Pack a Suit Into a Suitcase

You can avoid using that extra bag for just a suit and still keep it wrinkle-free by folding it correctly in your roll-on bag. Pack your suit into the suitcase and have it remain presentable.

Steps

Folding Traditionally

  1. Lay the jacket face-down on a flat surface. You may need to button it to keep it closed.
  2. Fold the first shoulder. Fold the first third of the jacket towards the center. The fold should start roughly where the padding of the shoulder ends or where the shoulder naturally meets with the neck. Smooth creases so that the jacket lies flat.
  3. Bring down the arm. Flatten the sleeve so that it falls naturally, following the edge of the jacket. Smooth any creases.
  4. Fold the second shoulder. Repeat this folding process for the other side.
  5. Place your trousers at the top of the jacket. Place trousers, folded in quarters, at the top of the jacket. This will keep the jacket from getting wrinkled.
  6. Fold up the remaining section of the jacket. Fold up the lower half of the jacket to cover the trousers.
  7. Store in a plastic bag. Take a sealable freezer bag (like a Ziploc) and place the suit inside, leaving air in the bag when you seal it. This will keep your suit from getting soiled if something spills in your bag but it will also help prevent wrinkles.

Folding Inside-Out

  1. Put the jacket inside out. Leave the arms right-side out, so that they are inside the rest of the jacket.[1]
  2. Fold at the back seam. Fold the jacket at the back seam so that the front of the jacket is now hidden and the back is visible.
  3. Lay it out on a flat surface. Smooth as many of the wrinkles as possible.
  4. Lay your trousers perpendicular to the jacket. Fold your trousers along the seams but do not fold to shorten their length. Lay them on top of the jacket, perpendicular, with the midpoint of the trousers covering the bottom portion of the jacket.
  5. Fold the jacket over the trousers. Take the top portion of the jacket and fold it over the midsection of the trousers.
  6. Take the lower leg portion of the trousers and fold them up over the jacket. Carefully tuck any remaining portion of the leg under the jacket, careful not to create wrinkles.
  7. Fold the top of the trousers. Fold the upper portion of the trousers up over the pile and smooth.
  8. Place it in a bag. Place the folded suit in a sealed freezer bag to keep it clean, dry, and wrinkle-free.

Folding Halfway Out

  1. Fold the trousers as normal. Make sure to fold only at the existing creases.
  2. Turn half the jacket inside-out. Take one side of the jacket and turn it inside out, leaving the sleeve in the normal position. Use your hand to shape the shoulder and remove creases.[2]
  3. Fold the jacket. Placing your hand in the remaining shoulder, tuck it into the inside out section of the jacket, touching shoulder-seam to shoulder-seam.
  4. Straighten the lapels. They should be even and straight.
  5. Fold the jacket in half. Fold in half horizontally.
  6. Store with the trousers. Place the folded trousers between the halves of the folded jacket, if you wish to. This can help reduce wrinkles in the jacket.



Tips

  • You should do a trial packing of the suit for a number of days well before your intended trip to determine if the material in the suit has a tendency to wrinkle and if you can deal with it if there is.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.primermagazine.com/2011/field-manual/how-to-pack-a-suit-without-a-garment-bag-video
  2. ↑ http://www.blacklapel.com/thecompass/ask-a-black-lapel-stylist-how-to-fold-a-suit-jacket-when-traveling/
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