How to Store Lingerie to Keep Its Shape and Fabric
By Women's Lingerie, Underwear, Nightwear & Gifts – Bluebella | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Tips & Care
A practical step-by-step guide to storing lingerie so lace, latex and delicate knickers keep their shape, fit and finish between wears.
Quick answer
Store lingerie flat in a cool, dark drawer, folded along the seams rather than over the cups, and keep each piece separated so lace, latex and elastic do not snag or stretch. Hang only what must stay crease-free, such as a structured bustier or a longline bodysuit, and never hang a padded bra by its straps.
Start with a clean, dry drawer
Body oils, perfume and deodorant residue break down elastic and dull lace over time, so every piece should go into storage clean and completely dry. A drawer that held damp swimwear or a wet towel will transfer moisture to lace and latex, which can encourage mildew or leave water marks on satin trims. Wipe the drawer, let it air, then line it with acid-free tissue or a clean cotton cloth before anything goes back in.
Sort by fabric and structure, not by colour
The way you store a piece should follow what it is made of and how structured it is. Soft lace knickers and sheer bodysuits can lie flat together, while latex, moulded cups and boned pieces need more room and less pressure. Sorting this way also stops you from stacking a heavy item on top of delicate embroidery, which is one of the fastest ways to flatten lace motifs and distort scalloped edges.
Fold bras and bodysuits the right way
For an underwired or padded bra, fold the cups inward so one sits inside the other, then tuck the straps and band behind. This keeps the cup shape intact and stops the wires from being bent. For a bodysuit, lay it flat and fold along the side seams rather than across the cups or the plunge neckline, so the front panel does not crease. If the piece has a thong design, fold the brief section up last so the straps stay on top and cannot tangle.
Decide what to hang and what to fold
Hanging is useful for structured bustiers, corsets and longline pieces that would crease badly in a drawer, but only if you use a padded or fabric-covered hanger that supports the weight. Never hang a bra or a soft lace bodysuit by its straps, because the elastic will stretch under its own weight over weeks. Folded storage is safer for knickers, soft cups and anything with delicate embroidery.
Keep latex and latex-trimmed pieces apart
Latex should not be stored touching other fabrics, because it can stick to itself and to neighbouring garments over time. Keep it flat, lightly dusted if the maker recommends it, and separated with tissue. This is also the moment to check the care label: if a piece arrives with a matte finish and specific polishing instructions, follow those rather than a general rule.
Step-by-step lingerie storage routine
- 1. Wash and fully dry every piece: Follow the care label, then leave the item flat until it is dry to the touch, including straps, gussets and any padding. Checkpoint: if you can feel any coolness or dampness, it is not ready to store.
- 2. Clear and line the drawer: Empty the drawer completely, wipe it out, and line it with acid-free tissue or clean cotton before returning anything. Mistake to avoid: putting lingerie back into a drawer that still smells of perfume or damp fabric.
- 3. Group by fabric and structure: Keep soft lace knickers and sheer bodysuits together, and give latex, moulded cups and boned pieces their own space. Checkpoint: no heavy item should sit directly on top of embroidery or scalloped edging.
- 4. Fold bras cup-into-cup: Nest one cup inside the other, tuck the straps and band behind, and place the bra so the cups are not compressed from above. Mistake to avoid: folding a padded bra in half across the centre, which bends the wires.
- 5. Fold bodysuits along the seams: Lay the bodysuit flat, fold along the side seams, and bring the brief section up last so straps stay untangled. Checkpoint: the plunge neckline and front panel should stay smooth and uncreased.
- 6. Hang only structured pieces: Use a padded or fabric-covered hanger for a corset or bustier, and give it enough room that it does not press against other clothes. Mistake to avoid: hanging a soft bra or lace bodysuit by its straps, which stretches the elastic.
- 7. Separate latex from everything else: Store latex flat, away from other fabrics, with tissue between layers, and follow any maker instructions for its matte finish. Checkpoint: latex should never be folded against itself for long periods.
How these pieces store best
- Latex Bodysuit Black: The Latex Bodysuit Black is crafted from soft natural latex with a dramatic plunge neckline, low open back, thong design and high-rise fit, and arrives with a matte finish. Latex should be stored flat and away from other fabrics so it does not stick or mark, and the plunge and open back mean folding across the front panel is safer than creasing the neckline.
- Madeline Sheer Lace Bodysuit Black: The Madeline Sheer Lace Bodysuit Black has embroidered sheer lace, scalloped lace trimming to the underwired cups, adjustable straps, a hook and eye rear fastening and a thong design. Underwired cups need to be folded cup-into-cup rather than flattened, and the scalloped lace trim should sit on top of the pile so nothing presses into the embroidery.
- Marabel Embroidered Sheer Panty Cherry: The Marabel Embroidered Sheer Panty Cherry has delicate directional embroidery, scalloped edging, a triangle keyhole detail and a hypoallergenic bamboo gusset. Directional embroidery and scalloped edging crease permanently under weight, so these knickers are best laid flat in a single layer rather than stacked.
