Suit care during travel
 

I just wanted to say thank you now for the considerate responses. I travel abroad frequently but I normally do so as a backpacker. I will be travelling to Europe a week from now on a school sponsored trip. The trip entails going to various European companies and institutions that require professional attire. I have a very nice Hugo Boss suit (meaning I don't want to bring an iron in my novice hands anywhere near it) and will be wearing it on occasion. Any tips of how to take care of it during the trip which includes the flight over and back would be great. My main concern is that when I arrive and unpack, my suit will be rather wrinkled even in its travel case that folds.

Turn on the hot water in your bathroom until the entire room is steamy. Then hang the suit in there (the steam - not the water). That should remove any small wrinkles. If desperate - have the hotel iron it for you.

Alright sounds good. Thanks

In my 60+ years, I've always packed a jacket inside out, because I was told it wrinkles less that way. I really don't know if that's the case, but thought I'd pass that (mis)information on to the next generation in case it works.

I travel on business often and find that folding my suits with dry cleaner plastic bags keep them from getting wrinked. You lay down the jacket (and in your case) slacks then fold the garment with the plastic in it. It works great.

I pack the whole suit in a 2 gallon Ziploc, squeeze out the air, and then zip it. I always fold the jacket inside out. Hang it for a few hours and it is presentable.

I use the plastic dry cleaner bags on all my hanging clothes and they really help with the wrinkles.

If you suit is a good fabric, you should be able to just fold it up, pack it in your suitcase, and it will hang out nicely.

Please don't waste valuable water just to get your suit straight! Water is expensive and precious. Wasting hot water just to create a steam room is terrible! Many areas of Europe, particularly southern Europe suffer from regular droughts, and this waste does nothing to help!
Fold the suit carefully, jacket inside out. Hang it as soon as you can - it will be fine!

I travel all the time in the US and abroad, a lot of it on business where I have to have a suit or jacket.

I have a garment sleeve that fits inside my suitcase and folds things into threes, if that makes any sense. I leave shirts and suits in the plastic garment bags that come from the cleaner, pop them into the sleeve, and fold away. Nothing ever needs ironing, even touchup.

One of the side advantages of a suit is that men's dress clothes actually weigh less than men's casual clothes like khakis (my normal garb)or jeans. I am planning to buy some lightweight wool and poly trousers from Brooks Brothers or Joseph Bank to replace some of my khakis on long trips for that reason.

My husband has a flat garment carrier that is about 18 or so inches square-- when open, another section folds out and his suit (or tux) can be "hung." Inside the bag are plastic cases in which items usually put in a travel kit, can be placed. Also, a place for shoes. When folded and zipped it can be carried with its travel strap and fits into the overhead compartment. No ironing was required.

RE: steam. don't waste the water--right! Just hang the suit in the room when taking a shower. "Kill two birds with one stone!!!" Ciao. mhm

My husband has a flat garment carrier that is about 18 or so inches square-- when open, another section folds out and his suit (or tux) can be "hung." Inside the bag are plastic cases in which items usually put in a travel kit, can be placed. Also, a place for shoes... and I think he put in another pr of slacks and a sport coat. When folded and zipped it can be carried with its travel strap and fits into the overhead compartment. No ironing was required.

RE: steam. don't waste the water--right! Just hang the suit in the room when taking a shower. "Kill two birds with one stone!!!" Ciao. mhm

I would pack the suit, folded in a dry cleaner's thin plastic bag. Then upon arrival spring for someone to press it, either by borrowing an ironing boad from housekeeping at the hotel or better yet finding a nearby dry-cleaners to do it for you.