Packing a Linen Suit to minimize wrinkles?

IotaNet · Oct 11, 2009

I am going on a pleasure trip to Louisiana next weekend and due to the heat (it's projected to be in the mid-80's), I'd like to bring a tan linen suit. The problem is how to pack it so it isn't a wrinkled mess before I even wear it.

I have a 4-suit foldover suitcase that I'll be taking. I've always hung wrinkle-prone suits inside that bag in cleaners plastic and that has worked well.

I understand that it's linen and wrinkles are part of the deal. That said, does anyone else have any ideas to cut down on the amount of wrinkling I incur during travel?

LanceW · Oct 11, 2009

On extended pleasure trips, I generally consider shipping some items ahead of time in a sturdy container although I'm unsure how to keep the garment from bunching up whilst inside the container.

Blueboy1938 · Oct 12, 2009

According to . . .

. . . Weather.com, it will be in the 70s in New Orleans next weekend. I think your linen suit idea may be a little misplaced.

However, since you asked, and others might want a strategy: Roll it!

Put the right shoulder of the coat into the left, lay it down flat, adjust the sleeves so that they have a minimum of potential creases, lay the trousers on top with the legs flat to their creases, roll both together around a roll of T-shirts, polos, or other small garments - e voila! Put the bundle into the side of the carry-on, and you're off. Naturally, you'll still have to do some touch-up pressing, but it should be fairly minimal.

Nerev · Oct 12, 2009

I have a ton of trouble when traveling with a linen suit reguardless of what I do - rolling, folding, carrying it on and being gentle, etc... I just make sure that wherever I end up, there is an iron.

vwdolly · Oct 12, 2009

I agree rolling is the best option and then hanging in the bathroom for half an hour after you have taken a shower :icon_smile:
Denise

Jimmy2Dimes · Oct 12, 2009

I pack my suits with the drycleaning plastic bag over it on a hanger in my rolling garmentbag/suitcase. The key to not wrinkling shirts, suits, etc, is to make sure it doesn't brush up against over clothes. With the drycleaning plastic over it, it slides off other clothes. It's also thin enough that it doesn't add extra bulk to your suitcase.

I've been doing this for years, and always show up to my locations with pressed clothes.

pkincy · Oct 13, 2009

I am a fan of the shoulder within shoulder fold. Hold the jacket facing you with a fist inside each shoulder. Pull the shoulder on your left(actually right shoulder) inside out with your hand while you put the outside of the shoulder on your right (actually left) inside the one on your left. Make certain the garment if folded in half and fold again in half top to bottom and put it in a carryon.

Having said that, my wife is a proponent of the plastic bags and it seems to work for her. Being in Az we always are traveling with linen.

Perry

Andy · Oct 13, 2009

The first article in the travel links on the Home Page will help.

You want to project a
good image in Paris too.
Especially Paris!
How to Pack

Cary Grant · Oct 13, 2009

Its always very humid in NOLA whether 75 or 80. Just plan on touching up the linen when you get there but it will look more wrinkled after a couple of hours on than the time in the suitcase.
So don't "sweat" it

Kuttermax · Mar 23, 2010

Jimmy2Dimes said:
I pack my suits with the drycleaning plastic bag over it on a hanger in my rolling garmentbag/suitcase. The key to not wrinkling shirts, suits, etc, is to make sure it doesn't brush up against over clothes. With the drycleaning plastic over it, it slides off other clothes. It's also thin enough that it doesn't add extra bulk to your suitcase.

I've been doing this for years, and always show up to my locations with pressed clothes.

I've also found this to work well and always keep a stack of the plastic in my suitcase to use when I travel. I also use the plastic to create "layers" on the other side of my suitcase where I have my casual clothes. I think by trapping some air in the different "layers" it helps prevent wrinkling.

Chouan · Mar 23, 2010

Blueboy1938 said:
. . . Weather.com, it will be in the 70s in New Orleans next weekend. I think your linen suit idea may be a little misplaced.

However, since you asked, and others might want a strategy: Roll it!

Put the right shoulder of the coat into the left, lay it down flat, adjust the sleeves so that they have a minimum of potential creases, lay the trousers on top with the legs flat to their creases, roll both together around a roll of T-shirts, polos, or other small garments - e voila! Put the bundle into the side of the carry-on, and you're off. Naturally, you'll still have to do some touch-up pressing, but it should be fairly minimal.

Exactly right. I spent many years at sea, and with having to pack for joining and leaving ships, and wanting my ordinary clothes and uniforms to look good, I found that rolling items is by far the best way to ensure minimal creasing.

Adagio · Mar 23, 2010

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=packing+suitcase&search_type=&aq=f

Mickey Rhoades · Oct 3, 2014

I didn't realize you could prevent linen from wrinkling.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Jovan · Oct 3, 2014

darren c lacroix said:
impossible to do.

And you waited four years to say this.

Piqué · Oct 3, 2014

Jovan said:
And you waited four years to say this.

He waited five! :biggrin:

Jovan · Oct 3, 2014

The last few posts were in 2010, but either way...

Mickey Rhoades · Oct 3, 2014

Sorry gents. I got a new forum app for my iPad and for some reason these old posts are showing up under the "recent" tab. Has anyone used tapatalk? Im not sure why all these old posts are in my feed.

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Jovan · Oct 4, 2014

Mickey, it's because a very suspicious character replied who made one post five years ago and then suddenly two dozen in one day, bumping many old threads including this. You cannot be entirely faulted. It's always advisable to look at the last date of anything that comes up under "Similar Threads" and judge whether you're really adding anything of value after so long. I think they were just trying to rack up a post count, though.

Mickey Rhoades · Oct 4, 2014

Sound advice my friend. I should pay more attention to detail. Even on this app, the date of last post is clear and visible to me. I just trusted that the feeds run to the top are the most recent. I will do better in the future for y'all.

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Jovan · Oct 4, 2014

I think you missed what I said. Someone else bumped the thread, not you. His post has been deleted.

Packing a Linen Suit to minimize wrinkles?

IotaNet

LanceW

Blueboy1938

Nerev

vwdolly

Jimmy2Dimes

pkincy

Andy

Cary Grant

Kuttermax

Chouan

Adagio

Mickey Rhoades

Jovan

Piqué

Jovan

Mickey Rhoades

Jovan

Mickey Rhoades

Jovan

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