How to Care for Occasionwear: Making Couture Last

The dresses worth keeping are the ones worth caring for. Occasionwear — embellished, embroidered, cut from silk and velvet — asks a little more than a jersey tee, and rewards it with years of wear. Here's how to make a beautiful dress last.

Read the label first (really)

Before anything, check the care label. Delicate construction, hand-beading and certain fabrics have specific needs, and the label is written by the people who made the garment. When in doubt, default to the gentlest option.

Storing embellished and beaded pieces

Hang heavier embellished gowns — like a pearl mermaid — on a padded hanger to protect the shoulders, or fold very heavy pieces with acid-free tissue to avoid stressing the seams. Never crush beadwork under other garments; give it room to breathe.

A dress cared for is a dress you'll still love in five years.

Silk and satin

Spot-clean spills immediately with a damp, clean cloth — never rub. Most silk occasionwear is best professionally cleaned rather than machine-washed. Store away from direct sunlight, which fades colour over time.

Velvet

Velvet crushes and holds moisture, so hang it (never fold for long periods) and steam rather than iron — an iron flattens the pile permanently. A soft brush in the direction of the nap revives the surface between wears.

Between wears

Air a dress after an event before returning it to the wardrobe; a night on a hook lets any moisture and scent dissipate. Steam out light creases instead of ironing where you can, and keep occasion pieces in breathable garment bags — never plastic, which traps humidity.

The quiet luxury of caring well

Good care is its own kind of sustainability: a dress you maintain is a dress you re-wear, restyle and keep in rotation for years. Explore the signature collection for pieces built to be kept — and worn again and again.