Get Dirty With Us - How to Care For Your Holiday Clothes.
Now that the holidays are here, we've compiled a list of helpful tips for caring for the most common holiday fabrics, so that your favorite outfits can be worn year after year.
Satin: Fabrics such as satin, which was once only available in silk but is now available in a variety of fibers, are an elegant choice for the holidays. Always check the care label before washing, but if the item is made of silk or acetate, it must be dry cleaned. If you stain satin, avoid rubbing the stain to avoid losing the sheen and color of the satin. The fabric is extremely delicate and is prone to snagging. Take care not to store it near anything that could cause it to become damaged.
Sequins, Beads, and Other Adornments: These items adorn many of the dresses worn for New Year's Eve celebrations and require a great deal of attention and maintenance. When they are worn, they are prone to losing their beads or experiencing color bleeds. Even if the care label specifies that the item may be washed, special care must be taken to avoid damaging the sewn-on embellishments. Ideally, these types of garments should be cleaned by a professional, who will test them to ensure that they can withstand the cleaning process. You should proceed with caution if you plan to wash these items at home: use cold water and gentle cycle on your washing machine; hang or lay flat to dry.
Cashmere: Because it is such a luxurious and cozy fabric, we recommend that you dry clean or hand wash anything made of it. High-quality cashmere will help to prevent pilling and shape problems, so make the investment. Never store this garment without first cleaning it, as moths can cause holes in the fabric.
Velvet: A fabric that is seeing a revival in popularity, velvet must be dry cleaned because any moisture can permanently damage the fabric. In addition, ironing this fabric will cause it to become discolored.