Your STEFANEEA item is a very delicate garment and should be handled with extra care.
We recommend avoiding contact with jewelry, sharp objects or rough surfaces that might cause damage.
Please treat dresses with beaded embellishments as a piece of jewelry (no pulling, pins, innapropiate refreshing or storage). The jeweled parts of the dresses are delicate and one must take precaution when wearing them. They are to be treated as real jewelry and the wearer must make sure there is no pulling to these pieces as they are perishable.
Washing
In case of embellished garments and delicate fabrics we highly recommend professional laundry service and DRY CLEAN ONLY.
If your STEFANEEA gown is made of glitter tulle or metallic foil fabric we highly recommend professional laundry and STEAM REFRESH ONLY. DO NOT DRY CLEAN because the glitter/metallic foil will be removed.
Always remove the plastic garment bags from the dry cleaner immediately, since these bags do not allow the garment to breathe properly, which leads to fading color.
Properly storing embellished garments is just as important as proper washing
Once cleaned, make sure your STEFANEEA piece will remain in pristine condition for many years, as these simple rules are followed:
- Choose a closet in a closed, cool, dry room with steady temperature, away from direct light exposure. Excesses in both temperature and humidity can cause colors to fade and even damage delicate fabrics very quickly.
- Make sure the hanger is wide enough to support the entirety of the shoulders so the weight of the textile can be distributed as evenly as possible and avoid creases at these spots. Hang the dress up using any garment straps for extra support; those are usually sewn into the inside of the gown, to help take the pressure off sleeves that can stretch.
- If the dress is strapless, make sure the hanging straps rest on the hanger at the same width as your shoulders to avoid distortion to the fabric. Avoid using the clamp type hanger that can damage or mark up the fabric.
- If there is any beading or other adornments on the dress, cover or wrap it in tissue paper to protect it. Stuff tissue into the bodice, sleeves and any deep folds in the fabric to help keep the shape of the dress.
- Store the dress in a garment bag made of breathable, unbleached, and undyed cotton muslin, which leaves a healthy amount of room for the dress to breathe. Do not use plastic for long-term storage.
Another option for storing beautifully embellished articles is box storage, which will keep beads and delicate fabric from snagging or getting caught on other clothing.
- If you are storing your STEFANEEA item in a box, please make sure to use an acid-free, sturdy cardboard storage box. Line the box with acid-free tissue paper which helps to keep the fabric from turning yellow.
- Lay down the hem in the box, then fold the dress and put tissue between each fold so the fabric doesn’t snag. Fold the sleeves (if any) behind the bodice, then finish by folding the bodice over the skirt.
- Loosely fold the dress. That means no creases, pulling, or clean lines allowed.
You will need to steam clean the dress on regular basis. This way you will keep its shape, and the dress won’t distort over time. Change the tissue paper every two years. That will ensure the best quality of your evening gown for when you will wear it again.