How to Care for Your Cotton Dresses

Cotton is forgiving, but a few simple habits keep it looking its best far longer. Here's how we care for ours.

Wash cold. Cotton fibers relax in heat, which is where most shrinkage comes from. A cold, gentle cycle protects both the fit and the color — especially for prints like the Grace checkered or the Janette.

Turn dresses inside out before washing. It protects the outer surface and any hardware; several of our styles have functional buttons for nursing, and turning them in keeps them from snagging.

Tumble dry low, or better yet, hang to dry. High heat is cotton's only real enemy. Drying low or air-drying keeps garments from shrinking and helps them hold their shape wash after wash. As with all natural fibers, a piece may relax or shrink slightly after the very first wash — washing cool and drying low keeps the fit just right from there on.

Skip fabric softeners. Cotton doesn't need them, and they can coat the fibers and reduce breathability over time. A mild detergent is all it takes.

Cotton wrinkles — that's part of its natural charm — but a quick steam or a warm iron brings it right back. Treated gently, a 100% cotton dress only gets softer and more comfortable the more you wear it.