How to Care for and Get the Most Out of Your Dresses
If you have just added a dress or two to your wardrobe, the question is usually the same: how do you keep it looking as good after ten wears as it did on the first. The short answer is to check the care label before the first wash, store it properly between wears, and treat stains the day they happen rather than waiting. The longer answer depends on the fabric, the cut, and how often you plan to wear it.
Start with the fabric, not the style
Dresses across our dresses collection vary in fabric composition, and the care instructions follow the fabric, not the silhouette. A structured dress and a soft draped one in the same material are cared for the same way. Before you do anything else, find the care label sewn into the side seam or neckline and follow it. If it says hand wash or dry clean, machine washing is the most common way a good dress is ruined early.
As a general rule:
- Delicate or lined fabrics usually call for hand washing in cold water or dry cleaning.
- Sturdier woven fabrics can often tolerate a gentle machine cycle in a mesh bag, but check first.
- Dark or richly dyed fabrics should be washed separately for the first few washes to avoid transferring color.
Washing and drying without shortening its life
Cold water is almost always safer than warm, both for color retention and for keeping fibers from loosening. Turn the dress inside out before washing to reduce friction on the outer surface. Skip the dryer unless the label specifically allows it. Heat is the fastest way to shrink a dress or distort its shape, especially around the waist or shoulders where seams are under the most tension. Laying the dress flat on a towel to air dry, reshaping it gently while damp, keeps the original fit intact.
Avoid wringing a wet dress. Press the water out between two towels instead. If the dress has pleats, pressed seams, or a structured neckline, let it dry on a padded hanger rather than flat, so the shape sets correctly as it dries.
Storage matters more than people think
Between wears, a dress does better on a padded or contoured hanger than folded in a drawer, particularly if it has a fitted bodice or delicate straps that can crease or stretch out of shape under weight. For dresses you wear only occasionally, a breathable garment bag protects against dust and light without trapping moisture the way plastic does. If you are storing a dress for a season, make sure it is clean first. Stored stains, even ones invisible to the eye, can oxidize and set permanently over time.
Dealing with stains and wear
Treat stains as soon as possible, and always blot rather than rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the fibers and can damage delicate weaves. Cold water and a mild detergent handle most everyday marks. For anything oil-based, a small amount of dish soap worked in before washing often helps. When in doubt, a professional cleaner is a safer bet than an aggressive home remedy, especially on a dress you intend to keep for years rather than a season.
Getting more wear out of one dress
A well-made dress is rarely a one-outfit piece. Layering is the easiest way to extend its range: a cardigan or half-zip worn over it for cooler days, a structured jacket for a more formal setting. If your wardrobe leans toward coordinated dressing, pairing a dress with pieces from our co-ord sets or knit skirt sets collections can stretch a single dress across more occasions without buying more dresses. For cooler months, a tailored piece from our blazer and tailoring sets collection works well over a simple dress silhouette.
If something arrives damaged or doesn't fit
Check the item as soon as it arrives. If it is defective, we ask for photo evidence and will send a free replacement. Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery provided the item is unused and in its original condition and packaging — contact us before sending anything back, as unapproved returns are not accepted. Full details, including who covers return shipping, are on our refund policy page. You can check the status of an order anytime through your account.
Contact
For questions about care, sizing, or an order, reach us at info@hayesbrooks.com. Service hours are Monday to Friday 9 AM–6 PM and Saturday to Sunday 10 AM–5 PM (America/New_York), with replies within 24 business hours. More ways to reach us are listed on our contact page.