Okay, here's my story and if any of you can figure out what happened, I'd sure appreciate it.

15 years ago I bought this long black 100% Rayon Summer Dress. It didn't fit me then, but I knew SOMEDAY it would.

I lost most of the weight I had to lose and it fits me just fine. It's been in the back of my closet for close to 15 years.

It's strapless, black, with lace design, not low cut or anything, just a pretty summer dress with nice lace detail.

Well, tonight I had the first opportunity to wear it. I put it on, it looked fine, (Oh I ironed it before I put it on), not too many wrinkles, but I wanted it to look brand new. And actually, it WAS because I had never worn the darn thing.

So Alan and I go to this birthday party, everyone ooohed and aaahed and liked my dress and after a while, I got itchy, so I took my finger and scratched (near the right side where my bra was located), and I noticed I poked a hole in my dress. I said to Alan, "I have a hole in my dress". He said "don't worry, it's dark outside (this happened after the sun went down), so no one noticed.

So after the party, I went home, and decided to hope in the shower. I take off the dress and most of my upper body was discolored. Like blue or something. Now this happened to me MANY YEARS AGO, when I bought a cheap t shirt and when I took it off, my body was blue, and as I took it off the whole shirt just ripped all over the place. It was like it had loose thread. It came apart so easy. I said "holy cow, this is a piece of ***". I then mentioned this to some guy in a store and he told me "that store sells things that are rotted". Since the shirt fell apart, it made sense. I really don't know what this means ROTTED.

Anyway, tonight when I took off my nice long black summer dress, and I looked at the color that was left on my body, I said "oh my god, did this dress rot?"

What do I need to do? Can I wash this? The label says 100% Rayon, dry clean preferred.

Any advice is welcome.

I cannot believe that I paid $50 for this dress fifteen years ago and the first time I wear it, it leaves my body blue.

Thanks much

Melody

P.S. It all came off in the shower. Nothing left behind.

Yep, even man-made fibers can deteriorate over time. I would probably look the dress over really well to see if there is more damage and if it will survive the dry cleaning. This really suck as I am sure you looked and felt fabulous in it. Lisa

I believe it's dry rot. Fifteen years is a long time to be hanging in a closet. I would guess the material had something to do with it as well. Maybe the warmth of your body interacted with the material and made your body kind of blue. IDK.

Strange....

Most black dyes have blue in them, and sometimes other colors too. I suspect since it is a dry clean only... that water and perhaps in this case perspiration dissolved some of the dye.

Here is a short site explaining that rayon does deteriorate.

http://www.redrockthreads.com/rayonthread/

I'd say the dress is "toast" and toss it.

Thanks to all of you who responded.

I happen to agree with Mrs. D. It's toast and it's going to get toasted!!!

lol

What a shame.

I lose weight, I'm able to put this fabulous lacy long black dress on, I happen to look good in it (something I was not able to achieve before), and the whole thing rots.

Maybe the universe is telling me something? Maybe the universe is telling me:

"Melody, no long black lacy clothes for you, go and wear LONG JOHNS!!"

lol lol lol

Well, Mel, I'm glad you outlived the dress! Did you get a picture of yourself? (Not the one in the shower, lol!)

Pity, but congratulations on the weight loss!!! You rock, woman!!!