
will put your name on a “rush” catalog list, so that as soon as the
catalogs are printed (usually in September), they’ll get one to you
immediately.
Several companies mentioned that you can order from the prior fall’s costume catalog all year long since the books are generally good for one year. Many companies will produce most of the items in that catalog until the next one is released the following fall.
I have a school in a small town in Mississippi where there are no dressmakers to create costumes for my competitive dancers, so I purchase many of my costumes from catalogs. The problem is that between the competitions, our year-end review, and community performances, the costumes are worn more than 10 times in a season. I don’t tell the dancers this, but by the fourth or fifth time they wear the costumes, they start to smell. By the tenth time, I don’t want to go near the kids! It’s not only sweating that causes the problem; sometimes the kids will spill something or the choreography includes floor work and many of the stages are dirty. Last year a student’s mom put a costume in the washing machine—it was a disaster! The color changed, half of the rhinestones came off, and the material was full of runs. I need suggestions on how to clean costumes without destroying them.
—Tanya
Our experts came up with a number of
suggestions, but they all had the same warning. Whether you are
cleaning a costume or simply treating it for odors, always
try your treatment on a small, hidden area first to make sure
the fabric does not react unexpectedly.
Suggestions for cleaning
• Rinse the costume in cold water with a
very mild, diluted detergent. You can also use this diluted solution
to dampen a clean, absorbent cloth that you then use to blot clean
soiled areas. To dry the costume, lay it flat on a drying rack,
taking care not to distort the shape.
• Add a scoop of OxiClean to a warm
bath. Soak two or three costumes at a time (depending on their size)
for about ten minutes and gently dab stained areas with a clean,
damp cloth. Let the costumes drip dry. Never put them in the washer
or dryer. The costumes should be able to be worn two or three times
before they will need washing again.
• Experts suggest that the best way to
clean most costumes is to use a non-detergent cleaning product such
as Woolite. These soap-based cleaners are much safer for delicate
and stretch fabrics and trims. Wash costumes in tepid water in the
sink, following the instructions on the product label about how much
to use. Again, do not try to wash too many costumes at one time—two
or three at most, depending on the size and type. Let the costumes
soak for no more than two minutes. Then gently agitate them by
squeezing them underwater for no more than one minute. Rinse
carefully and thoroughly with cold water until no more soap bubbles
appear. Gently squeeze out excess water. Carefully spread the
garment on a large, clean, colorfast towel. Place in a
well-ventilated area away from sunlight or heat sources. The more
care you take in laying out the garment, the less pressing or
steaming will be needed later. Most fabrics should dry fairly
quickly with little further care. You should never wash feathers,
flowers, sewn-on rhinestones, bugle beads, or other decorative
elements.
• Spot cleaning costumes for spills or
soil must be done immediately; stains become more set (and difficult
to remove) the longer they are on the fabric. There are wonderful
products on the market that will remove stubborn stains without
washing, such as Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover (aka “the Tide
Pen”). Never wash a costume unless you are prepared for a disaster.
Check the care label; some costumes come with a “dry clean only”
label, so consult your local dry cleaner. Dry cleaning an entire
group’s '63ostumes at one time is recommended in case a color change
occurs.
Suggestions for odor management:
• Several experts recommend the
product Fresh Again, which eliminates odors rather than covering
them up with a fragrance. It works overnight, not instantly, and is
usually safe on most of today’s costume fabrics and trims. (You
spray it on the inside.) One of our experts also notes that no
allergic reactions from use of this product have been reported.
(Some people are allergic to dry-cleaners’ deodorizing chemicals.)
• Always have the students hang their
costumes (on hangers, not a hook) to air dry immediately after
wearing them. Costumes should not be put in dance bags or covered in
plastic— fresh air is important to allow the costume to breathe. Do
not hang costumes outside (the sun could fade the fabric); anywhere
with good ventilation will work.
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