Tips for scratchy princess dresses

[rk5798]

We have a Tinkerbell dress that was bought on a previous trip for dd that she has not worn yet. She really wants to dress like Tinkerbell but at the same time doesn't want to wear it because it is too scratchy. So we are starting to have her wear it around home with some clothes underneath to try to "soften" it up a little but does anyone have any other tips to help take the scratchiness away? We don't want her to have to wear anything underneath it this summer because it will way too hot. I also don't want to put it in the wash as I am afraid the sparkle and glitter will come off and I would like it to look somewhat new before she wears it for the first time. Any advice?

 

[NotUrsula]

Have her put it on and identify where the scratchiness is -- I'm betting any money that you'll find that it is in the seams. If so, wearing a sleeveless top under it won't help in terms of the arm and shoulder seams.

The best thing to do is to get some wide bias binding at a fabric store and bind the seam allowances with it. This will require some sewing, with a machine or by hand.

PS: You usually can't "soften" out scratchiness in the body of clothing by wear or washing. The most common things that cause it are the raw cut edges of tulle netting, the edges of sequins or metallic trims, or nickel traces in metallic fibers. The only remedy is to place a barrier between those surfaces and the skin. Scratchiness in a size tag can be softened out, but that's because those tags are stiffened with a starch-like substance to make them easy to attach and easy to read.

 

[jench]

We have not had ANY luck softening up scratchy dresses by washing... I think the PPs suggestion of covering up the scratchy spot would be best. Around the house here, DD just wears clothes underneath, but at WDW in Sept, of course she would have none of that! So at our CRT lunch, instead of her "scratchy" brand-new Cinderella dress, she wore Barbie Mariposa. Ugggghhh.
Good luck!!!
Jen

 

[annacali]

Another mom of a sensitive Princess here too...I had a Pocahontas dress made for DD3 for our BBB part of our trip last summer since I knew she couldn't wear any of the sparkly itchy store bought ones. In other situations we just go for dresses or tshirts with the Princesses pictured on them...works fine for her. Cinderella's stepmother and Cinderella both paid her a lot of attention at 1900PF because she was wearing a white tshirt style dress with Cinderella on the front!

 

[momxx5]

I think I might try sewing a lightweight satinly slip under the dress, especially for the skirt part. The satin will make it feel more silky than scratchy.

I know it is hard because the girls want so badly to wear their dresses and some end up wearing them despite the scrathes and end up with almost blisters. The are too young to compromise comfort for fashion, LOL!

 

[squirrel]

That's why I managed to get a cheaper Cinderella costume after Halloween that isn't itchy for WDW. Might not look as nice as the Disney ones but at least my niece will be comfortable.

 

[janni518]

Another nice alternative that I saw this past year was letting them wearing those fancy Disney nightgowns as dresses.I saw dozens of little girls at WDW this past May wearing them, they looked pretty and comfortable.

 

[emma'smom]

My dd has very sensitive skin (or at least she complains a lot!). Our solution was for her to wear shorts and a camisole undershirt under the dress. Then I just covered the seams on her shoulders with mole skin. It stuck perfectly, was easy, and cheap!

 

[Darcy03231]

My niece wore a short sleeve plain white t-shirt under hers. Worked great.

 

[pktbMouse]

My friend told me this tip to try...turn the dress inside out then with a damp cloth sponge the dress lightly so its just a little damp then rub a dryer sheet all over it. Let it dry naturally. Apparently this stops static and friction.
good luck!

 

[momma2minnie]

Another nice alternative that I saw this past year was letting them wearing those fancy Disney nightgowns as dresses.I saw dozens of little girls at WDW this past May wearing them, they looked pretty and comfortable.

I like this idea. would be great for the older girls who are harder to fit.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

You should check out www.etsy.com. You can get costumes made out of real fabric that are gorgeous and not scratchy.

 

[skw444]

I sewed a camisole into the top part of my dd's Cinderella dress and then a slip into the bottom part and that worked for her.