This is a continuation of my series of Vintage Fantasy Dresses Part 4
A Dream Dress In Lemon Chiffon
Most of you avid retail lovers will never have the opportunity to touch authentic silk chiffon. Vintage lovers rave about the airy ethereal qualities of silk chiffon.
This 1950s vintage silk chiffon dress makes me feel like I’m floating above the clouds while being serenaded by baby pugs.
Yes, this dress feels like heaven.
I fell deeply in love with this dress the moment I saw it. It looks like it came straight out of Betty Draper’s closet.
Spanx are not required when the waist on this dress already cinches me in like a corset.
This dress magically turns my chest into a B cup! It’s a miracle!
If by miracle you mean squished and flattened like when I get my annual mammogram then yes…it is a miracle.
This dress should have come with a warning before washing though.
It came out looking totally different than when it went in.
*WARNING*
Washing silk chiffon may result in the length shrinking by a foot or more.
I’ve learned this the hard way…more than twice.
Washing any silk is risky but certain ones such as silk chiffon are very prone to shrinking resulting in a full length acetate slip with what now appears to be a light and airy chiffon tunic on top.
One thing I’ve learned in my thrifting is that shrunken fabrics can sometimes be stretched back into shape.
I’ve stretched back wool, rayon, cotton and silk.
How To Stretch Back Shrunken Clothing
- Fill a sink with warm water and 1/4 cup of hair conditioner or Woolite.
- Soak the piece for 10-20 minutes. Do not rinse.
- Gently press to remove water.
- Use two towels, one on top, one on bottom to blot and absorb the water so the piece is just left damp.
- Slowly stretch the piece back into shape. Take your sweet time stretching back the material. Work at it slowly and be gentle as wet fabric is weak and prone to tearing.
- Air dry flat.
Sometimes, like with this dress, you may stretch too hard or too quickly and you risk damaging the piece. There was already a small tear in the chiffon and of course when I went to stretch the fabric back out it tore even more. I cried a bit when that happened. Repairing tears in chiffon is not easy or pretty.
With perseverance and patience I was able to stretch the dress back to the original length.
Have you ever accidentally shrunk a piece of clothing?
Did you try to stretch it back into shape?
Or did you just put it on your fur baby and call it a day?
Linking up with the lovely Patti over at Visible Monday.
For more of my Fantasy dresses see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
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