Dyeing a netted bridal underskirt - can it be done???

[Y0rkshirePudding]

I've bought my wedding dress off the peg along with a layered netted underskirt. I asked the assistant for an ivory underskirt to match my ivory dress. It all came packaged up which I just simply took home after paying.

However, upon getting home and getting it all out of the packaging to hang I noticed the underskirt was bright white. I asked the store if I could return it for an ivory one as I had mistakenly been given a white one, only to be told that it only comes in one colour, and that it is actually described as being 'ivory'. Gutted! (It's not even close to being ivory, it's definitely white)

They have said I can return it for a full refund, but I'm unable to find another underskirt in ivory of the same quality. I love the underskirt, and it gives my wedding dress the perfect fullness - it's just the colour I don't like.

Is it possible to dye underskirts? It states it's 100% polyester on the tag - I don't want to attempt dyeing it only to ruin it, and then not be able to wear it or return it...

Thanks x

TBH I have never heard of an off-white dye. Do you think this coul dbe put into arts and crafts? There are a number of people on there who might know.

There are dyes for polyester, but AFAIK they all require you to steep the garment in boiling liquid for a few hours. It's unlikely that you'll manage that at home with such a bulky garment, and I imagine that boiling the fabric would affect its stiffness and movement anyway (thus compromising its effectiveness as an underskirt).

Could you possibly put an ivory "underskirt-overskirt" on top of it, or ask a seamstress to add a couple of layers of ivory net? Failing that, you could always get a seamstress to add ivory trim to the outermost layers, so that any flashes of underskirt would only show ivory.

Can I suggest good old tea? Make up a strong brew and soak the netting in it.

DM made wedding dresses for many years, and used tea to take the whiteness off lace etc. for ivory wedding dresses.

Although netting is normally polyester so doesn't take dye particularly well.

I really don't know if Im brave enough to soak it in tea... eek!

OP, I just checked with DM - she said dyeing with tea works perfectly for cotton, silk etc, but polyester won't take dye at all. So you have to accept the colour as it is, or return it for something else.

My ddil dyed the dress that dgd wore as a flower girl. The white fabric came up pretty pale pink. However the stitching turned out much stronger...deep pink !!

I like the idea of a free-market adding some ivory netting to dilute the white.

Not free-market......seamstress. !!

I dyed my veil (so similar material) with tea and worked really well. Was a bit nerve racking though as rained just before the wedding! Wouldn't have been a good look to have been covered in tea stains

Is the underskirt attached?could you get a seamstress to replace it or buy another one to be fitted under it?sonethibg like one of these m.ebay.co.uk/itm/181093037370

In my experience, polyester netting is unlikely to take the dye. If you are keen to keep this particular underskirt, then the poster upthread had a good idea..having a seamstress add in Ivory netting where it will be visible?

Its a tea length wedding dress. When I sit down the underskirt will become visible. I really don't want the mismatched bright white to show, especially on the wedding photo's. Think I may just have to return it and try to look for something else...

That may be the best way to go, there are no guarantees with dyeing it or adding additional pieces..other than that it would become unreturnable!
How disappointing for you, is there anywhere local to you that you can visit for a replacement?