High-quality luxury garments aren’t just basic purchases; they’re investments. Designer wear is built to last since they’re made with incredible workmanship and heavy-duty materials, unlike fast-fashion pieces, which quickly degrades after several uses. But even expensive designer pieces can come apart at the seams if you fail to take good care of them. Here’s some practical advice to take care of your designer clothes and make them last for years to come.
Have your clothes professionally cleaned
Take your designer garments to the dry cleaners and avoid washing it yourself. Different fabric and materials require other handling instructions, and cleaning professionals know exactly how to deal with that. As an added precaution, not every piece of clothing needs to get cleaned after every use unless you’ve stained it badly. Here’s how often you should clean specific pieces:
- Leather and suede: once a season, but you can clean stain spots using a stain remover and a brush that’s specially designed for leather or suede material
- Silk, lace, or rayon underwear: after three to five wears. If you sweat profusely, you can soak pieces made with delicate fabrics in cold water with light baby detergent after each use.
- Denim: after five or six years, unless you’ve stained a large portion of it.
- Cotton underwear: after each use.
- Tops, bottoms (not denim), and dresses: after two to three wears, depending on how much you sweat and if there are any visible stains.
- Swimsuits: after each use.
Don’t wear them out too often
As much as you love your designer pieces, try not to wear them out too often. Save it for special occasions such as parties, dates, or weddings. If you can’t help but wear them, avoid getting any stains on the pieces and try not to get them too roughed up.
Store them properly
Unlike a cheap dress from Forever 21, you can’t just chuck a designer garment on the floor once you’ve worn it. Here’s how you should store these pieces so you can make the most of them:
- Keep wool, satin, and knit garments away from sequins and beading when hanging or folding them in your closet
- Store them away from direct sunlight in a well-ventilated, cool, and dry closet
- Provide at least an inch of space between each piece and avoid stuffing your closet to capacity
- Never use wire hangers to hang garments. Opt for wooden, acrylic, or velvet hangers instead.
- Eliminate pests with cedar-scented blocks and hangers or organic insect repellents, rather than mothballs.
- Put garments in a protective garment bag if you plan to store it for an extended period.
Invest in a steamer
Steaming can get wrinkles out of your clothes just as good as ironing can but in a much gentler way. Not only can it keep your garments wrinkle-free, but it can also kill any odor-causing bacteria, as well as eliminate allergens and pests.
Avoid getting stains on it
The best way to protect your designer clothes is to be careful with it while you’re out and about. Avoid getting stains on it when eating, and don’t wear it to places where it could get potentially soiled by mud or dirt. If you happen to get any small stains on it, immediately dab ice-cold water onto it so it won’t set, but don’t rub it in.
You’ve worked hard to afford your designer wear, so make sure it lasts you a lifetime with these easy and practical tips for taking care of designer garments and making the most of them.
