I bought this dress for my daughter originally as a Halloween costume but since then, it has been a regular part of her wardrobe - she wears it at least once, if not twice, a week. And I have been SO IMPRESSED with how well it's held up! I always put it in the washing machine and then line dry it, and after countless wears & washes over nearly six months, it's still in great shape. It was well worth the investment to get a higher quality, more comfortable dress than the cheap plastic-y costumes. If you're debating if this is too much money to spend on a dress that your child will outgrow in a year, take my word for it: It's not.