Costume Care Practices from Style Pro Rebecca Girard



Rebecca Girard

One of the toughest jobs a coach is faced with is how to maintain costumes so they look brand new, even two or three years after they are purchased. Teaching team members to care for costumes consistently from game to game and year to year is equally as challenging. As the former Director of the Detroit Pistons Dance Team- Automotion, and various other pro teams, I’ve learned a few important lessons and tips along the way. If followed properly, they will certainly extend the life of all your beautiful costumes!  

 

Below are some great tips to share with your teammates and you can certainly add your own expertise to help maintain the life of your costumes. Also included is a list of the recommended supplies. 

Be sure to keep the Costume Care Cards enclosed in all the AKD/Go Wild! Wear packages and also refer to our website for updates!

 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Mesh-zip laundry bags
• Towels
• Tissue Paper
• Tooth brush
• Dreft or other baby detergent
• Acetone Nail Polish Remover (for boot use only)
• Cotton Balls

STORAGE

·    Store each costume item in a mesh-zip (breathable) laundry bag. (Bags can be purchased at a dollar store)

·    Wrap costumes that have crystals in tissue paper.

·    NEVER leave your costumes, poms or boots in your car!

• If garment (sequin area) should become dampened by water or perspiration: do not place garment in an airtight bag or plastic bag. 
• Air out costumes and poms after every performance.
• Roll sequins and poms in a towel to remove any oils, etc.
• Do not allow perfume, deodorant, hair sprays, or tanning sprays to come in contact with sequins or whites.
• Always put your warm up jacket or towel around you when spraying hairspray, perfume, tanning spray, deodorant, etc.   

WASHING

• Wash costumes immediately following every performance.  Rinse out with cold water so that stains and dirt do not set. 
• Never leave costumes unattended while washing or left soaking.
• Never let anyone else wash your costumes!
• Spot cleaning should always be your first choice in taking care of soiled costumes for perspiration problems and/or until you can wash thoroughly.
• Use a toothbrush to spot clean, especially around the patches/logos.
• Turn sequins inside out to preserve colors.
• After washing garments, roll in a towel then hang to dry. Some sequin outfits may need to dry flat, be sure to lay on a towel.      

BOOTS
 

• Use a small amount of pure acetone nail polish remover on a cotton pad to rub off scuff marks. (Test spots first.)
• Zip boots and store in cloth bag when not being worn.

Thanks for all the great tips, Rebecca! To learn more about all of our style pros visit the Go Wild! Wear page.

 

Angela King Designs, Inc.