One of the most common reasons luxury lingerie fails to justify its price is not poor quality. It is poor care. A $200 piece of lace that is thrown in the washing machine on a hot cycle and tumble-dried will not survive six months. The same piece, washed correctly, can last years.
We have spent over 25 years manufacturing intimate apparel at Lune d'Or, which means we have seen exactly what happens to fabric, hardware, and lace under different conditions. This guide gives you the same care knowledge we use when we build our pieces. (For more on which pieces are worth investing in, see our guide to lingerie wardrobe essentials.)
Why Lingerie Requires Different Care Than Regular Clothing
Standard clothing is made to withstand the friction, heat, and agitation of machine washing. The fabrics are durable, the construction is reinforced, and a little rough treatment rarely causes lasting damage.
Luxury lingerie is a different category entirely. The fabrics, including delicate lace (like the Electra Wild Lace Bodysuit), silk, satin, and fine mesh, are chosen for how they feel and drape, not for their durability under mechanical stress. The hardware, including rings, sliders, and hooks, is often plated or coated rather than solid metal. The elastic in straps and leg openings degrades faster with heat exposure than with age.
Treat luxury lingerie like you would treat any other fine garment, a cashmere sweater or a silk blouse, and it will reward you with longevity.
How to Wash Lingerie Correctly
Hand Washing: The Gold Standard
Hand washing is the best method for all luxury lingerie without exception. It is also easier than most people think.
Fill a basin or clean sink with cool or lukewarm water. Add a small amount of lingerie-specific or delicate fabric wash. Products designed for wool and silk work well. Regular laundry detergent is too harsh and will break down elastic and delicate fibers over time.
Submerge the garment and gently work the water through the fabric using your hands. Do not scrub, twist, or wring. Focus on any areas that need extra attention (underarm areas, crotch of a bodysuit) by gently pressing the fabric together.
Rinse thoroughly under cool running water until the water runs clear. Press out excess water gently without twisting.
This process takes about two minutes per garment. For a piece that cost $150 or more, two minutes is a reasonable investment.
Machine Washing: When You Must
If you are going to machine wash lingerie, follow these rules without exception:
Use a mesh lingerie bag. This prevents straps from tangling, hardware from catching on other items, and delicate fabric from snagging on the drum.
Use the delicate or hand wash cycle. The key is low agitation and a slow spin speed.
Use cold water. Heat breaks down elastic, causes lace to distort, and accelerates fabric degradation.
Use a gentle detergent formulated for delicates.
Never put luxury lace, silk, or heavily embellished pieces in the machine, even on delicate cycle. The risk is not worth it.
How to Dry Lingerie
The Only Right Answer: Air Dry
Never put lingerie in a tumble dryer. The heat damages elastic faster than any other single factor, turning a piece that should last years into something stretched and misshapen within months. The tumbling action also snags lace and strains hardware.
After washing, gently press (do not wring) excess water from the garment in a clean towel. Lay the piece flat on a dry towel or hang it to air dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Avoid hanging garments by their straps when wet, as the weight of the water can stretch them. Lay flat or hang from the center of the garment.
Allow the piece to dry completely before storing.
How Long Does Air Drying Take?
Light lace and mesh: 2 to 4 hours. Heavier satin or constructed pieces: 6 to 12 hours. Overnight air drying is reliable and requires zero monitoring.
How to Store Lingerie
Storage is where a lot of lingerie damage happens invisibly. A delicate lace bodysuit compressed under heavy clothing will distort at the seams and edges over time.
For bras and structured pieces: Store flat or hang, never folded in a way that deforms the cups. If you stack bras, nest the cups together (never fold one cup into the other).
For lace and delicate pieces: Lay flat in a drawer rather than folding tightly. If you must fold, fold along natural seam lines and avoid creasing lace panels.
For chemises and sleepwear: Fold neatly and store in a cool, dry drawer away from direct light. Satin and silk can fade with prolonged sun exposure.
For robes: Hang on a padded hanger. Wire hangers will distort the shoulder construction over time.
What to Avoid: The Short List
Bleach: Never. Even diluted bleach will destroy lace fibers and discolor dyed fabric irreversibly.
Fabric softener: Softeners coat elastic fibers and reduce their recovery over time. Skip it entirely for lingerie.
Hot water: Breaks down elastic, shrinks delicate fabrics, and causes color bleeding.
Ironing lace: Never iron lace directly. If a satin or woven piece needs pressing, use the lowest heat setting and a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric.
Washing delicates with rough fabrics: Keep lingerie away from denim, towels, and anything with zippers or rough textures in the wash.
A Word on Investment
At Lune d'Or, we build each piece with the construction standards of a wholesale intimate apparel manufacturer. That means hardware that is designed to hold up, elastic that is selected for longevity (you see this construction in pieces like the Snake Satin Robe), and stitching that is meant to last. But even the highest-quality construction cannot compensate for care that works against the materials.
The pieces in our sleepwear and lingerie collections are built to be worn and enjoyed for years. Treat them accordingly and they will be.
