How to Store Antique Dresses
Do you have antique dresses and want to know the correct way to preserve them? Storing them correctly is the only way to ensure they keep their color, shape, and do not begin to smell moldy or “old” over the years. This is especially important if you ever plan to wear the dress for a special occasion.
- Use an acid-free box to store your
antique dress. Moreover, the box should contain no colorings that
could potentially fade onto the dress over time. These boxes work
very well for dresses that are made of embroidered, lace, or beaded
dresses. - Purchase a large enough box that
will not require you to fold the dress too tightly because this will
cause creases to occur over time and make them very difficult to
remove. Use acid-free and dye-free tissue paper in between any loose
folds that you do have to make. If the sleeves of the dress are
pleaded, crumple some of the tissue paper to put inside the sleeves
so that the pleads are plump, as this will lessen creases. - Line the box with muslin that is
100 percent cotton and free of dyes or any other colorings. The
muslin along with the acid-free box keeps your dress free of any
chemicals, which can harm the dress during storage. - Never seal your boxes since all
fabrics need to have a certain amount of circulation. Therefore, you
will want to open the boxes at least once or twice per year and
unfold the dresses allowing them to breathe. Refold them in the same
manner but differently than you did originally, this also decreases
the likelihood of creases when storing.