EVELYSS / Guides / Travel & Everyday

How to Pack a Formal Dress in a Suitcase or Carry-On Without Wrinkles

“The goal is not a dress with zero wrinkles. It's a dress with soft folds that can drop out overnight on a hanger. Sharp creases are what ruin you, so the fold matters more than the suitcase.”Her take

Should you use a garment bag or fold it?

A garment bag is the best protection, especially for long gowns, beading and delicate fabric. A full-length bag lets a dress hang straight, while a tri-fold bag with interior straps holds it in place and reduces sharp creases. US airlines that mention garment bags generally count one as your carry-on item, not a personal item, so check your airline's rules before flying, and don't count on there being a closet on board.

Folding works well for dresses with some give, such as jersey, crepe or a knee-length cocktail style, and it's often the easier choice when you're using just one suitcase. If it's a truly precious gown, carry it on if you can, since a checked bag is out of your control until you land. Follow the steps below when folding it.

How do you fold a formal dress in a suitcase?

Prepare the dress first. Steam it or have it pressed before you travel, and fasten every zipper, hook and button so the shape stays stable. Put it in a large plastic dry-cleaning bag, or use several sheets of acid-free tissue paper, since a slippery layer helps fabric slide rather than crease. Plastic is for the trip only, so take the dress out as soon as you arrive.

Then follow these steps on a clean bed.

• Lay the dress face-down, smoothing the skirt and folding the sleeves or straps inward.
• Roll a few sheets of tissue paper into a soft tube, and place one where each fold will go.
• Fold the skirt up in thirds, keeping the folds soft and rounded around the tissue.
• Place the dress on top of your other clothing, centered in the suitcase, so it doesn't shift.
• Close the suitcase gently. If you have to press down hard, take something else out.

How do you pack different fabrics?

Fabric decides the method, so check it before you start. Satin and silk crease easily and show every mark, so keep them in plastic or tissue with soft folds, and keep them away from moisture. Chiffon and tulle crush rather than crease, and they recover well with steam if they aren't compressed under a heavy load, so nest tissue between the layers. Velvet can show pressure marks, so hang it in a garment bag if you possibly can. If it must be folded, use as few folds as possible and pad each one with tissue so the pile isn't pressed flat.

Sequins and beading can snag each other and shed. Turn the dress inside out if the lining permits, wrap it in tissue and keep it flat. Heavy beadwork should never hang unsupported for long, since the weight can stretch the fabric at the shoulders. Lay beaded gowns flat with extra tissue between layers and use a padded or wider hanger when you unpack.

How do you pack shoes and accessories with it?

Put heavy items at the wheels end of the bag, so nothing presses on the dress when the suitcase stands upright. Stuff shoes with socks, place them in shoe bags and keep their heels pointing away from the gown. If your bag stands during travel, make sure the dress sits at the top of the stack and can't slide under anything heavy.

Keep jewelry in your personal bag rather than the suitcase, and pack perfume, liquids and makeup in a sealed bag away from the dress. Lay a thin layer of tissue paper over the top of the folded dress, and pack anything rough, like a wool coat or a beaded clutch, elsewhere. Packing cubes are great for your other clothes, but don't compress a formal dress in one.

How do you get wrinkles out at the hotel?

Hang the dress the moment you arrive. Soft folds often relax over several hours, and you'll be able to see what actually needs help. Use the hotel's padded hanger if available, or support a heavy gown at the waist with ribbon or hanging loops, so it doesn't drag at the shoulders.

A handheld steamer is the safest fix for most fabrics, and it's gentler than an iron. Steam from the inside of the skirt, keep the head a few inches from the fabric, test an inside seam first on silk and satin, and steam velvet only from the wrong side. Keep it away from sequins, beads, glitter and anything glued on. If you don't have a steamer, hang the dress in a bathroom away from the shower spray and run hot water for about 15 to 20 minutes with the door closed. If you must iron, use the coolest setting and a press cloth, and test it on an inside seam. Never iron beads, sequins or velvet directly.

What if you need to fly with a gown or check a bag?

If you're carrying the gown onto a plane, board early if your ticket allows, so there's still room to lay the garment bag flat in the overhead bin. Fold it once gently along the tri-fold, and put it on top of any hard bags. If you need to gate-check, ask the crew whether the garment bag can be hung or stored flat, and don't assume they'll have room.

If it must go in a checked bag, choose a hard-shell case if you have one, since it gives better protection against crushing. Pack a backup outfit in your carry-on if the event is important: a simple dress and your key jewelry can save the day if a bag arrives late. Take a quick photo of the packed suitcase in case you need to describe its contents to the airline.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Garment bag if you can, soft folds around tissue if you can't, shoes far away, and hang it as soon as you walk in.

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