A beautiful dress deserves to be worn more than once. Sequins, satin and lace are delicate, but with a few good habits they will look as good on the tenth wear as on the first.
Start with the care label
Always read the label before doing anything else. It tells you the fibre content and whether the dress can be hand washed or must be dry cleaned. If the label says "dry clean only", follow it, especially for structured gowns, boned bodices and heavily embellished pieces. When there is no label, treat the dress as delicate.
Hand washing vs dry cleaning
- Sequins: if hand washing is allowed, turn the dress inside out and wash it in cool water with a mild detergent. Do not wring or twist; press the water out gently and dry it flat on a towel. Never tumble dry.
- Satin: polyester satin can often be hand washed in cool water. Silk satin and structured satin gowns are best left to a dry cleaner.
- Lace: wash by hand or in a mesh laundry bag on the most delicate cycle, then reshape and dry flat.
Washing less is the best care of all. After an event, air the dress out overnight and only clean it when it is actually dirty.
Steam instead of ironing
Irons can melt sequins, leave shiny marks on satin and flatten lace. A handheld steamer is much safer. Hang the dress, hold the steamer a few centimetres away and work from top to bottom. For sequins, steam from the inside. If you must iron, use a low setting on the reverse with a pressing cloth.
Storing your dresses
Hang lightweight satin and lace dresses on padded hangers to avoid shoulder bumps. Heavy sequin and beaded gowns can stretch on a hanger, so fold them loosely with acid-free tissue paper between the folds and store them flat. Use breathable cotton garment bags rather than plastic, and keep dresses away from direct sunlight.
Removing small stains
Act quickly but gently. Blot, never rub. For a fresh drink spill, dab with a clean cloth and cool water. For makeup, a tiny amount of mild detergent on a cotton bud usually works. Always test on a hidden seam first. Leave oil, red wine and large stains on silk or embellished areas to a professional.
Travelling with a gown
Carry your dress in a garment bag where possible. If it has to go in a suitcase, roll lightweight dresses in tissue paper, and fold sequin dresses inside out with tissue between the layers. Unpack as soon as you arrive, hang the dress and let the wrinkles drop, then steam if needed.
Looking for a dress worth caring for? Explore all dresses and our new arrivals, and read our tips on how to style a sequin dress.
