How to Fold a Dress

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Follow these steps to efficiently fold a dress and avoid wrinkles
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Whether you are packing for a trip or trying to save closet space, folding a dress can be tricky! You want to avoid wrinkles and definitely don’t want to have to re-iron a dress every time you want to wear it. By starting with a clean, ironed dress, you can learn how to fold or roll your garment to reduce wrinkles and save space!

Best Way to Fold a Dress For Travel

  1. Fold the sleeves inward across the chest of the dress so they lay flat.
  2. Fold the dress in half lengthwise so the skirt’s side seams are aligned.
  3. Fold in the excess material toward the straight line to create a neat rectangle.
  4. Fold the bottom of the dress toward the top once or twice, depending on length.
  5. Place in a dry-cleaning bag or unscented grocery bag for travel.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Folding the Dress

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body of the dress. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. [1]
    • If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    Align the skirt’s side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. [2]
    • Try folding the dress on a flat, hard surface, like a table. This will help you fold more neatly.
    • It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you’ll fold the excess material again, in the opposite direction. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    Start by folding the bottom of the dress toward the top of the dress. This will give you a good idea of how many times you will need to fold the dress to make it the right size. [4]
    • When the dress is completely folded, it should be a neat square or rectangle.
    • For a short dress, one fold in half will work, but for a knee-length or calf-length dress, you may need to fold the dress in thirds to make it the right size for storage.
    • If the dress is exceptionally long, like a floor-length sundress, you may want to fold the dress into even smaller sections.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    This trick works really well to protect the dress from getting ruffled by other clothes in your suitcase. You will put the dress into the bag before starting any of the folding steps. Align the top of the dress with the top of the bag and fold as instructed above. [5]
    • If the dress is longer than the bag, fold the excess skirt material up into the bag and proceed to fold as normal.
    • Don’t flatten out the bag and push out all the excess air. A little air buffer can help protect the dress and keep it fresh when you travel.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using the Rolling Method

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. [6]
    • If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    Align the skirt’s side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. [7]
    • Try putting the dress on a table. The hard surface will make folding and rolling easier!
    • It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you’ll fold the excess material again, up in the opposite direction. [8]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Dress
    This is a great way to pack a dress in a suitcase. It saves space and should keep your dress from getting wrinkly. [9]
    • This option should be used mainly for cotton dresses. Dresses made of other materials like silk, satin, or certain blends should be folded rather than rolled. [10]
  5. This will prevent it from coming unrolled or loose while it is in storage or in your suitcase.
  6. This will help keep the material from getting wrinkled, which will make the dress easier to wear as soon as you unroll it! [11]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Putting the Garment Away

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  1. Don’t stack dresses more than 3 thick. The weight from too many garments will cause wrinkles. Letting them have room rather than packing them tight will keep them wrinkle-free! [12]
  2. Remember to pack the dress last, so it is on top of the other items in your bag. This will help keep it from getting smashed and wrinkled. [13]
  3. If you are trying to save space, moving those summer dresses into storage when winter comes around is a great way to free up some room! Invest in a storage tote and pack dresses (either folded or rolled), keeping in mind to not overstuff the tote. [14]
    • Put a sachet of potpourri in with your clothes. This will help keep them smelling fresh until you take them back out of storage.
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      Tips

      • Use the steam from a hot shower to relax your dress. If any wrinkles occurred while your dress was folded, the steam should help get them out without you having to get out your iron.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-or-skirt/
      2. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-without-wrinkling-12602184.html
      3. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-or-skirt/
      4. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-or-skirt/
      5. ↑ https://getaway.10best.com/13429591/how-to-fold-a-dress
      6. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-or-skirt/
      7. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-without-wrinkling-12602184.html
      8. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/how-to-fold-a-dress-or-skirt/
      9. ↑ http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/how-to-roll-and-fold-clothes-when-packing
      1. ↑ https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/wrinkled-clothes/
      2. ↑ https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/wrinkled-clothes/
      3. ↑ https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/wrinkled-clothes/
      4. ↑ https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/wrinkled-clothes/
      5. ↑ https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/storage/tips/a897/organised-wardrobe-storing-seasonal-clothes/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Folding your dress the right way will prevent it from getting wrinkled and help save space in your closet. Start by laying your dress out on a flat, clean surface. Then, fold the sleeves inward if your dress has any. Next, fold your dress in half lengthways. Fold over any excess skirt material to make a neat rectangle. Finally, fold your dress in half or thirds. Now you can tuck your neatly folded dress away in your closet until you're ready to wear it. To learn how to roll up your dress, read on!

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