Washing a Costume

Sometimes, your "workhorse" needs some love.

After a recent performance, I realized that my beloved gold bedlah had gotten a little "funky."  I had been using it about 3-6 times per year, and over the last 3 years.  I had always been careful what I ate in the days before dancing (onions and garlic just pour out of my skin); but, it was time.

Then, as I changed after the performance, I realized one strap was literally hanging on by a thread.

So, off to the bath and rehab unit!

Steps for washing a costume:

1. Carefully remove all hooks, eyes, velcro, snaps, safety pins, or other things used to fasten the costume.
2. Remove any padding in the bra or belt.
3. Inspect the lining and decide whether to keep or remove it.  (In my case, it was coming apart and needed replacement.  If the lining is particularly think, you may want to remove it anyway, to speed drying.  And, if the wash alone does not freshen your costume, a new lining can really help.)
4. Place the costume in a bucket with tepid water and a squirt of a gentle soap like Ivory liquid.  (This is what I use for my street bras, by the way.)  If you are concerned about the effects on the sequins and beadwork, test an armband or hidden edge of the belt first.
5. Stir the water gently, agitating the costume.
6. Let the costume soak for about 15-30 minutes -- no longer.
7. Pour the water out of the bucket and through a strainer to catch any beads that come loose.

The water will probably be the color of weak tea.  My friend, mentor, instructor, and favorite purveyor of costumes, Scheherezade, calls this "Cairo Dust."

8. Gently add clean tepid water, swish it gently and let it soak to rinse for about 5-10 minutes.

9. Drain the water through a strainer.

10.  Repeat if needed. NOTE: usually at either the first or second rinse, the water will start to look like it has glitter in it.  This is most likely the lining from the beads.  Shorter soaks, faster rinses and fewer washes will minimize this,

11.  CAREFULLY drape the costume across a drying rack, preferably a wooden one, arranging the costume so that it is well supported and reshaped.  If you don't have a drying rack, you can lay it on a counter on a towel, changing the towel often so that it does not stay wet.

12.  Once the costume is thoroughly dry, you can reattach the fasteners, restore any loose beadwork, and reline as needed.

13.  For interim cleanings, the best thing is to lay out your costume to air immediately after each performance.  A drying rack is, again, the best way to ensure air circulation. Some dancers spray a mist of 1/2 cheap vodka and 1/2 water onto the lining. Avoid laying the costume in the sun, however, as this can fade the fabric and trim.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Long ago, about seven years before I set foot in a dance class, before I started sewing again, and when I was a teeny 32 A, I took a job in retail.  I was desperate, because the economy decided it was a great time to have a recession, right when I was just out of college.

I wound up working at the local Leggett over the Holidays as a temporary clerk.  Because they were desperate, and because I seemed like I learned quickly, they decided I would be a “floater.”  I would show up for work, and they would put me where they were understaffed.  The Holidays ended, but the recession didn’t.  Fortunately, they let me stay.

So, I floated between departments for a while.  Then, Inventory time came in the Lingerie department.  Even the regular staff hated this chore.  The very reason that made the department wonderful made Inventory horrible: We had a wonderful Buyer who knew her Brands and ensured we had an inventory to fit almost anyone.

This meant there were hundreds of styles and over a thousand bras to sort and count.

Retentive, organized me loved it!  I volunteered to help there, counting carefully and quickly learning how to read the style codes, how to understand the sizes, and all of the Brands (at least ten) that we carried – and that was just the bras.

When Inventory ended, they asked me to stay.  I wound up working there about a year, earning my first TWO Professional certifications, from Bali AND Playtex, and became a Certified Fitter.  I still have the measuring tape from Olga; but, the certificates stayed on the walls after I left.  I wish I had kept them.

I learned a lot, not just about Brands and fit, but also about the women who wear them.  Even a few men, as I had the delicate honor of helping a young, tentative drag queen try to find something in that conservative store and conservative environment.

One of the things I learned is that shopping for bras is one of the most painful, nerve-wracking things women do.  Many avoid it because they think it is better to have a poor fit than to go through shopping again.

It is time to change that. 

Come with me to understand that garment you wear everyday.  Let me help you see what it is telling you about fit, and what to change to make it fit better.  We might even have some fun along the way.

Will you join me?

Bra: An Owner’s Manual, by The Practical Dancer

Working Table of Contents  (This will be updated as I add more material.  As sections are posted, they will become hyperlinks.)

1. Introduction

2. Let’s call it “shape,” not “size”

3. Signs it is time to buy new bras

4. Fit issues, and how to fix them

5. Preparing to shop

6. A note about brands and shapes

7. In the fitting room

8. Making the purchase

9. The longer test drive

10. Careful cleaning = longevity