Need to pack a suit for an upcoming trip and not sure how to do it without crumpling it? This detailed guide to packing a suit will help you find out!
I can't promise you'll suddenly become a pro at packing, but I can share with you all of my top tips and tricks on how to pack a suitcase wrinkle-free. I'll cover everything you need to know to pack these delicate items in a suitcase, including how to fold them, where to pack them, and all the precautions you can take to avoid ending up with a crumpled suit arrive at destination!
Table of contents show everything
Packing the shirt
Take your shirt, iron it, and then lay it face down on a flat surface. You will fold the sleeves first and you want to fold them inwards so the crease follows the collar. Fold the sleeves as little as possible - twice is usually enough.
Then fold the shirt in thirds lengthwise and the body of the shirt from the bottom up. If you have tissue paper, you can place some of it on the body before folding to minimize wrinkling. It is usually enough to fold the body twice, leaving you with a tightly folded shirt. Put it in a plastic bag and put it aside because we will pack it together with the suit jacket and pants.
Packing of the suit jacket and trousers
Packing the suit jacket is the hardest part because it's the one most likely to wrinkle. But there is a method of folding that really minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, and it's a method used by tailors worldwide.
Take the jacket off the hanger and hold it in your hand - don't turn it around or anything. Put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder. Then bring your hands together so the jacket folds along the seams until you can grab the entire jacket with just one hand.
Take out the other hand and use it to twist out the lapel and align the collar and lapel. Hold the lapels and bring them over your shoulders so that the jacket is now inside out. Then lay it out on a flat surface, fold in half lengthwise if needed, then crease in half – it creates natural creases for you to follow.
Pants are easier to fold. Take the first two belt loops and hold them together so the zipper folds inwards. You can then hold the pants straight and see them fold along their natural creases. Then fold them in half twice and that's it. Place them on top of the folded jacket when packing and place the folded suit in a dry cleaning bag for extra protection in transit.
Evening shoes packaging
Packing your dress shoes is the easiest of all. The worst thing that can happen to shoes is that they get flat or wrinkled because too much pressure is put on them when closing the suitcase. But you can easily avoid this by stuffing your shoes so that they don't get out of shape in your hand luggage.
When I travel, I like to stuff all my shoes, including casual shoes, with underwear and socks. In this way, I make optimal use of the space in my luggage and at the same time keep its shape. So, take a plastic bag, fill it with socks and underwear and stuff it in the shoes.
Then get another plastic or cotton bag to keep the shoes in, as they're usually the dirtiest thing in the suitcase and you don't want them really touching your white shirt or anything else. Pack the dress shoes first so you can pack the smaller items around (and above) them.
Accessories packaging
All metal accessories (cufflinks, tie pins) should be packed in a separate bag or jewelry box so they don't damage the rest of the suitcase. Belts and braces can usually be rolled up and tucked away in corners, or better yet, simply worn while flying.
Ties should be folded, ideally in quarters. Take a tie, line up the two ends and slip the narrower end through the loop, if there is one. Repeat until the tie is small enough to fit in the luggage. I recommend placing the tie on the packed suit like this - rolling can cause the tie to retain that rolled shape, which is certainly not ideal.
Ways to reduce wrinkles in a suit
The best thing you can do to reduce wrinkles in a suit is to place tissue paper between each of the pleats. This allows the fabric to move even when folded, and it minimizes the chance of the suit wrinkling and wrinkling.
If you don't want to use the folding method described above, traditional folding is a good alternative. It's the same process as folding a shirt, but it's recommended to turn at least one shoulder inside out to create movement in the folds and minimize the chance of the jacket wrinkling.
Another pro tip is to hang your shirt and suit up in the bathroom when you shower. The steam from the hot water will help get rid of wrinkles quickly, and it's very handy if you don't have access to an iron. You don't even have to take a shower - just let the hot water run for a while until your clothes are wrinkle-free.
Best hanger for suits
Look for an inflatable or foldable hanger for travel. You want a hanger that is durable and thicker around the edges so it can still support the suit jacket, but should still be packable so it doesn't take up too much space in your suitcase.
That's why inflatable hangers are a godsend. Foldable hangers are pretty good too, especially the ones that allow you to fold their ends inward so you have either a narrow and long hanger or a thick and short hanger.
Is a carry-on suitcase better than a garment bag?
In an ideal world, this is not the case. So if you have the opportunity to travel with both a garment bag and a carry-on bag, do so. But if you only have to choose one, go for aGarment bag to take away. It doesn't have to be checked (which means less time spent at the airport), it's absolutely perfect for traveling with a suit and you can fit enough things in it for a short trip in addition to the suit.
Garment bags also come in the form of carry-on backpacks, which is even better than a suitcase-style garment bag. Traveling with a backpack is super convenient, and you can easily do itpack a suit in a backpackwithout it wrinkling.
Best suitcase for suits
The best suitcase for suits is one with a dedicated suiter area. This feature is usually found in high-end luggage, although many affordable brands are embracing this trend and incorporating suiter sections into their mid-range suitcases.
Travelpro Platinum Eliteis an excellent carry-on suitcase option with a dedicated suiter area. This softside suitcase is very durable, offers many compartments for easy organization and promises effortless maneuverability with its smooth-running wheels and height-adjustable telescopic handle.
Briggs & Riley Baselineis another excellent carry-on suitcase with an integrated clothes rack, perfect for suits and dress shirts. The case also features a roomy packing compartment with zip-less compression, a durable exterior, and superior swivel wheels with an adjustable wheel grip.
Tumi Alpha 3 carry-on luggage(or any other Tumi luggage) is a great option for business travelers, but it's pricey. I think all of their bags have a detachable garment bag that fits a suit and promises to get it to its destination wrinkle-free. Their luggage is of excellent quality, they have a program to help you find lost luggage and great customer service, but they are one of the most expensive brands out there.