How to Care for a Luxury Wardrobe

Words by Alice Hartwell

1.  Store with care through the seasons

Most wear and tear in wardrobes stems from poor storage choices. While some fabrics are naturally more resilient, luxury materials like silk demand a delicate touch. When hanging your prized pieces, opt for padded hangers with a layer of tissue to protect against slippage and creasing.

To preserve the shape and integrity of your structured handbags, always store them in their original dustbags, with tissue paper carefully placed inside to prevent sagging. As with all leather goods, ensure they are kept away from direct sunlight to protect against fading.

As you transition your closet for the new season, take care to store last season’s pieces in air-tight bags to protect them from moisture—this also creates plenty of space for fresh additions to your wardrobe, as they are needed.

2. Thoughtful cleaning

Luxury fabrics demand a thoughtful, meticulous approach to cleaning—one misstep can tarnish an investment piece. Always heed cleaning labels and follow brand recommendations carefully. When in doubt, it’s wise to err on the side of caution and entrust your garments to a professional cleaner with expertise in handling luxury items. This is particularly crucial when dealing with stains and marks, where a delicate touch can make all the difference.

When at-home care is sufficient, the regular use of tools such as a fabric brush, knitwear de-bobbler, and steamer will keep your garments looking and feeling as fresh as the day you bought them, even if they’ve been nestled away in your closet for years.

3.  Regular rotation

While it’s important to maximize the use of your wardrobe, over-wearing pieces too frequently will inevitably lead to faster wear and tear. Make sure to rotate garments in your everyday uniform regularly. Remember, just as we need rest, so do our clothes.

This is particularly important for shoes, as they need time to air out between wears to prevent creasing and excessive sole wear. Regularly rotating your wardrobe also allows you to rediscover your collection, offering fresh opportunities to play and embrace creativity.

4. Responsible dry-cleaning

For investment pieces bearing a ‘dry clean only’ label, (an inevitable responsibility when curating a luxury wardrobe), visits to the dry cleaners will become a seasonal ritual. In keeping with a conscious wardrobe, it’s important to ensure that care for these garments is carried out responsibly, prioritizing environmentally considerate cleaning methods whenever possible.

This Earth Day, look for dry cleaners that champion eco-conscious practices and avoid harsh, chemical-laden processes. Bee Organic, for example, is a specialist luxury dry cleaning service based in Los Angeles that offers 100% toxin-free cleaning solutions for your most cherished pieces.

5.  Repair and re-wear

We live in a fast fashion culture where damaged or worn clothing is often seen as destined for landfill. With the rise of affordable, readily available items, we've strayed from an era that valued mending and repairing. However, when it comes to luxury pieces, investing in repairs, reworking, and even upcycling can breathe new life into your wardrobe, allowing you to enjoy pieces in refreshing new ways.

Consider the items in your wardrobe that no longer fit or are slightly damaged. Taking them to a tailor can be more cost-effective than purchasing something new, while also being a more sustainable choice. By giving these garments a second life, you extend their wear and keep them in circulation for longer.