A beaded bag lasts for years if it is stored and cleaned with a few simple habits. Beads fear three things: water, crushing and rubbing. Here is what we recommend for our beaded bags.
Storing it
- Flat, never hung by its chain when it is full: the weight pulls on the frame and the threads.
- On its own, in a fabric dust bag : two beaded bags stored together scratch each other.
- Empty : keys and hard objects mark the inside and pull the bag out of shape.
- Away from light and damp : a wardrobe rather than a bathroom.
Dusting it
Run a soft-bristled brush between the rows of beads, from top to bottom. For a mark, use a barely damp microfibre cloth, dabbed rather than rubbed, then dry it straight away. No water, no soap, no household products: they dull pearlescent beads and can weaken the threads.
Frames and chains
Gold-tone or silver-tone frames and chains are cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. Keep them away from perfume and creams, which dull metal: put your perfume on before you pick up your bag.
If a bead comes loose
Keep it in the dust bag. A single bead can be reattached with a stitch of fine nylon thread, without pulling on the neighbouring rows. If several beads are loose, do not cut anything: write to us with a photo and we will tell you how to proceed.
Before and after the evening
Before you go out, move things from your day bag into the beaded bag, not the other way round: that way you will not slip in a pen or a key without a cover. When you get home, take everything out, let it air for an hour if the room was damp or smoky, then put it back in its dust bag. Once a season, open it and check the bottom rows and the corners, which take the most wear.
When travelling
Slip the bag into its dust bag, then into the middle of your suitcase, between two soft garments. Never at the bottom, under shoes or a wash bag.
Mistakes to avoid
- Putting it on the floor during the evening.
- Leaving it in a car in full sun.
- Storing it with jewellery or another bag.
- Washing it, even by hand.
Other materials
Embroidered velvet is brushed gently, with no steam on the embroidery; satin and brocade can go to the dry cleaner if needed. The fabrics are covered in brocade, velvet, satin: evening bag fabrics explained.
For your next bag, see our guide to choosing an evening bag for a wedding. See all our evening bags and clutches.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash a beaded bag?
No. A soft brush and a barely damp cloth only; never immerse it.
Do the beads turn yellow?
Pearlescent beads can dull with light and contact with perfume; stored away from both, a beaded bag keeps its shine.
From the shop
