Taking Special Care of a Beaded Blouse
Question: How should I clean my beaded blouse? Is there a dry cleaner who specializes in such work?--D.L.
Answer: Milan designer Luciano Soprani, who designed the crystal and jet-beaded separates illustrated here, says you should never send your beaded clothes to the dry cleaners because the solvents are likely to discolor the beads, and the processing is likely to cause snags. “Beaded clothes get more beautiful as they get older,” claims Soprani, who says they survive the years best when placed in drawers and folded between sheets of acid-free tissue paper.
“If you hang a beaded gown, the weight of the beads causes too much strain on the fabric and it will start to fray. If you feel you must hang it, even for a short time, be sure to pad the shoulders, as this helps to alleviate some of the strain.”
If your beaded top has sleeves, one way to avoid perspiration stains is to wear dress shields. For sleeveless tops, Soprani says to remove spots by carefully dabbing on a solvent such as K-200.
Q: I’ll be going to an office party just before Christmas, and I’d like to wear something that would position me somewhere between Joan Collins chic and Linda Evans feminine. It’s a cocktail-dinner party at a downtown hotel. What should I wear? --C.H.
A: Create your own fashion dynasty by wearing Joan Collins’ favorite color, black, in Linda Evans’ favorite fabric, velvet. Black velvet dresses are widely available now, and they provide a great foil for jewelry. If you want to turn a few heads, try wearing an Alexis-worthy black cocktail hat. With veil, of course.
Q: I have a black wool pantsuit that I rarely wear because it seems to attract hair, dirt and anything else it touches. I bought and used a can of anti-static spray that had been recommended but it didn’t help. Can you suggest a remedy? --M.H.
A: Perhaps you’re a little too fastidious. Black, especially black flannel, certainly does show every little particle that comes its way. It is the nature of the fabric. If you love the suit, wear it, but be prepared to brush yourself off periodically. When you take the pantsuit off, go over it with double-sided tape. The tape will remove the unwanted lint and cause less damage to the fabric than a brush. You might also want to try a product called Lint Lifter. It’s sold by many dry cleaners.
Marylou Luther welcomes questions from readers. Mail to Clotheslines, Fashion85, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.
