So my beautiful dry clean only dress came back from the dry-cleaners

[wonderstuff]

And it still has a mark on it - right in the top middle, can't hide it - I think it must have been gravy or red wine? It is the only going out dress I own, I can't afford to buy another, I was counting on wearing it to a big posh wedding next month and a wedding reception tomorrow.
Is there anything I can do?
I'm really fed up about it - I had to eat lots of chocolate when I discovered it was still marked when I got home.

Honestly I'd put it in the washing machine on a silk wash and hope for the best.

:(

Ime dry cleaning never really gets things clean.

I don't suppose its a fabric that can be dyed is it?

Dry cleaner completely fucked up my beautiful evening dress, my mum came to the rescue by putting a beautiful piece of lace down the centre of the dress, does its job as covers the mark! (think fuckwits taking a WIRE brush to crepe material!)

Would something like this work corsage

or this
broach?

Obviously i don't know what the dress is like, or perhaps a beautiful real flower? to cover the mark?

Is a strapless silk ccktail dress in a sort of pale brown, prob is the mark is right in the middle - think a broach in the middle of my boobs mightlook weird? Maybe I could dye black for wedding later in the year but I have nothing for tomorrow. Wedding beginning of dec is my cousins and I am very much the poor relation - I had this one dress that cost about £100 brought pre children - I'm gutted
Woman didn't tell me it was ruined when I went to pick up, was hung behind suit I was also collecting

I'd go and complain and at least get your dry cleaning money back

You can totally buy a piece of black lace and do some inventive draping and sewing across the bust. It's mega fashionable at the moment so it will bring your dress bang up to date. Have seen loads of dresses with this kind of embellishment lately but cannot find any online to link to. Grr! If I see any will link. Do not despair!

How about something like this lacey bit on the neckline? www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Maternity-Chiffon-Corsage-Babydoll-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=614432&cid=5813&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Black

I know yours is strapless, but could a wide lacey band be sewn around the top of it?

How about a statement necklace / pendant?

Its this style with the crushed silk, but a bit longer, over knee, and with a straight finish across the top and this colour

Actually that coast one is quite nice? May be i could get a nice replacement from ebay..

wonderstuff..I am a dry cleaner ( a good one I might add) and if there were marks on a dress that we couldn't get out through dry cleaning then we offer a hand wash service free of charge. If you can link to the dress I can tell you if it would wash ok. We hand wash about three dry clean only dresses a week and I havent ruined one yet. There is a knack though so beware.

As with all companies there are good and bad but please be aware if you got a mark on that the dry cleaner can't get off , they didn't ruin it, they just can;t fix it. Granted they should have told you and offered another option though.

It was brought about 4 years ago so no link - if I get a chance I'll post apic later. It is 100% silk - a crushed effect, with a acetate lining. I guess I need to look for a goo dry-cleaner - you not in north hampshire are you?

sadly not ..was it a chain? it seems a lot of dry cleaners are run by men these day and they can be a bit..ahem ...heavy handed..We are very careful not to push material harder than it can handle an if any marks remain it is discussed with the customer what we do next if anything.

We are a family run business and I treat everything as if it were my own. If you feel you can trust them then I would take it back and see if they can offer any other recourse..did it have a note on it? we always put a note on in case we forget where marks are or whatever.

tbh the dress sounds vile.
buy a new one

Local independent place, so I assumed it would be good - have had poor service from local chain inside supermarket place (put a double crease in dh's trousers)

No note, no mention of it - she actually didn't ask about any marks when I took it in, but I pointed it out. I'm not annoyed at her for not getting it out I'm annoyed that she didn't mention it, - it is sort of half removed, so she obviously did treat it. I'm gutted that I have trashed my most expensive item of clothing. Anyway Sketcheys in the town nearby is normally good and so I'll make a treck there next week to see if they can do anything..

Thanks Bonny - honestly it is lovely.. My budget for a new one is a £20 monsoon voucher, which ain't gonna get me much, I go onto SMP next month, buying anything else will send me further into debt.

oh sounds like it should have been ok, shame you don't feel like taking it back as I am guessing its at least a tenner to get cleaned and sketchley will charge again. If you think they have had a go and got some out I would honestly ask them to dry clean it again and it may be better. I am sure they would rather do that than lose your future custom.

If you can post a pic or email me Ill happily have a look.

Would something like this dangle over the offending stain?

TBH no one will prob notice anyway.

or this?

pic on my profile, but they are quite rubbish, but thankyou bishboschone you have given me hope that it may be OK.
Spawn you are right, prob no one will notice, but I will. It is too off centre for a necklace, too high and central for a broach - I do have a little cardi that might cover it for tomorrow (everything crossed) but I NEED it for my cousins wedding I just have to be in a expensive nice dress for that one.

hhmm, I honestly can't see a mark on the dress and from the pic I don't think it would wash all that succesfully. I do think if the stain is better though another run through the machine may well take out the rest of it so I think its worth going back and asking them to do that.
I am sure they will be polite and helpful as long you are..:)

how about a scarf/pashmina style or a chiffon piece of fabric like a shawl with a broach to keep it in place? It is chilly out there!

I put my 100% silk dress through the machine on a silk wash and it came out perfectly, there was A LOT of drink spilled on it. It had both shiney and crepey panels.
My mum did the same with hers and they both came out like new.

BonnyDay Fuck off

wonderstuff, silk is very difficult to wash, you might end up with water marks. Washing up liquid usually gets rid of most things...perhaps you could gently rub this in & then rinse the whole dress, hang it on a hanger to dry & hope for the best ?

I am still not totally clear where the mark is, but is it possible to use a needle and thread to put in a small running stitch and 'ruch' a section of the bodice, thereby the stained bit of fabric is being gathered and the stain becomes lost that way?