Folding a Suit Jacket: Three Easy Methods

To the gentlemen: Do you know how to properly fold a suit jacket? Suits are among the most troublesome garments to maintain in terms of packing and transportation.

When it's not on your shoulders, a quality wool jacket combines two significant issues. To begin with, it's rather ponderous Second, it can easily be permanently creased if a fold is pressed into it.

You can steam or iron them out in the future, but it will be more work and may shorten the life of the jacket. It is extremely important to find a remedy for this issue.

Three are in your favor, fortunately. Read on to learn more about them.

The First Fold for a Suit Jacket: Tucking the Shoulders In

This fold prevents stress from being concentrated on the seams and folds of a suitcase.

A large fold runs down the middle of this jacket. Therefore, it does not have the same crease-resistance as a good roll of paper.

Yet, a flat fold is sometimes the only option when packing a jacket into a suitcase, and this is especially true when space is at a premium. This one is superior because it only has one fold that isn't along a seam.

Basically, you turn one shoulder inside out and tuck the other shoulder into it, seam to seam. The breast panels (with their linings turned outward) sandwich the sleeveless jacket between themselves in a vertical stack. Then you fold it in half lengthwise, starting at the bottom, before storing it.

If you're going to be storing the jacket for a while and want a flatter fold than a roll, this is the way to go. The center crease shouldn't settle if you're careful, and the outer fabric of the jacket will be safe from damage thanks to the lining.

The biggest drawback is that it can take a few tries to get it right, and you usually need a clean flat surface to do it on, in addition to the single fold that can potentially crease. It's challenging but doable to do while standing and holding the jacket.

The Shirt-Style Fold is the Second Commonly Used Fold for a Sport Coat.

When you're in a pinch and need to fold something quickly

In a pinch, a man can fold his jacket over like a dress shirt and use it as a blanket.

Fold it in half from the bottom, then tuck the bottom hem up under the collar, and the sleeves will tuck behind your back while the shoulders overlap slightly in the middle. The squared off silhouette is the result of the lapels and collar being placed directly on top.

The resulting bundle is similar in size to the second option, but it is thicker in the middle and less uniform.

Your major error here is the multiple vertical and horizontal folds in the jacket. Especially at the points where the folds intersect, that's a great way to make creases.

So why bring it up at all It's easier to do without a flat surface and goes together much faster than the other two folds. Putting on a jacket is as easy as tucking the collar under your chin and folding it three times.

Just throw the jacket on top of the case if you know you'll be storing it there for a short time. If you need to transport it for a longer distance or if it will be subject to pressure, you're better off using one of the alternative methods.

The third and final suit jacket fold, the jacket roll

Want the best anti-wrinkle protection? Don't give up and fold your arms!

That one is my favorite.

There is a simple way to achieve the fewest possible folds in a jacket: don't fold it.

It's still up to you to layer and tuck in creative ways. Yet, the entire jacket can be rolled up (like a blanket or sleeping pad) into a snug cylinder of fabric.

The main benefit is that a rolled jacket is never folded across the fabric if it is done correctly. The jacket's broad front and back panels are bent gently into a curve rather than pressed flat into a corner, and most of the movement occurs in these areas—the shoulders and sleeves.

Depending on the depth of your suitcase, you may also be able to tuck a shirt or two into the roll. If you try to stuff too much in, the roll won't stay in place and your jacket will get wrinkled.

The most significant drawback of a roll is the additional horizontal and vertical space it necessitates in comparison to a flat fold. It may take a few tries before you get it perfect and there are no wrinkles.

It's important to keep trying until you succeed. A jacket with interior wrinkles is more likely to wrinkle further during storage if the wearer hurriedly places it there.

How to Conveniently Bring Your Suit Jacket Along

There are a few ways to reduce wear and tear on your jackets during storage, regardless of how you fold them.

• To begin, don't fold the jacket at all. Please wear one of your jackets onto the plane if you are flying. So long as it can fit in the overhead bin for a few hours, you won't even need to pack it.
• Carry the jacket on a hanger inside a long garment bag. These can be used in vehicles or airplanes, but their storage space is constrained.
• Assuming folding is unavoidable, try to limit the number of folds and direct them along any seams. In general, it's preferable to fold the fabric as little as possible across its width.
• If you can, always store your jacket so that the inside faces out. It is the lining of the jacket that will hide any damage the exterior may have sustained (such as scuffs, stains, or tears) during shipping and handling. While external damage can render the jacket useless or necessitate emergency maintenance

It does nothing to reduce bulk (though we'll soon be demonstrating some clever folds that can help). However, regardless of the method of transport, taking extra care with the jacket from the start will ensure that it arrives at its final destination wrinkle-free and ready to be worn.

What Comes Next...

The folding of a jacket into a suit is only the beginning. Next, take a look at how I always have my luggage neatly folded and packed.

Just keep in mind that learning is important, but that you must DO SOMETHING with what you learn.

Find out about my upscale male grooming program

To view the video, "3 Damage-Free Ways to Fold a Suit Jacket," click here.