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.

• If using a spray treatment on the whole costume, you should spray the product around the garment rather than directly on it. Again, it is always recommend to try any fabric treatment on a small, hidden area first to make sure the fabric does not react unexpectedly, before treating the whole garment.

For more information on costume care,

see “Costume Care Tips for Dancers” (Goldrush, Sept/Oct 2005).

Visit www.rheegold.com or call 888-i-dance-9 for a copy.