Traveling With A Suit? Pack It Right, Wear It Well

Travelling with a suit can be a stressful experience, especially if you're going to a conference or a special event like a wedding. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination only to find your suit jacket and pants are a wrinkled mess. So, how do you pack a suit without damaging it?

How to fold a suit to minimise creases

The best way to transport a suit is to use a hanging bag, but if you need to fold your suit, there are several ways to minimise creases.

The Jacket

First, clean and press your suit before you travel. Then, turn the jacket inside out, so that the lining is on the outside. This means that if the jacket does crease, it will be on the inside and won't be visible when you wear it. Next, pop the shoulders inside out by putting your hand inside the coat and pushing your fist into the shoulders so that the lining of the shoulders is on show. Gather both shoulders in one hand and use the other to grasp the jacket at the midpoint of its collar. This will have the effect of folding the jacket in half lengthwise. Place your forearm horizontally across the middle of the jacket and fold the top of the jacket over. This will create a roughly square "bundle" that fits easily in a suitcase.

The Trousers

The simplest way to fold trousers is to make only vertical, lengthwise folds along the pleats. If you need to save space, you can roll the trousers instead. Fold the trousers in half vertically and lay them on a clean, flat surface. Starting at the bottom, roll the pant legs into a tight bundle.

The Shirt

Button the shirt and lay it face-down on a flat surface. Make two vertical folds along the back of the shirt to bring the edges of the shirt roughly one sleeve-length inward. Straighten the edges of the shirt so that they are uniform and parallel. Take each sleeve and fold it down so that it lines up with the folded edges of the shirt. The edges of the sleeve should be roughly in line with both the new outer edge of the shirt and with the edge of the shirt material that has been folded inward. Grab the bottom edge of the shirt (including the sleeves) and bring it up to the shoulders. Flip the shirt over – it should be a nice, tidy square with the collar and buttons centred in the middle.

Packing

Place the jacket in a plastic bag to protect it in your luggage. Slide the square, folded "bundle" into a large plastic bag (like a dry cleaning bag or a large ziplock bag). Seal the bag carefully. If you don't have a bag handy, use a sheet of sturdy plastic material. Place the folded jacket in the middle of the sheet and fold the sides in and under the jacket. Try to trap a little air in the bag with the suit to prevent other clothes in the suitcase from pressing into the jacket.

Lay the wrapped jacket in your suitcase and keep the suit as flat as possible. To minimise wrinkling, place only other flat, folded items of clothing on top of the jacket. Avoid placing hard, awkwardly-shaped items like shoes on top of the jacket.

Choosing the right suit fabric for travel

When travelling with a suit, it's important to choose a fabric that is crease-resistant, quick-drying, lightweight, and breathable. The right fabric will depend on the weather conditions of your destination, but generally, suits made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, linen, or silk are good options.

Cotton is comfortable and affordable, but not as breathable as other fabrics. It is typically only used in suit jackets and can be hard to find suits made from 100% cotton. Linen is lightweight, thin, and breathable, making it comfortable to wear in hot and humid summers. However, it wrinkles easily. Silk is pricier and more luxurious, providing breathability and shine to the garment. It is also known for its ability to retain heat.

Wool is a good option for a travel suit as it is durable, breathable, and naturally water and dirt-resistant. It also maintains its shape well. Tropical wool is a lightweight version of wool that is good for summertime. Kid Mohair is another wool-like fabric option that is non-irritating, lightweight, and highly resilient. It allows the garment to have more open weaves, allowing more air to pass through, and is also wrinkle-resistant.

If you are travelling to a colder destination, consider a suit made from corduroy, which lasts forever and works well in poor weather.

Packing a suit in a carry-on bag

Firstly, it is important to know your jacket. The jacket is the hardest part of a suit to fold due to its thick fabric and complicated construction. The type of fabric will also determine how it will hold up during travel. For example, linen creases elegantly and is comfortable to wear, whereas wool suits crease less and can be hung in a steamy bathroom to relax the fabric.

When packing the jacket, the general rule is to think "roll", not "crease". Make gentle, loose rolls to minimise the chances of deep creases that are hard to rectify. One method is to lay the jacket face down, fold one shoulder across the centre, turn the opposite shoulder inside out, and then tuck the first shoulder into the "pocket" created. Fold the jacket in half and then in thirds. Another method is to fold the jacket in half lengthwise and then fold it horizontally.

Trousers can be folded in half or thirds, with a soft item such as a t-shirt placed at each fold to prevent creasing. You can then place the folded jacket in the centre of the outstretched trousers and fold the trouser bottoms over the jacket.

If you are using a carry-on bag, place the folded suit in first, and then pack your other items around it. This will prevent the suit from sliding around and unfolding as the bag gets moved around.

If you are concerned about creasing, a dry-cleaning bag can be used to protect the suit. Place the suit inside the bag and fold it in half. This method takes up more space, but it will help to keep the suit wrinkle-free.

Finally, remember not to overpack your bag. This will help to prevent the suit from being crushed and creased.

Using a suit bag

When packing your suit, lay the jacket face down on a flat surface. Then, fold the left shoulder back and turn the right shoulder inside out, before tucking the left shoulder into the right. Next, fold the jacket in half lengthwise and then fold it horizontally. Place the folded jacket in the centre of the outstretched trousers. Finally, fold the trouser bottoms over the jacket and repeat with the top half of the trousers.

To prevent wrinkles, use the protective plastic cover from your dry cleaning. Place your folded jacket in the top of the bag where the hangers are typically gathered, laying it on top of the outstretched trousers. The plastic will stop the fabric from rubbing against itself and causing creases.

If you're travelling with multiple suits, consider wearing a lightweight suit such as linen, which is comfortable and creases elegantly, and pack your other suits in a garment bag. Wool suits are also a good choice as they don't crease easily and any minor creases can be removed by hanging the suit in a steamy bathroom.

What to do if your suit is wrinkled after travelling

Even if you take all the necessary precautions, your suit may still end up wrinkled after travelling. Here are some ways to remove wrinkles from your suit without using an iron:

• The Shower Method: Hang your suit in the bathroom and turn on the shower, making sure the water is hot. The steam from the shower will help smooth out the wrinkles. Leave the shower running for at least 20 minutes for best results.
• The Hair Dryer Method: Heat causes things to expand, including wrinkles. Turn your hair dryer on its hottest setting and slowly move it back and forth across the wrinkles. Within 5-10 minutes, the wrinkles should be less visible or gone.
• The Damp Towel Method: Lay your suit on a flat surface and place a hot, slightly damp towel over it. The heat and moisture from the towel will smooth out the fabric. This method can take up to half an hour or longer, and you'll need to wait for your suit to dry before wearing it.
• The Steam Method: If you have access to a steamer, hang your suit on a sturdy hanger and steam it. If you don't have a steamer, you can try filling a spray bottle with water and lightly misting the suit, or using a wrinkle-releasing spray like Downy Wrinkle Releaser.
• The Flat Surface Method: Lay your suit on a flat surface and smooth it with your hands, pressing down firmly. You can also place a damp towel over the suit while doing this to combine the two methods.

If you don't mind using an iron, make sure to use a press cloth to protect the suit fabric and only use medium heat.

Frequently asked questions