How to Fold a Shirt: Dress Shirts & T-Shirts Without Creases

Knowing how to fold T-shirts and how to fold a dress shirt will save you a lot of work because you won’t have to steam or iron them again because they rewrinkle. This is a skill that will not only help you keep your home wardrobe in perfect condition, but it will also make sure that you look your best when you’re travelling. 

Correct folding technique is all about smooth surfaces, doing up the buttons, and folding in straight lines and with precision, starting with the sleeves, then the sides, and finally with the main body from bottom to top.

How to fold a shirt for formal occasions without creasing it

Here are five simple steps to perfectly fold a formal shirt: 

• Do up the buttons and the cuffs to hold the fabric in place when you are ready to start folding it
• Lay the shirt face down on a flat surface and smooth it out to minimise potential rewrinkling
• Fold both sleeves straight back across the body, aligning with the opposite edge. The cuff should be positioned straight towards the hem
• Fold the two outer thirds of the body toward the centre to meet in the middle along a straight line 
• Fold the bottom hem a third of the way up before making a second fold so that the hem sits directly beneath the collar 

Folding t-shirts: How to fold a shirt for a smart casual look

T-shirts are even easier to fold because the sleeves are much shorter: 

• Lay the T-shirt face down on a smooth surface and smooth it out 
• Fold the two outer thirds towards the middle to make a straight line
• Fold each sleeve backwards so it aligns with the central fold 
• Take the hem and fold the shirt in half from bottom to top 

A quick way to freshen up any shirt without the stress

Using an automatic ironing machine that works by steaming your fabric can freshen up any shirt that you have already laundered and folded. If you notice small wrinkles that you want to get rid of, or if you want to freshen up the fabric itself, the steam from an automatic ironing machine will help reduce wrinkles. 

These types of machines are hands-free, meaning that you won’t have to worry about using the iron when you’re in a hurry, and you don’t have to spend valuable minutes heating up to the right temperature. The steam is generally a lower temperature than the heated plate on traditional irons, so the fabric is less likely to be damaged by excess heat. This is particularly important if you are freshening up a shirt with screen prints, delicate embroidery, or silk elements. 

Storing your folded shirts to avoid rewrinkling when at home

The simple rule is to make sure that you don’t try to store all of your folded shirts in a giant stack. Because you will knock such a stack a little bit every time you add or remove another shirt, the shirts at the bottom will be exposed to movement that can rewrinkle them for a lot longer than you might think. Putting a pile of heavier fabric shirts on top of a couple of shirts made of delicate fabrics will also make rewrinkling much more likely. 

The simple solution is to make piles that are only two to three shirts high and to use drawer dividers so that neighbouring piles are not able to wrinkle one another. Organising things in this way will also make it a lot easier to pick out your next great outfit.

Packing your folded shirts to avoid rewrinkling while travelling

Packing your suitcase tightly and using the straps it comes with to hold your luggage in place will help to minimize unwanted movement when in transit. We also recommend placing heavier items, such as jeans and shoes, in separate compartments when possible. And remember: your suitcase is going to flip over countless times during the journey, so there really is no such thing as the top or the bottom. 

GINETEX, the International Association for Textile Care Labelling, can provide a wealth of additional information when it comes to fabric care. See their online guide on fabric care symbols if you want to take a deeper dive.

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