The problem is that dyeing polyester requires a special type of dye, and expensive equipment (an enormous non-aluminum cooking pot which is never to be used for food again). The lace is probably made of nylon, which will take a lot of dyes pretty well and therefore end up considerably darker than the polyester, if you try a temporary dye such as real coffee (boiling the dress in the coffee for an hour).

However, since you don't care very much how soft and pretty the dress will be, as you would for regular clothing, you can get good results with fabric paint. Fabric paint will be much easier to use on polyester than disperse dye, and it will work far better on polyester than the wrong type of dye. (Note that all-purpose dye does not work at all on polyester.)

If you use regular artists' acrylic paints, the result will be extremely stiff and scratchy. In a pinch this will work for a costume, however. Dilute the paints with water, and apply them by painting or by dipping, any way that seems appropriate. It is best to not launder the garment for several weeks after applying the paint. Acrylic paints make a better fabric paint if mixed with a product called textile medium, but the only source I personally know for this is the Dick Blick catalog.

You can get better results by using special fabric paint, which is much softer and less scratchy. The best fabric paints feel almost as nice as dye, though never quite as nice. You can mail-order good fabric paints such as SetaColor or Jacquard Textile paints by the quart, or you can purchase them from a good local crafts store in small (rather expensive) jars. If you have a few days to wait for mail-order, or if you happen to live near the stores, PRO Chemical & Dye sells a good textile paint (PROfab Textile Paints); you might also consider Dharma Pigment 'Dye' (which is another type of fabric paint, not a dye at all). Fiber-arts.com sells a number of different types of fabric paint.


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