A handcrafted bralette can last five years or fall apart in five washes, the difference is almost entirely in how you care for it. Lingerie care isn't complicated, but it's specific. Here's everything we tell our Fancy Sinner subscribers when their first piece arrives. 

 
Fill a basin with cool water and add a small amount of mild detergent designed for delicates. Submerge the piece, swish gently for 30–60 seconds, and let it soak for 10–15 minutes. Rinse with cool water until the water runs clear. Never wring, gently press the water out and roll in a clean towel to absorb moisture.
 

 
Use a lingerie wash bag (mesh, with a zipper). Set the machine to the delicate or hand-wash cycle, cool water, and a slow spin. Hook every bra closure before washing so it doesn't snag other pieces. Never machine-dry lingerie. Heat destroys the elastic and dimensional shape of bras and bralettes.
 

 
Lay flat on a clean towel, away from direct sun and heat. Reshape the cups by hand before leaving to dry. Hanging wet bras stretches the straps. Most pieces dry in 4–8 hours; thicker bralettes and bodysuits can take overnight.
 

 
Bras with structured cups should never be folded inverted (don't stack one cup inside another; it permanently dents the shape). Store cups facing up or side by side. Bralettes, panties, and soft pieces can be folded loosely. Keep lingerie in a dedicated drawer with a lavender sachet or cedar block to deter moisture and odors.
 

 
A well-cared-for handcrafted bra lasts 1–2 years of regular wear. Bralettes and bodysuits can last longer with rotation. The signs it's time to replace: the band has lost its elasticity, the underwire is poking through, or the cup shape no longer holds. If you wear the same bra every day, expect it to last about half as long.
 

 
Pack bras with cups facing up, never folded. A small lingerie organizer pouch protects shape during travel. For honeymoon and vacation packing, bring one extra piece, humidity and salt water are harder on lingerie than people expect.
 
Treated well, the lingerie you love today should still feel like it's yours years from now.