Debutante Clothing :: A vintage clothing and fashion blog for unconventional style where vintage and runway meet.

Poor Rachel Bilson. The former OC star's home was broken into this past Thursday, but it wasn't her TV and computer that were stolen. It was her collection of vintage clothing and family heirlooms which included a collection of vintage Chanel. I can't even imagine what it is like to be robbed of such items. A plasma TV can be replaced, just any other modern item, including designer clothing. But vintage? That's it! It's gone. And there probably not be another one like it. I wonder if any of it will show up on Ebay.com? 

Whoever broke in knew what they were going for. No regular cat burglar would know his vintage couture from a rag. Although, this could be like the episode when Carrie Bradshaw was robbed of her correctly-identified-by-the-mugger Manolos.

I just hope Miss Bilson insured her collectibles, but in a case like this, home insurance is not enough. If you collect vintage clothing and accessories, your treasures can be insured, just like fine jewelry and antiques. "Some may think that they're homeowners insurance policy covers their collectibles, but in most cases your homeowners policy is designed to cover personal property and is not nearly enough to protect your treasured collectibles," said Dan Walker of Dan Walker/Debbie Spilman-Collectibles Insurance Services.

photo via posh24.com

Ehow.com has a very useful tutorial on how to obtain insurance for your vintage collectibles. I had never considered purchasing separate insurance for my vintage clothing and accessories, but as a seller, I have so much inventory its loss through theft or fire would set me back quite a bit of money.

Regardless of whether Rachel Bilson's Chanel collection was ready to wear or couture pieces, the collection could've been worth a fortune, but even more tragic is the loss of these one of a kind treasures and the time and patience it takes to collect.

I can imagine the heartbreak she must be feeling right now. But if she had a collectibles insurance policy, maybe she can find some comfort in a vintage clothing shopping spree!

If you have ever been afraid of ruining a favorite vintage piece by washing it, never fear. Here are some dos and don'ts to think about before you take the plunge and wash or clean your vintage clothing.

• Do wash cottons and linens
It is fine to wash cottons and cotton blends yourself. The best way to do this is to hand wash each piece individually in cool to lukewarm water with a gentle fabric detergent. Ivory Snow, in powder form, Woolite or Dreft are safe choices.

• Don't agitate the clothing
Just let the article sit in the water, moving it only to make sure it is soaked completely.

• Don't over wash
When you are done wearing your favorite vintage piece, do not throw it in the hamper. Hang it up so it can breathe. Washing your vintage too much will lessen its life span.

• Do dry clean
If you don't know the fabric make up of your vintage piece, do not guess! Take it to a dry cleaner that understands older fabrics. Ask around and don't be afraid to ask dry cleaners questions about their knowledge and experience.

• Do use stain treaters (carefully)
If you have a stubborn stain, such as perspiration or unknown food, start with the least abrasive stain fighter -- lemon juice or white vinegar. These are natural whiteners. Once you have determined lemon juice hasn't worked, you can move on to harsher stain treatments such Oxyclean or Shout, but use sparingly or use a towel to apply on the spot.

• Don't spin dry
It is best to hang or drip-dry any garment. Dryers, even on gentle heat can damage delicate vintage fabrics. Items from the 80s could possibly do just fine in the dryer on delicate or air dry, but why take the chance?

Vintage collectors have to deal with some heinous garment issues before they will display and sell their treasures. This is part of the reason why a reputable seller's items will generally cost more. We take the time to hand wash, dry clean and treat garments.

Here are two of the best products we have ever used:

available at goddards.com

Goddard's of England is a powerful spray on stain remover that will eliminate tough stains for non washable fabrics. This is especially helpful when you have a 1940s rayon dress that will shrivel up if you try to hand wash it.

available at Amazon.com

Another vintage seller turned us on to Soilove. It is an amazing product, that apparently is hard to find, but we find both these products at Longs Drugs.

**At the risk of being misinterpreted, I have edited the above entry. Thanks Elisa for pointing this out.

Vintage collectors have to deal with some heinous garment issues before they will display and sell their treasures. This is part of the reason why a reputable seller's items will generally cost more. We take the time to hand wash, dry clean and treat garments.

Here are two of the best products we have ever used:

available at goddards.com

Goddard's of England is a powerful spray on stain remover that will eliminate tough stains for non washable fabrics. This is especially helpful when you have a 1940s rayon dress that will shrivel up if you try to hand wash it.

available at Amazon.com

Another vintage seller turned us on to Soilove. It is an amazing product, that apparently is hard to find, but we find both these products at Longs Drugs.

**At the risk of being misinterpreted, I have edited the above entry. Thanks Elisa for pointing this out.