How to Fold a Suit in a Suitcase

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The best ways to save space and prevent wrinkles when traveling with a suit
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If you have to go to a special event or business trip, you may have to pack a suit in your suitcase. While it may seem simple, suits can be bulky and wrinkle easily. Fortunately, if you follow some fairly simple steps, there are a variety of space-saving ways to pack your suit into a suitcase without wrinkling it.

Things You Should Know

  • Turn your suit jacket over on a flat surface and fold the right and left sleeves over the back. Fold the jacket in half lengthwise, lining the bottom against the collar.
  • Or, fold the left sleeve over the back, and turn the right inside out. Tuck the left sleeve inside the right and fold the jacket in thirds lengthwise.
  • For pants, fold 1 leg over the other and place your jacket in the middle. Fold the bottom of the pants ⅓ of the way up, then fold down the top of the pants.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Doing a Traditional Fold

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  1. Turn your suit jacket over so that the backside is facing you. Position the jacket so that the bottom of the jacket is facing you. [1]
  2. Take the left side of the suit jacket and fold it to the right so that the arm slightly overlaps the center of the suit and the lapel is facing up. Flatten out the arm so that it doesn't get wrinkled when you make additional folds later. [2]
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  3. Take the right side of the jacket and fold it to the left in the same way that you did for the other side of the suit jacket. The arms should overlap. Line both lapels so that they run parallel with one another.
  4. Fold the bottom of the jacket and line it up to the top of the suit, near the collar. Place your hand under the suit, and flip it over. It should now be folded into a nice compact square, with the lapel facing up. [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Popping One Shoulder Inside Out

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  1. Turn your jacket over, so the back side of it is facing up. When folding your jacket you can use a flat surface like a table or ironing board.
  2. Fold the left shoulder back towards the center point of the suit so that you can see the front lapel. Straighten out the arm of the suit so that it runs flush along the side of the lapel. [4]
  3. Fold the right shoulder and then turn it inside out so that you see the inside of the jacket on the backside of the suit jacket. [5]
  4. Insert the left side of the jacket into the inside-out portion of the right shoulder. The entire length of the lapel should be lined up. [6]
  5. Fold the top part of the suit jacket to the middle of the suit and then fold the bottom portion of the jacket over it. Your suit jacket should now be a flat cube that can easily fit in a suitcase.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Performing a Fold With a Dry Cleaning Bag

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  1. Slip the jacket into the dry cleaning bag and pull the top of the hanger through the hole at the top. The hook can now act as a handle that you can use to transport your suit. [7]
    • You can use a cheap plastic dry cleaning bag or a more expensive cloth dry cleaning bag.
  2. Take the bottom of the suit jacket and fold it up so that it lines up with the collar. You don't want to push down on the suit because it will create a crease, but you should push out all of the excess air inside of the dry cleaning bag. [8]
  3. After you've folded the suit in half, you can just put it in your suitcase. This method is great if you have to rush and don't have the time to fold your suit using another method.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Rolling Up Your Jacket

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  1. Hold your jacket out by the shoulders so that the back of the jacket is facing you. [9]
  2. Fold one side of the jacket backward and inside out. The inside of the front of the jacket should now be facing you. [10]
  3. Fold the other side of the jacket backward and slip it into the side that's inside-out. Put the other side of the jacket as deep as you can into the inside-out portion so that your jacket is as thin as possible.
  4. Fold both sleeves of a t-shirt to the center of the shirt and then roll it up lengthwise. The shirt will give you additional stability when you start rolling up the suit and will prevent wrinkles. Once it's rolled into a tube, stick it inside of the shoulder of your jacket. [11]
  5. Grab onto the suit around the rolled up t-shirt and start rolling the suit over it, lengthwise. The suit should wrap around the shirt and roll up into a cylinder. Once you've finished rolling it up, you can put it in your suitcase. [12]
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Folding Pants

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  1. As you hold the pants upside down, you should be able to feel how the pants fold along its natural crease.
  2. Put the pants down on a flat surface along their natural crease. Press down on the pants so that one leg lays flat on top of the other leg.
  3. To save space, you can wrap your suit jacket around your pants using this method. Place your folded up suit jacket on top of the pants and continue folding your pants around the rest of the suit. [13]
  4. Take the bottom of the pants and fold them over, about one-third of the way to the waist. The bottom of the pant should cover your folded up suit jacket. [14]
  5. Fold the pants again and line up the bottom of the pants with the waist. If done correctly, your pants should now be a small, neat square, with the suit jacket wrapped inside. [15]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you pack a suit without wrinkling it?
    Caitlin Jaymes
    Closet Organizer & Fashion Stylist
    Caitlin Jaymes is a Closet Organizer and Fashion Stylist based in Los Angeles, California. With a background in Fashion PR and Fashion Design, she specializes in creating wardrobes for her clients with pieces they already own. She has experience working with celebrities, editorial shoots, and men and women of all ages. Caitlin uses fashion and organization to help instill and influence confidence, ambition, and stress-free lifestyles for all her clients. She runs her business by two guiding principles: “fashion has no rules, only guidance on how to look and feel your best” and “life has too many stressors, don’t let clutter be one of them.” Caitlin’s work has been featured on HGTV, The Rachael Ray Show, VoyageLA, Liverpool Los Angeles, and the Brother Snapchat Channel.
    Caitlin Jaymes
    Closet Organizer & Fashion Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Place the jacket on top of everything else in your suitcase, like your shoes, so it doesn't wrinkle or get any marks on it.
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  • Question
    Why fold the jacket inside-out or half inside-out?
    Community Answer
    It's not necessary, but it allows you to fit the other side of the jacket into it like a pocket. Additionally, it will prevent the outside of your jacket from becoming stained or dirty.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5885879/fold-and-pack-your-suits-like-a-dry-cleaner-for-wrinkle-free-portability
      2. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5885879/fold-and-pack-your-suits-like-a-dry-cleaner-for-wrinkle-free-portability
      3. ↑ https://laughingsquid.com/how-to-fold-and-pack-a-suit-pants-and-dress-shirt-in-a-suitcase-to-avoid-wrinkles/
      4. ↑ https://blog.minaal.com/how-to-pack-a-suit-in-a-carry-on-bag//
      5. ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-pack-a-suit-2013-10/#u-get-it-4
      6. ↑ https://blacklapel.com/thecompass/ask-a-black-lapel-stylist-how-to-fold-a-suit-jacket-when-traveling/
      7. ↑ http://www.gq.com/story/how-to-fold-and-pack-a-suit-jacket-better
      8. ↑ http://www.gq.com/story/how-to-fold-and-pack-a-suit-jacket-better
      9. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/pack-your-suit-inside-out-and-rolled-to-prevent-wrinkle-1642035982
      1. ↑ https://blacklapel.com/thecompass/ask-a-black-lapel-stylist-how-to-fold-a-suit-jacket-when-traveling/
      2. ↑ http://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/pack-suit-in-carry-on/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkW-90LLJxE&feature=youtu.be&t=1m43s
      4. ↑ https://laughingsquid.com/how-to-fold-and-pack-a-suit-pants-and-dress-shirt-in-a-suitcase-to-avoid-wrinkles/
      5. ↑ http://hespokestyle.com/pack-dress-pants-in-suitcase-carry-on/
      6. ↑ http://hespokestyle.com/pack-dress-pants-in-suitcase-carry-on/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To pack a suit into a suitcase, start by turning the jacket over on a flat surface with the back side facing you. Then, fold the left side of the jacket back so the arm overlaps the center of the suit and the lapel faces upwards. Next, repeat the process with the right side so the arms overlap. Finish by folding the jacket in half lengthwise to create a neat square. For the pants, press down on their natural crease with one leg on top of the other. Then, fold them twice lengthwise and place your jacket on top. For tips on how to pack your suit using a dry cleaning bag, keep reading!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Nov 26, 2016

        "All folding tips helped me immensely while packing for my business trip. Thank you."
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