The age-old debate about whether to roll vs fold your shirt when you’re travelling is all about whether or not you want to be wrinkle-free. If you’re taking dress shirts with you, button them up to align the fabric, lay them face down, fold the sleeves back over the shoulder and then at the elbow. Once done, fold the shirt itself into thirds, from the sides and then from the bottom up to the collar, and wrinkles will be a thing of the past. Perfect when you want to look and feel your best.
Why learning how to fold a shirt for travel matters
If you want to make the right first impression, getting rid of the wrinkles really matters. Taking care of the ironing and steaming at home, only to then arrive at your destination with a suitcase full of wrinkled shirts just won’t do. To avoid lots of extra work at the other end, simply follow the steps in the following section and make your life that little bit easier.
5 simple steps: how to fold a shirt for travel like a pro
Knowing how to fold shirts for packing will ensure that you arrive at your destination looking and feeling your best, and here is how you do it:
- Step 1: Do up the buttons: Buttoning the front of the shirt and the cuffs will make sure that the fabric is aligned and will prevent it from shifting and becoming uneven
- Step 2: Lay the shirt flat: Positioning the shirt facedown on your bed or ironing board will give you a surface on which to work. Gently smoothing it to make sure the seams are straight is important
- Step 3: Start folding the sleeves: Fold each sleeve back over its corresponding shoulder, taking care to angle it to the shirt’s hem. The sleeves are then folded back over themselves at the elbow so that the cuffs are aligned with the closest edge
- Step 4: Fold in the sides: Fold the sides vertically over the sleeves so that the edges meet in the middle, creating a straight line in the process
- Step 5: Fold the bottom third of the shirt horizontally over the middle third, and then repeat the same type of fold until the end meets the shirt’s collar
If this feels like a complicated list of steps, remember that you can break things down and work through everything at your own pace.
Practice makes perfect when folding dress shirts
Now that you know how to fold a shirt for travel, all it takes is a little bit of practice. If you have a work trip or holiday next week, spending a couple of minutes practicing the technique will make life a lot easier. The result will be a stunning wrinkle-free wardrobe that allows you to look your best, no matter where your travels take you.
And if you would like to learn more about packing, the Post Office has a series of helpful online guides for travellers.
FAQs
How to fold clothes for travel without wrinkles?
Button up the shirt, lay it face down, and then fold the sleeves so that they go straight back over the shoulder, before angling them back on themselves at the elbow. You then fold the shirt into thirds by making vertical folds of the two sides so that they then meet in the middle of the shirt. The bottom is then folded up in thirds to meet the collar.
How do you go about rolling clothes for packing with no wrinkles?
Tight rolling is only recommended with T-shirts and can be easily done. But with a dress shirt, it is always best to follow the folding technique outlined in this guide.
Should you button up a shirt to fold it?
Yes, buttoning up a shirt is the best way to align the fabric on both sides of the shirt to make sure that you are folding it neatly and evenly.
Can you fold shirts after ironing?
The best approach is to first hang shirts after ironing so that they cool. You can then fold them and ensure that no wrinkles or unwanted creases arise.
What happens if you don’t fold a dress shirt?
Rolling a dress shirt will quickly create wrinkles, forcing you to re-iron everything when you arrive at your destination.
