Should I hang this? A Clothing Quiz!

Here at Hangerbee, our focus is on hangable clothing storage. But with a background working with historic textiles, we fully understand that not every garment should be hung. That’s right! Hangerbee products are NOT the answer to everything. If you have a c1920s silk beaded “flapper” dress, like the one to the right (which is a piece I acquired in poor quality for reference purposes only), do NOT hang it! It’s much safer in a box.

But sometimes the answer is not as clear. Some contemporary garments should be boxed, while I’ve seen many c1840s dresses doing just fine on a padded hanger. To help you answer some questions about the garments in your life/museum/closet, here’s a quiz to get you started:

1. Is the garment fragile and/or falling apart at the shoulders or midsection?

   • NO: Great! Proceed to question #2

   • YES: Is there any way to properly repair or conserve it?

     • NO: Please do not hang the garment.

     • YES: Great! Proceed to question #2

2. Is the garment vintage or older?

   • NO: Great! Proceed to question #3

   • YES: Are the shoulders and midsection made of a fragile fabric such as crepe or silk and/or is there heavy beading or other embellishments?

     • YES: Is the skirt a lot heavier than the bodice?

       1. YES: You may be able to properly hang the garment only if additional steps are taken (i.e. a wide padded hanger and suspenders) to provide adequate support. Proceed to question #3.

       2. NO: If the entire garment is lightweight (i.e. all crepe or linen) the garment can most likely be hung on a wide, padded hanger without extra support. Proceed to question #3

     • NO: Is the dress sturdy overall and fits well on a padded hanger?

       1. YES: Go ahead and hang it!

       2. NO: You may be able to properly hang the garment only if additional steps are taken (i.e. a wide padded hanger and suspenders) to provide adequate support. Proceed to question #3

3. Does the garment have wide straps or sleeves that are wide enough to support the entire garment’s weight?

   • NO:

     • You should be able to safely hang the garment by adding some additional support (i.e. a wide padded hanger and suspenders).

   • YES

     • Is the skirt a lot heavier than the bodice?

       1. YES: Great! You should be able to safely hang the garment by adding some additional support (i.e. a wide padded hanger and suspenders).

       2. NO: Go ahead and hang it!

Of course this is just a short little quiz that is not meant to have all the answers. Each garment has its own unique needs for proper long-term preservation. But I hope this gets you feeling a little more confident about how you can preserve the garments in your life and what they may or may not need to be safe.

In future posts we will walk you through the process of how to give your garments additional support, as well as other preservation tips and tricks - and products - that you may not have thought about. Be sure to keep reading the blog as we add more resources for you.

If you have questions about the clothes in your life, we want to hear from you! Email Lindsey at shop@hangerbee.com or message us via social media and for our expert opinion and walk you through the best options based on your needs.