Comments on: How to pack silk?

Question: How to pack silk?

susanvance — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:57:17 -0800

What is the best way to pack a silk dress without wrinkling it?

I'll be flying to another city soon for a formal event, and will need to pack a silk dress in my carry-on suitcase. This is the first silk item I've owned, so I'm pretty clueless. If folding it, I'd need to fold it at least once lengthwise and crosswise - or should I roll it?

I'll of course hang it up and try to steam it in the bathroom during my morning shower once I'm there, but what can I do to avoid wrinkles in the first place? I won't have access to an iron or steamer.

Thanks for any tips!

By: iliketolaughalot

iliketolaughalot — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:22:21 -0800

When I flew with a silk dress, I rolled it inside of a towel. Like a jelly roll, but with the dress as the jelly and the towel as the roll, I guess.

I also steamed it in the shower, and it worked for me. BUT my dress was silk and a little cotton (I think) so maybe it won't be as successful.

By: Mizu

Mizu — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:23:55 -0800

It really depends on the garment and the type of silk. In the past, however, I have had good results by layering my dress between two thick sweaters/jeans like a sandwich, and rolling it up gently. Mostly, just try not to squish it too much in transport. Silk is a lot more resilient than it is given credit for.

By: Meg_Murry

Meg_Murry — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:33:50 -0800

I'd roll it in a towel and then hang it up on arrival, although I've definitely forgotten a silk dress in a crumpled heap and had it bounce back when I hung it up (not my recommended packing strategy, however).

By: girlgenius

girlgenius — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:51:10 -0800

I second the comments about rolling it inside a towel.

If you need to fold it before rolling it up, fold it lengthwise rather than crosswise, because vertical wrinkles are less visible than cross-wise ones and drop out quicker one the dress is hung. Also, fold it in thirds rather than in half (in the way t-shirts are folded in stores) - this will make any vertical lines less obvious.

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:51:52 -0800

don't be afraid of silk, it is very resilient, and much easier to care for than you may imagine.
do the roll-up thing in your luggage and be sure to unpack right away and steam it in the shower when you arrive. enjoy! silk is not only a soft and luxurious fabric but also very strong and insulating :)

By: purpletangerine

purpletangerine — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:28:51 -0800

When I packed my wedding dress to carry across country I followed the directions of the dressmaker. We layered it in tons of acid-free tissue paper. I mean tons, and we layered it so that the folds weren't really fold-like, more like gentle drapes. I also packed it in a flat box, and carried it as my second carry on item. It helped that the dress was thin silk and lightweight cotton, so it really didn't weigh more than the box empty. I had been warned specifically about the water-spot risk on this particular fabric, so steaming was not an option for me. I just hung it up as soon as we got there, and it stayed that way for a week. No problems with wrinkles on the big day.
That said, I would probably go with the above suggestions to roll in a towel, since you are fine to steam it when you get there (and it's not a wedding dress, which brings out obsessive behaviors).

By: Sallyfur

Sallyfur — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:47:59 -0800

If nature has taught us anything about silk, it's that you should roll it around something, perhaps some kind of caterpillar or worm.

Barring that, clean new white tissue paper is the way your butler would do it.

By: mmf

mmf — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:22:35 -0800

You can try used dry cleaning plastic bags intead of paper. The cushion and let things slip around a it rather than getting stuck and creasing.