Tips for caring for your racewear

Over the years I’ve had many conversations with fellow race goers about their beautiful outfits and always love to hear the story behind how items were sourced, created by hand or commissioned and the creative process behind putting together such beautiful looks. As we continually put so much love, time, creativity, effort & often hard earned money into our race wear, it is imperative that we look after items in order to rewear, reuse, resell & restyle for our own fashion future but also to benefit the world around us. 

Following are a few of my personal tips for caring for my race wear in order to not only preserve my wardrobe but also ensure it is ready to be accessed and worn again at any time. I have obtained much of this knowledge  through talking to milliners, designers, friends, relatives, through groups and forums I’m a member of and also through my own experiences! 

- Hanging garments on hangers that are correct for the garment. Be careful that clip hangers don’t mark delicate fabrics - I use fabric off cuts under clips so that the clip doesn’t impact on the fabric. I also use ribbon & dressmaker pins to make hanging loops for garments that don’t have their own, have had them cut off or require some extra assistance as they are heavy to hang. Stretch marks are hard to get out so choose the correct width of hanger. There are so many different types of hangers on the market so investigate what is best for your needs ie felt non slip, padded, pant hangers, speciality hangers for belts, ties etc etc. Some specialized garments may not be suitable for hanging so I lay flat within boxes amongst tissue. Acid free tissue paper is also great for stuffing 3D parts of garments such as puff sleeves in order for them to keep their shape.

- Heat (even from ducted heating) & humidity can ruin clothing, bags, shoes, accessories & millinery. Use products like damp rid hangers & containers to absorb excess moisture in closets & rooms housing your precious items. Use silica gel sachets (like the type commonly packaged within shoe boxes) inside drawers & boxes to absorb moisture. Schedule a regular date in your calendar to check on these to see if they need replacement. Ensure that any moisture absorbing products are safely out of reach of both children & pets as I believe some can be toxic if consumed. 

- Moth hangers, camphor etc are also a must in protecting precious garments. Set a reminder in your calendar to remember to replace as directed. 

- Protect your shoes, bags, accessories (& sometimes precious fabrics) with waterproofer. I use Scotchguard on my fabric, silk & satin shoes, & Collonil Carbonpro on my leather bags & shoes. I also carefully spray all suede products I own as these risk damage if left unprotected! I apply immediately on purchase & then every few months if the item is in regular use ie my daily handbag. There are many brands of similar products available at supermarkets, shoe stores & online. Always follow the directions on the pack to avoid unwanted mishaps. I also keep a leather cleaner & conditioner on hand to remove colour transfer or marks. 

- I have protective ‘Topy’ soles added to all of my high heels & flat dress shoes. These not only assist with grip but also extend the life of your shoes. I am now on a first name basis with my local cobbler who also advises me on the best colour sole to use for each pair. Coloured Topy soles are even available for shoes with non standard tan or black soles! 

- Watch out for sunlight! Sunlight fades, so be careful where you store items. I use static cling black out film on windows to ensure that light does not damage any items that may be in the direct line of the sun (even a tiny stream of sunlight can fade or yellow items over time). As the film is static it leaves no residue & can easily be trimmed to size. I’ve found this available on multi retail sites such as eBay & Amazon.

- Clean your soles & heels after use. There is nothing worse than receiving a surprise that your favourite shoes are still caked in grass & mud from their last wear. Clean carefully after use & ensure they are fully dry before storing away. I have some of my shoes on display shelves, but others I pack away using their original packaging in their boxes. I also ensure that any parts of shoes that may crease are stuffed with tissue to avoid wrinkles in the leather during storage. 

- Invest in shoe stretchers! These are the best investment! I purchased cheap wooden stretchers with plastic components several times & they would always break after a few uses. I then invested in some professional stretchers with metal components & have never looked back! This also saves blisters from wearing in shoes or paying to have shoes stretched professionally. 

- Steam, iron or have delicate garments professionally pressed. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of creased clothing & change upon arrival at the race track in a pop up camping shower tent I keep in the boot of my car. I hang or lay all garments once pressed carefully in the car to ensure they travel well. I have also invested in a travel garment steamer for when I travel to race days, a steam station iron for home use which until you use one, don’t realise how good they are! These super powerful steam station irons iron almost every fabric safely & also double as a powerful hand steamer. I also use tailors pressing hams & smaller boards to accurately press sleeves, shoulders, legs & peplums. I have an ironing cloth to protect delicate embellishments & fabric. Any items that I’m scared to touch myself I take to my local specialist dry cleaner for pressing. 

- Maintain garments after use ie have dropped hems mended, tears repaired, loose buttons & embellishments re-secured etc I also recommend people checking over garments for potential loose items & having them tailored for a perfect fit before wear in order to avoid problems at the track. Inspecting new garments for loose threads, tags that need removal etc is also something many forget until at the track. 

- Clean your clothing regularly & follow the instructions on the care label. If you cut the label off, keep it for future reference (I often place extra buttons, tags etc in a snap lock bag & attach to garments hanger. You could also put the receipt in there for resale or insurance purposes!)

- Store millinery with plenty on acid free tissue, with plenty of room in a strong box & out of direct sunlight. Check after wear if any repairs need to be completed ie makeup marks wiped off, stretched hat elastics replaced, fur felt brushed etc. Do not store your millinery away if wet or sweaty, allow to dry before storage. 

- Use laminated photos of items secured with Velcro dots on boxes & garment bags to identify the contents. I used to do this regularly but not so much anymore. 

- Use a wardrobe cataloguing app such as Stylebook or even a spreadsheet to keep track of your wardrobe. This can help you to remember what you already own & can also be useful for valuing wardrobe items for insurance. Apps are great as they allow you to upload images & often have flat lay options for trialing outfits.

- On the subject of storage, use jewellery divided boxes or clear divided boxes to store small items such as earrings, cuff links, brooches, tie pins etc. I generally store mine by colour so I can easily access when making a decision for styling looks. 

- Fragrances, deodorants, make up, fake tan & perspiration can all mark garments and/or cause odours. I take a packet of baby wipes to the track to assist with any accidental stains prior to competing. I carefully inspect all garments after wear then have cleaned based on the labels care instructions. Careful cleaning will ensure you extend the life of your garment. I’m also fussy about having matching sets cleaned together eg suit jacket & pants, so that if any subtle fading occurs it is done consistently.

- If you have invested heavily in purchasing valuable items such as shoes or bags, most states have their own ‘bag spa’ that can not only protect but also repair & rejuvenate your items. Good cobblers can also assist in many shoe & bag repairs including recolouring, replacing heels, adjusting straps & hardware etc. 

- Using garment bags. I’ve learnt that there are two schools of thought on their use. Some fashion experts claim it’s best to allow fabric to breath so not to use them however others state that fabric garment bags are great for preventing dust & avoiding clothes catching on each other. I personally use them for garments I don’t wear regularly however I’ll leave this up to the individual to decide! 

- I also have a few essential products on hand at home ‘just in case’ such as pins, fabric rollers & brushes, shoe brushes & polish, static spray, double sided tape, an extra shoe brush reserved for my felt hats etc for those small maintenance & last minute issues you always encounter. Having these on hand I’ve found to be great in avoiding last minute disasters & panic! 

- If you’re anything like me, fashion is a form of art so place your most beautiful items on display if you have the room! I have several glass display cabinets housing my favourite bags, shoes & millinery. I use clear acrylic stands to prop up items that require height. This may be an unnecessary luxury to some but I appreciate & use my items much more when I can see them! 

I hope these handy tips may give you some ideas for how you store & protect your own garments. Not everything will suit everyone’s lifestyle however this is a snap shot of how I care for the items in my wardrobe, which I consider prized possessions. I’ve found that a few minutes effort pre & post race day caring for your items can pay off in the long run. 

I’d love to hear any more helpful tips I may have forgotten & tricks from other people, as I love to continue learning! Please add to the conversation! 

- Em Scodellaro, Admin of It’s All About The Sash & self confessed fashion addict

PS I’ve added images of a few of the products. If you want any other suggestions or images, let me know x

Emma Scodellaro October 2021