Can we talk about silk?
Ah silk. For centuries, coveted the world over for its sumptious feel, its delicacy, its coolness to the touch. Silk says: "I am desirable", "I am rich", "I am fashion"
For me, silks says: "I am afraid." cue the scary organ music and get those people off those camels - this is NOT a big budget blog with sponsors!!!!
Why so afraid, you may ask me kindly. But then you already know the answer to that. I am a klutz. And just as nature abhors a vacuum, it also abhors me wearing silk...
I am officially going on record as saying I have yet to own a piece of silk clothing that does not eventually end up with a stain.
And I never notice them until I am ready to go to the cleaners. And then the cleaners say "we cannot guarantee that we can get out this ridiculous stain, you-who-shall-not-wear-silk!" and they are always right - they NEVER get out the stains!
The latest victim? My brocade blue J Crew silk blouse. Worn exactly twice.
From a distance, all looks well:
But to the left of the third button from the top are two little stains, created by god-know-what and forevermore to live upon the blouse...
Subtle? To some, perhaps. But not to me. I know they are there. Sure I can wear this under a pullover or with a scarf. But I will never feel comfortable wearing it plain, alone, unless I am alone in the house.
So today's question is this - how do you all wear silk and not get it spotty????? Are there any tricks? do you only wear silk where you are nowhere near food or drink?
All advice is greatly appreciated, since I think that silk and I are about to break up forever, to be replaced by wool or cotton. I do have better luck with nubby silk chiffon, but there is something so delightful about a nice smooth silk. How do you keep it well? Or am I simply too klutzy or too fussy?
Please help!!!!!
Stay safe - and spotless - out there!
Ah silk. For centuries, coveted the world over for its sumptious feel, its delicacy, its coolness to the touch. Silk says: "I am desirable", "I am rich", "I am fashion"
For me, silks says: "I am afraid." cue the scary organ music and get those people off those camels - this is NOT a big budget blog with sponsors!!!!
Why so afraid, you may ask me kindly. But then you already know the answer to that. I am a klutz. And just as nature abhors a vacuum, it also abhors me wearing silk...
I am officially going on record as saying I have yet to own a piece of silk clothing that does not eventually end up with a stain.
And I never notice them until I am ready to go to the cleaners. And then the cleaners say "we cannot guarantee that we can get out this ridiculous stain, you-who-shall-not-wear-silk!" and they are always right - they NEVER get out the stains!
The latest victim? My brocade blue J Crew silk blouse. Worn exactly twice.
From a distance, all looks well:
But to the left of the third button from the top are two little stains, created by god-know-what and forevermore to live upon the blouse...
Subtle? To some, perhaps. But not to me. I know they are there. Sure I can wear this under a pullover or with a scarf. But I will never feel comfortable wearing it plain, alone, unless I am alone in the house.
So today's question is this - how do you all wear silk and not get it spotty????? Are there any tricks? do you only wear silk where you are nowhere near food or drink?
All advice is greatly appreciated, since I think that silk and I are about to break up forever, to be replaced by wool or cotton. I do have better luck with nubby silk chiffon, but there is something so delightful about a nice smooth silk. How do you keep it well? Or am I simply too klutzy or too fussy?
Please help!!!!!
Stay safe - and spotless - out there!
Haha! A subject that I too can relate to. I am very clumsy too, but stupidly wear lots of silk. Almost all my silk blouses have some sort of stain or other. The only way to deal with this problem is to take the item to the cleaners ASAP. I managed to avoid stainage on a dress 4 times by taking it straight to the cleaners. The sheer stupidity of me buying this particular dress astounds me to this day. It's a peachy coral silk shift dress that I bought for a friend's wedding. I tried it on when got home from the shop and immediately got lipstick on it (it's a pull on dress, so needs to go over the head). To the cleaners once.
ReplyDeleteI got it back again and the did The Same Thing AGAIN! Off to the cleaners again. The week before the wedding I wore it for about 20 mins and managed to spill tea on it. Again to the cleaners. I'm ashamed to admit the 4th time was lipstick again.
Anyway, that dress ended up costing me about $100 in cleaning before I actually wore the bloody thing. Of course, it got grease over it at the reception, so it's now in my cupboard, freshly cleaned again. I doubt I'll ever wear it again.
Gosh, sorry for that epic reply.
I think the only way to proceed is to wear a full-body bib over the top of silk. Which sort of defeats the whole purpose....
Ruth - I am glad I am not the only one! I am so careful and then when I take it off at night I see the telltale sign - that gets so expensive! I am trying to avoid all drycleaning as much as possible now. Between the chemicals and cost, it just seems too much!
DeleteDon't go near anything that squirts (cherry tomatoes or a squeeze of lemon for your seafood) or splatters (salad dressing, marinara sauce, etc.). Do not eat chips and forget drinking wine. Do not go near a mechanic, plumber, etc. Don't lean up or set your arms down on tables, desks or counters. Don't brush by cars or funiture. You get the idea ... ;)
ReplyDeleteI've had decent luck with hand washing or even spot cleaning silk. But I've also ruined a few that shrunk or became misshappen. You take your chances.
Oh and forget wearing makeup (see ruth's comment above)!
DeleteOh No! My whole life is bumping into things. I am beginning to see no hope. WHat do you use for spot cleaning?
DeleteToo funny. I feel the same when wearing white. Sorry, no silk here except for one dress worn once. MayBe you just have to dry clean after each wear.
ReplyDeleteBB - sigh - you could be right. WHich means silk blouses will come off the list for me from now on as they are just too much work.
DeleteI can stain silk by blinking at it, I stay away now.
ReplyDeleteOh and cheery tomatoes are a nightmare, I have spray marks up my walls from those lethal weapons.
I think you have to pop them fully into your mouth and then chew like hell. It is a very delicate business and genteel...
DeleteGOT SILK? Well I am with BB re. white, don't buy anything I can't bleach. But if I am not wearing a tee, I am in a silk shell or blouse and possibly a scarf, especially in winter. And I never take my silk to the cleaners, unless it's a rare "fancy" lined or interfaced dress. Silk is a natural fiber and has been around a lot longer than the dry cleaner. Plus, I personally don't see the sense in buying a $125 shirt and then spending well over $100 more in a year just to wear it. (But laundry is one of chores I don't mind doing.)
ReplyDeleteNote: It does help to dry clean silk, especially dark or vivid colours, either before or the first time you wear since that process can help set the dyes and prevent bleed.
Silk is a protein fiber, like human hair, so you should spot treat launder it gently just like your tresses (saturate and blot don't rub, turn inside out, cool water, pure soap like Ivory or Castile not detergent, rinse well, no spin cycle or wringing, drip air dry, steam.)
I've successfully treated spots on silk (including the DH's rare pocket squares and even my own large-scale coffee mishap) with The Laundress' wash & stain bar. But the real trick is not to let anything set. Apply club soda/ cool water, even a Tide stain stick and then a quick dab of water to the garment as soon as you can/ get home. Other than the bar, a clean sponge and equal parts white vinegar and water seems best, especially for grease. Then wash the item completely as soon as possible after that. (If you are ironing or steaming silk and you get a water spot that doesn't fade, just re-wet and drip dry the whole garmet.)
There are a ton of good sites with more details and videos. Also, whenever you plan to wear silk, let your lotion dry and spray/ let dry any perfume before you put the blouse or dress on. The oil/ alcohol content of scents can leave spots on silk. (Again, are removeable but bit of a particular pain.)
Well sadly, this one is set in! But I have done this too much to feel that it can be anything other than a special occassion item for me! BTW - thought of you yesterday, as Joe Fresh has two lovely little cotton shifts in liberty style prints at my local shop for $29 each - they didn't quite work on me, but one of them especially looked like your colours!
DeleteWell WMM, I think I should wing a spare Laundress bar your way (miracle worker) and you should give that shirt a wash, no loss. May give Joe a lookie-loo this week then, ta.
DeleteAlso, it isn't my clean clothing crisis (like white jeans). Yes, it pays to be a bit careful. But I think to some extent whole silk-scary don't wash, it's ruined thing is a myth perpetuated by dry cleaners. Women in India have been wearing silk for generations in a hot climate (that's what most saris are made of) and they still don't have dry cleaners all over the place (although, true, they may have access to a laundress.)
DeleteThanks GF - I could order a bar from J Crew I think if I order a jacket I am contemplating as I hate to see you send your hard-earned soap to me!!!! You are right, I should just be washing, but buying for good prices! I think I got that blouse on sale...
DeleteGF, you are making me feel braver re silk. I have a few silk things and use a mesh bag and the gentle cycle successfully.
DeleteLane, I am no good with "precious" clothes. And I figure if my gran who lived nowhere near a drycleaner wore silk for good every Friday and Sunday, it must be worth a whirl. (Do agree with WFF that the colour running and preventative DCO labels probably has a lot to do with poorer fabrics, dye lots etc.)
DeleteSo far, the dry clean first to set (I always clean before wearing new stuff anyway, just me) and then "handwash" method has worked just fine.
Good advice that I will,try, although I am so lazy that I fear the cleaners will still win over. We have no iron, either, so if things need ironing they have to be sent to the laundry.....
DeleteWill try to get some of this Laundress stuff. J Crew won't send it overseas, but I'm sure it must be available somewhere.
Ruth, Try their website: thelaundress.com. My friend is able to buy their products in Beijing, so they are bound to have someone they work with in Australia.
Deleteoy, I am not gentle with my silk at all. I wear coconut oil base deodorant, so I always get stains on it. But I abuse it by putting it in the machine in a laundry bag on gentle and pretreat stains with dish soap. We use ghis hand soap from a local company called Hugo Naturals (you may find them at your natural grocers) and I use it for tough stains, so far with great success! I really love that blouse on you, I hope you can get the stain out.
ReplyDeleteKlutzes of the world unite! This klutz is not fond of drycleaning though.
And I meant to add, if you can't find the Hugo, I'm happy to send some your way!
DeleteThanks Anthro blogger - I am going to check on that when I go out. I think I may have something to try today and it certainly won't hurt it anymore, will it? Those are famous last words......
DeleteOh - and what are folks thinking of the J Crew rollout - I have a post on it and other new retail rollouts tomorrow, but I think I may be getting priced out of the crewlade!
DeleteI wanted to go back to St. Barts badly. But most of clothes left me cold - or wallet shocked. Poly is the new silk at JC HQ.
DeleteI second Anthro Blogger. I literally scrub Dawn dish soap into stains on my silk blouses (oil, grease, deodorant - yknow, the really nasty stains) then throw them in the washing machine in a wash bag. I have yet to fail with that method. So much better for your clothing than dry cleaning.
DeleteI am also getting priced out of the crewlade! boo!
Well I will not be shy and may see if this is salvageable!
Deletefeeling your pain... like any other fiber, silk is available in a variety of thicknesses, weaves, textures and finishes. I think most of the silk shirts and, all too often, other clothes, on the market in the past few years are made of a silk fabric that used to be used for linings, or, in the case of today's thin georgette, as a layer in nighties or veils. Dyes are cheaper, too, and the dying process - let's just say shortcuts. This goes a long way toward explaining why the consumer is urged to approach the merch with caution.
ReplyDeleteSome stains are impossible to remove. I lent an "occasion" dress to someone who didn't believe in antiperspirants. Lesson learned. That was never a friendship, btw, she was married to a school friend of Himself and I couldn't get her off the phone.
So, still regretting that dress, let me recommend Secret Clinical Strength AntiPerspirant for Sensitive skin, thin layer applied over dry skin and allowed to dry completely before continuing with getting dressed.
Oh - I am truly paranoid about anti-perspirant! I think once bitten twice shy and about makeup! Your good explanation certainly explains the difference between the eileen fisher cami I have and the j crew blythe..
DeleteNo help here, I ruin everything like that, usually in the first time out! My parents swear by ordinary liquid dish soap to treat any stains as soon as you notice them, say it works every time. I just avoid silk! Also don't like the dry cleaners, I try to avoid buying things that say dry clean only.
ReplyDeleteJill - me too! My daughter brought home 2 tshirts that said dry clean only from NYC! Can you imagine? introduced her to the handwash cycle of the machine...
DeleteI am not good with my clothes neither... Even I try to be careful... But I so agree with GetFresh... Silk don't really need dry cleaners. And my last Brora silk blouse has been "ruined" by my dry cleaner when pressing it too warm and breaking all the shell buttons... (replaced graciously by Brora)... I have stains on this very silk blouse because I have not let my perfume dry... White vinegar and baking soda do miracle as, again said by GetFresh, and as you have nothing to lose, I would give it a try... so yes, just follow Getfresh advices and you should be safe!
ReplyDeleteSteph if that perfume stain does not come out with washing, and yes, I'd agree with others here that "dish liquid" is also worth a try in desperation then, as a last option, try some denatured rubbing alcohol on a white cotton ball or cheesecloth, blot gently and rinse the whole garment well. Olive oil bar soap is also worth a try. It seems weird to fight oil with oil, but it often works as a one last try.
DeleteAll of your responses reiterate to me why I avoid dry cleaners as much as possible. sigh.. SHould have come to you all before I took it in, but, since I am ever the optimist, I will go at it again in the hopes that it is not set in forever. As is always the case, if I knew what the stain was it would be so much easier to deal with it!!!
DeleteThanks GetFresh, I will try those options and will let you know Girls!
DeleteI look at silk, and it stains. Not sure why, but it really does attract unknown spots from the universe. I'm sort of done with it, and in LA, where it is pretty dry most of the time, it also gets a lot of static electricity, not very attractive. I'm going to say it again - sweatshirt material is my fav. So sorry about your blouse though - pretty color.
ReplyDeleteI think kneed to be looking at sweatshirts for all things these days! Thinking of you in palm beach - we got 3 feet of snow last night!
DeleteWow - however I'd prefer that, as it's a novelty for me. If anyone knows how to fix static electricity in clothing, I'd love a suggestion. I know you're looking so forward to real Spring Wendy.
Delete