How to keep cotton skirt from sticking to itself

July 11, 2015 9:00 AM

I have this beautiful polka dot swing dress with a very full skirt, and it's probably my favorite dress. The problem is, the fabric's texture causes the skirt to stick together and bunch up when walking.

I think it's maybe made of some kind of woven brushed cotton, which causes this annoying velcro like effect. Wearing a slip under it doesn't really help much at all, so now I'm trying to find some kind of fabric treatment or household product that can make it less velcroy. To be clear, this is not static cling, it's just the texture of the woven cotton material. I know there must be some way to fix this problem, but Google has failed me, so I turn to you kind humans of the internet.

posted by BloodSpell to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total)

I find wiping down a skirt with a sheet of fabric softener prevents clinging. I do the inside and out. Good luck!
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:13 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Have you tried using a spray starch, and an iron? It'll smooth out/flatten the fibres so there's less tendency for them to snag.
posted by redindiaink at 9:16 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have sewn small fishing weights into the hem of a skirt before to prevent this very problem. The skirt in question was meant to be worn over layers of crinolines. The fabric of the skirt (some kind of ultrasuede-y stuff) would just bunch up around my waist as I walked around. The weights kept the skirt flat.

The other fix I have seen, though this was for a stage performer, is to put velcro on the dress. The way this worked was one side of the velcro went inside the dress and the other side went on a sturdy foundation garment. When the two sides matched up, the velcro would hold the fabric in place.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 9:20 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Have a tailor add a silky lining right into the skirt. It will be much more effective than wearing a slip.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:37 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Yes, have a tailor put a slip or a petticoat into the dress.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:24 AM on July 11, 2015

You can mimic that by finding a slip the right shape and pinning it to the inside of the skirt.
posted by Night_owl at 10:59 AM on July 11, 2015

This tutorial on weighing down hems with sewn-in coins is what you want.
posted by HotToddy at 11:08 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'll second the starch. Just be careful with it though and use in little bits. In other words, light sprays then using it again. It gets flaky sometimes, but you can brush the flakes off with a soft brush.

In fact, if you use starch, you'll find that it won't wrinkle, unless you get it wet.
posted by magnoliasouth at 12:35 PM on July 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

Been there. Worst I had was a cotton knit skirt sticking to my pantyhose as I walked down the streets of Manhattan. Every 2 steps I had to stop and pull it down. Very dignified and ladylike.

Rite Aid sells an aerosol spray called "static guard," which works wonders on things like this. In the area of the store where they sell travel-sized soap, etc., they have purse-sized spray cans of it. It's such a life-saver.

If that doesn't work, a slip may be required, but that's not the end of the world. A good slip will be pretty comfy and help the skirt look nicer as it drapes on your body.
posted by amy27 at 1:03 PM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

If you need to weight the hem, try weighted curtain cord. It comes in a bunch of different weights, but the lightest ought to be enough for a cotton skirt. Curtain companies also sell "drapery weights", little flat bits of metal covered in vinyl (the vinyl is so you can wash it without the metal discoloring the fabric).
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:38 PM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Yes, a silk slip will do the trick!
posted by Trudi at 10:52 AM on July 12, 2015