Getting rid of static in clothes

aristocat

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on reducing or getting rid of static in garments? I bought a gorgeous long shirt with satin like material in front and the back is chiffon. Unfortunately, the back sticks to me a lot. Don't know if this is just from the dry air in the shop, but decided to take a chance on buying it and seeing if I could deal with the static. Wearing a long sleeveless vest underneath helps slightly, but would be happier if I could reduce it more.

Eviledna

Hairspray is the answer. Just spritz it on the vest before you put on the shirt-static free for hours.

Conrach

Put the garment on a low heat in the tumble dryer with a tumble dryer sheet. 10 minutes should do it. If you feel the item is too delicate for the dryer, wipe it over with the tumble dryer sheet.
Hope this helps.

Mascatodreams

I use a can of hairspray..of course grammy swears can of starch..

mathepac

Stop wearing cheap & nasty nylon / polyester clothes / shoes / underwear and stop walking around on cheap nylon / polyester carpets or laminate flooring.

Do you sometimes get "zapped" by your car, your door-handles, press doors, other people? I used to until I got rid of a pair of work-boots that turned me into Duracell Man. It transpired they had nylon insoles.

aristocat

mathepac wrote: »

Stop wearing cheap & nasty nylon / polyester clothes / shoes / underwear and stop walking around on cheap nylon / polyester carpets or laminate flooring.

Do you sometimes get "zapped" by your car, your door-handles, press doors, other people? I used to until I got rid of a pair of work-boots that turned me into Duracell Man. It transpired they had nylon insoles.

Sometimes design wins over quality! Not very often though. But when you fall in love with a garment, you just gotta have it.

mathepac

Forsooth! Vainglorious vanity wilst thou ever forsake me? as me mammy used to say.

aristocat

mathepac wrote: »

Forsooth! Vainglorious vanity wilst thou ever forsake me? as me mammy used to say.

Vanity is becoming a nuisance, I can see why women give it up, eventually. But I'm not ready for that yet.”
― Margaret Atwood

paddyandy

I bought a big heavy rug because it was cheap and it looked great; in fact too good for my place .Soon after getting it home i discovered i kept getting shocks from it so its been stored away ever since .Any ideas or those already mentioned .

Valentina

paddyandy wrote: »

I bought a big heavy rug because it was cheap and it looked great; in fact too good for my place .Soon after getting it home i discovered i kept getting shocks from it so its been stored away ever since .Any ideas or those already mentioned .

Spritzing a mixture of one part fabric softener to six parts water over the rug should get rid of static. It also works for clothes too.

ladhrann

aristocat wrote: »

Sometimes design wins over quality! Not very often though. But when you fall in love with a garment, you just gotta have it.

The tyranny of gluing a label to cheap fabric and then selling it at a premium is to be abhorred. 'Design' is not a few ruffles or trims. Good design in any human endeavor starts at the smallest element.

I suggest that if you love a garment then you should have it made up by a dressmaker or ladies' tailor, in a European woven wool/linen/silk, then it will be made to fit you, be truly unique and be properly designed.

aristocat

ladhrann wrote: »

The tyranny of gluing a label to cheap fabric and then selling it at a premium is to be abhorred. 'Design' is not a few ruffles or trims. Good design in any human endeavor starts at the smallest element.

I suggest that if you love a garment then you should have it made up by a dressmaker or ladies' tailor, in a European woven wool/linen/silk, then it will be made to fit you, be truly unique and be properly designed.

You are completely correct, design is not a few ruffles or trims. (This garment has no such ruffles to speak of). When a style is completely right in how it suits you, the colour is unusual and exactly the one you wanted; and it's design absolutely appeals to you, well then that is the moment that a garment transcends mere manufacture and becomes the possibility of a cinderella transformation.

Oh how I would love to take the design to a 'dressmaker or ladies' tailor' and have it made up in fine silks and wools. I cannot do this because I cannot afford to. So, I will stick with my 'cheap' garment and I will love it. I will make it unique to me in how I style it. I will add to it those elements for which I have become known amongst my peers and for which I am complimented. And when I wear it I will feel happy because I chose it and I made the best of it.

ladhrann

aristocat wrote: »

You are completely correct, design is not a few ruffles or trims. (This garment has no such ruffles to speak of). When a style is completely right in how it suits you, the colour is unusual and exactly the one you wanted; and it's design absolutely appeals to you, well then that is the moment that a garment transcends mere manufacture and becomes the possibility of a cinderella transformation.

Oh how I would love to take the design to a 'dressmaker or ladies' tailor' and have it made up in fine silks and wools. I cannot do this because I cannot afford to. So, I will stick with my 'cheap' garment and I will love it. I will make it unique to me in how I style it. I will add to it those elements for which I have become known amongst my peers and for which I am complimented. And when I wear it I will feel happy because I chose it and I made the best of it.

Perhaps I am unclear. I do not mean to criticise you. I mean to make a general point about the fashion and clothing industry and the way people buy clothes.

Given the rise of "fast fashion" and the way women buy clothes the amount spent is rising as the quality and durability of each individual garment has declined immeasurably.
For instance British women spend £800 per year on shoes, £1,000 on clothes, but only wear 30% of their wardrobe.

I do not know how much you spent on your garment, often designer garments made from synthetics are far far more expensive than an equivalent without a label.

Silks and worsted wools etc. can be got at E20-E30 per metre even in Ireland. You need 2.5-3 metres to make a long dress, skirt or jacket. Then add trimmings and linings to that.

I'm saying this because I want only to raise levels of knowledge on garment making and how value is added (or not) through each process.

aristocat

Ladhrann Every garment has an intrinsic manufactured cost. It's actual value can be interpreted by the added gravitas of quality of finish, label, seasonality and the added je ne sais quois of desirability quotient. Yes, monetary value is added by the various processes of manufacture and indeed I am fully aware of the benefits of buying a 'quality' garment.

I do believe that at the present time there is the beginning of a change in buying habits. Our economic 'crisis' has perhaps had this effect. There seems to be a return to repair, restyle and alterations. It is only a small movement, but as in all areas of life, change will happen as a necessity of innovation.

You mention that in Britain women only wear 30% of their clothes. Here's the thing. I recently purchased a 100% silk dress at an outlet reduced from 400 euro to 72 euro. It is beautifully made, moves like a dream and is a perfect fit. The original garment I mentioned was bought for 20 euro in the High Street. It is 100% synthetic, has a small amount of static but it looks gorgeous on. I will wear the second garment to death simply because it was cheaper and I won't worry about damaging it. The 'good' clothes in my closet are part of the 70% that are hardly ever worn. Similarly, most women have their everyday clothes and those which are relegated to 'good' wear.

I believe there is a place for both types of garment. The ideal is actually somewhere inbetween the two, and it is there that I usually make my purchases. However, the VALUE of a garment is in how it makes the wearer feel. Not its price or pedigree. I think Daphne Guinness epitomises the effect of how a garment makes the person feel. It is obvious that her somewhat eclectic choices completely empower her. I truly believe that this can also be achieved at the opposite and much less expensive end of the market. Together with the designer and the manufacturere, the customer must play a part in the process of design by making the choices which suit their style and by adding those personal touches which make the style their own.

Thank you for your observations and interest. I'm sure there is a need for more awareness of the manufacturing and economic processes in all areas of retail in order that the purchaser can make more informed choices.:)