HARD LUGGAGE
SHOES
Pack heel to toe, in fabric shoe mitts, resting on hinge part of case. Soles to bottom of suitcase, one pair on each side. Tuck soft undies, pantyhose, socks, into shoes to save space.
PURSE
Cushion on flat scarves, toward hinges. Take out hard items and fill with socks, etc., to keep shape, save space. All heavy items should be packed near hinges of suitcase.
LINGERIE
Fold slips, panties, girdles lengthwise in thirds, following body lines. Place in sets, roll up smoothly, pack rolls in sections.
BRAS & SWIMWEAR
Hold bra in hand. Turn 1 cup inside out in place smoothly in other. Stuff space with stockings, panties, or roll up securely.
NIGHTGOWNS, ROBES
Fold lengthwise in thirds, following body lines. Roll securely from top, in sets. Place in lingerie section of suitcase.
COSMETICS
carry small amounts in plastic containers. Much makeup is packed that way already. Put in tote bag, or suitcase side-pocket, or use Ziploc bags and suck out air before sealing. Pressed powders and un-spillables can go in separate case, near hinges.
PANTS, SWEATERS, SPORTS-CLOTHES
Fold pants flat out, lengthwise, carefully on natural creases. Place first pair, waistband to side of case, back of pants toward hinge, let hang out of case. Then place a sweater, folded in thirds lengthwise, face down on pants, letting half the sweater hang out at right angles to the pants. Fold pants back over sweater once, then fold rest of sweater back on top before folding last part of pants leg back.
GLOVES, SCARVES, STOCKINGS
Place in pocket of divider; extra costume jewelry goes here, too, and synthetic wigs, folded inside out. Use wig box with head form for human hair wigs. Put chain belts in pockets, leather ones stretch around side of case, or roll them up and snap rubber-band around them.
FOLDING DRESSES, SKIRTS
Start with most fragile. Fold lengthwise on bed, front down, in thirds on natural curves. Fasten all zippers and buttons, fold sleeves down back. Place in suitcase, collar touching edge and let end hang out. Place other dresses folded same way, in opposite directions, one on another, ends hanging out. Suit jackets should be placed on their skirts, folded in thirds, toward back.
FINAL FOLDING
Now all garments are facing opposite directions. Start folding them carefully back, over one another, layer by layer, smoothing wrinkles. The fragile dress, on the bottom, will fold back last, with biggest fabric "cushion" of all.
REMOVING, REPLACING GARMENTS
This system lets you take out and replace individual garments without disturbing others. - To take one out, grasp at fold, on suitcase edge, pull gently. - Slide other arm in under it to keep other things in place. - To replace single item, fold lengthwise along body lines. For dresses, place face down on divider with end hanging off. - Slide one arm under clothes in case and lift gently. - Slide garment from divider into case, face still down. Drop other clothes back on top, fold ends back into case.

SOFT SIDE LUGGAGE
Before starting, put shoes in shoe mitts or other porous material. Fasten zippers, buttons, remove all hard belts.
Spillables in plastic containers or Ziplocs.
Pack case in two layers. Pack first the way you pack bottom of hard side case, top layers as you would pack the lid.
Pack shoes and heavy items opposite handle. Keep weight inside case evenly distributed from side to side.
Roll lingerie, sleepwear and swimwear, place in section in center of case.
Fold sportswear, using one garment to cushion on folds in the other; place in sections, near handle.
Fold dresses in the back in thirds, vertically along bust and leg lines. Lay these in face down on top of first layer.
Alternate directions of collars from right to left.
Leave skirts hanging over sides. Fold skirts back over each other.
Fasten with tie tapes.

back to top