Remember that time you arrived in Paris, excited to explore the Louvre Museum and stroll down the Champs-Élysées, only to open your suitcase and find your favorite dress shirt crumpled like a used napkin? We’ve all been there. But fear not, fellow travelers! Packing your dress shirts without transforming them into a wrinkled mess is easier than navigating the London Underground during rush hour.
The Art of Folding Dress Shirts for Travel
While some travelers swear by rolling, folding remains a classic and effective method, especially for dress shirts. A well-folded shirt not only saves space but also minimizes wrinkles, leaving you looking sharp and ready to conquer the world (or at least conquer that business meeting).
Step-by-Step Guide to Folding Perfection:
- Button Up: Start by buttoning your shirt all the way up. This creates a stable structure and prevents fabric from shifting and wrinkling.
- Lay it Flat: Lay your shirt face down on a clean, flat surface. Smooth out any wrinkles with your hands.
- Fold One Side: Fold one side of the shirt inwards towards the center, aligning the shoulder seam with the center of the back.
- Fold the Sleeve: Fold the sleeve back along its natural crease, creating a straight line parallel to the side fold.
- Repeat on the Other Side: Repeat steps 3 and 4 on the other side of the shirt. You should now have a long, rectangular shape.
- Fold in Half: Fold the bottom half of the shirt upwards, bringing the bottom hem to meet the collar.
- Fold in Half Again (Optional): For thicker shirts or to save space, you can fold the shirt in half again.
- Packing Power: Place your folded shirts on top of your suitcase contents, ideally within a packing cube for extra protection and organization.
folded-shirt-packing-cube|folded shirt in packing cube|A folded dress shirt placed inside a packing cube, ready for travel.
