Quick packing question for women
 

I need to bring a very sheer silk skirt with me for a wedding -- how do I pack this? It's the kind of silk where if I squeeze it with my hand, it leaves wrinkles.

It's in pristine, perfectly steamed condition from the cleaners and it pains me to fold it up, and I don't have a portable steamer. Should I just leave it on the hanger and carry it on? That will likely still rumple it, but not nearly as much as packing it would. does it fare better in a zip-lock? The flight is only a couple of hours and the plane is small.

Are you going to a very primitive rural location where there are no dry cleaners or hotels with an ironing service? If so, you might pack a portable iron. Otherwise, have your hotel press it.

If it is that sheer and light, the steam from your shower will probably iron it out beautifully. Carrying it on a hanger on the plane would probably wrinkle it more than just carefully folding it in tissue paper in your suitcase. Then hang it in the bathroom w/ the door closed after your shower.

I was posting the same time as nessundorma - and yes the hotel can probably press it for you. I wouldn't bother lugging a travel iron.

But I usually just use shower steam.

I'm going to a very rural location and I'm not staying in a hotel and they are unlikely to offer cleaning services anyway, mostly 1 and 2* out there. I can't count on getting this steamed at a cleaner by Saturday morning, either.

The shower might work -- so should I fold it or roll it in tissue paper? I could put it in a little paper shopping bag so it doesnt get compressed?

Another possibility: Squeeze it all over so the whole thing gets wrinkied and everyone will think it's the way it's supposed to be.

Will anyone at this remote rural location care if your shirt is wrinkled? Won't they all be looking at the bride?

If your skirt is that fragile then carrying it on will probably also wrinkle it. Janisj is right about the shower steam.

Let's see. . . you leave tomorrow for a rural location and the wedding is on Saturday morning. I assume that this is a very short trip (from what you have said) in which case I would just bite the bullet and take the iron. It is heavy, but hell, you gotta look good!

Claire

Why wouldn't I dress appropriately and respectfully for a wedding, even if it's in a rural working class area? They really look forward to dressing up for special occasions.

But I'll drop it and go with your wrinkled skirt idea since I'm getting distracted and need to get out of here... thanks everyone!

Oh --- well if you'd told me in the beginning this was a political thing, my advice would have been different. Pack an iron.

Keep dry-cleaning bags and put one over each item of clothing that tends to wrinkle. You can then fold the items into your suitcase. The slippery plastic really seems to help keep silk and other delicate fabrics wrinkle free.

I would fold it carefully using both tissue paper and dry cleaner plastic bag, then use the shower steam... and hope for the best.

I've had good luck with packing items in the dry cleaner bags. I can't explain how it works but it seems to. Otherwise steam the skirt while you are taking a shower.

I agree with the dry cleaner bags. I had good luck once packing a thin rayon dress for an event by crumpling some cleaner bags up and putting them inside a dress then also putting one around the outside, as well as crumpling another to put betwen the folds. I still got a tiny bit of wrinkling, but it came out with shower steam. Good luck!

How 'bout rolling it with tissue paper and then using a mailing tube?

cover with a dry cleaner plastic bag and then roll it.

Shower steam works fine. I have used it successfuly for everything but very heavy linen. Just be sure that you have a skirt hangar with you - since some have those immovable ones - or ones that can;t hang from a shower rod.

I'll go with the shower steam suggestion.

But remember, after you put on the skirt, it will wrinkle again (sitting in the transport to the service, sitting/knealing during the serivce, etc.)

Make an effort, but don't go overboard.