HOW TO TRAVEL WITH A SUIT
Travelling with a suit can be tricky. You won’t want to reach your destination and find it creased and in a crumpled mess.
The good news is, it’s easy to keep suits looking crisp and sharp during your travels. It’s all about choosing the right men’s suit, packing it properly and knowing how to freshen it up upon arrival.
If you’re wondering how to travel with a suit and still look your best, follow our helpful tips.
How to Travel with a Suit: A 10-Point Guide
Whether you’re travelling for a wedding, business trip or formal event abroad, packing a suit takes extra care and attention. Unlike casual wear, a suit can’t be rolled up and thrown in your suitcase. Get it wrong, and you’ll be hunting for an iron or a dry cleaner.
These 10 expert tips for travelling with a suit ensure you’ll avoid a wardrobe and keep your outfit looking great from suitcase to event.
1. Check and Prepare
Start by giving your suit a quick once-over and prepare by looking for loose threads, marks, missing buttons or anything that needs attention. Before packing, give your suit a light press with a cool iron or a handheld steamer so that you’re starting with a smooth, crease-free base. It also helps to choose a travel-friendly fabric like a stylish tweed suit, wool blends, textured weaves and mid-weight materials tend to resist wrinkles better than lightweight fabrics.
2. Get a Sturdy Garment Bag
Garment bags are a great accessory. They provide protection and structure, keep out dust and moisture and reduce the need for heavy folding. Choose a bag made from breathable fabric with strong zips and padded shoulders to help maintain the suit’s shape. Many modern suit carriers also include foldable panels, carry-on handles and compartments for shirts and accessories, making them ideal for travelling with formalwear.
3. Invest in a Suitcase
A suitcase is a practical alternative to a garment bag. Hard-shell suitcases provide robust protection and prevent your suit from being crushed. Many models also include internal straps or flat compartments specifically designed for suits. If you’re using a soft-sided suitcase, try to pack your suit on top, away from shoes, toiletries or anything heavy that could press into the fabric or leave marks.
4. Take Care When Folding Your Suit Jacket
Folding your jacket or blazer correctly helps prevent creases when travelling. Lay the jacket face down on a clean, flat surface. Turn one shoulder inside out, then tuck the opposite shoulder into it so the lapels meet. Next, gently fold the jacket in half lengthways, making sure it stays smooth and even. This method helps protect the shoulder structure and reduces the risk of creases across the front or sleeves.
5. Fold your Trousers
Suit trousers are easier to fold than the jacket, but they require the same degree of care and attention. Lay your trousers flat with the creases aligned and the legs straight. Then fold them in half at the knees, and fold once more if needed so they fit neatly into your suitcase or garment bag.
6. Use a Protective Cover
If you’re not using a full suit carrier, place your folded jacket and trousers in a protective cover before adding them to your suitcase. A dry-cleaning bag or protective cover helps reduce friction and shields the suit from other items. Try to pack it last so it stays as flat as possible. If you’re travelling by air with a wedding suit or to a major job interview, consider carrying the suit as hand luggage for extra peace of mind.
7. Add Tissue Paper
Tailors and stylists often recommend placing tissue paper between fabric folds. This reduces friction and helps prevent sharp creases, which is especially useful for delicate materials or detailed items like waistcoats. Dry-cleaning bags can also serve the same purpose, acting as a protective layer between items.
8. Refrain From Rolling Your Formal Shirts
Casual shirts can survive being rolled , but formal shirts need to stay structured. Before you pack, fasten the top and bottom buttons, fold the sleeves neatly and keep the shirt flat. Avoid placing heavy items on top, as this can cause creases quickly.
9. Keep Shoes Away From Your Suit
Shoes should never come into contact with your suit or shirts. Use a shoe bag or a cotton bag to prevent dirt and polish from transferring onto your clothing. Whenever possible, store shoes in a separate compartment or at the bottom of your suitcase, away from your formalwear.
10. Hang Up Your Suit Immediately
Once you arrive at your destination, unpack your suit and shirts and hang them right away on a broad-shoulder hanger. For light creases, hanging them in a steamy bathroom can help them relax naturally. If you have a steamer, give your clothes a quick refresh and check if your hotel offers a pressing service, which is especially useful before a big event.
How to Travel with a Suit on a Plane
There’s no right way to travel with a suit, and it really depends on your trip, airline and how much effort you’re willing to put in. Usually, you’ll be deciding between carrying it on in a garment bag or packing it carefully in your suitcase.
Carry-On or Checked-In Luggage?
If you can, avoid checking in your suit. Checked bags get tossed and squashed, and even the best-packed suit can end up looking wrinkled. Carry-on is safer since your suit stays with you. Most airlines treat a garment bag as your carry-on, though you’ll usually still be limited to one small personal item.
Some planes also have lockers for hanging suits, but these are typically for business or first-class passengers. If your bag ends up in the overhead bin, a soft, flat-lying garment bag works best.
How to Travel with a Suit Without a Garment Bag
Don’t have a garment bag or suitcase for your trip? A simple way to avoid creases is to wear your suit for the journey, especially on shorter flights.
Once seated, take the jacket off and lay it flat across your lap or fold it gently over the back of the seat in front. After landing, hang up your suit as soon as possible and let it breathe.
Wool or wool-blend suits recover quickly, and a bit of bathroom steam can help smooth out any minor wrinkles.
How to Refresh Your Suit After Travelling
Your trip is over, but you're not finished with your suit yet. It’s time for a quick refresh so that it looks as good as new the next time you wear it.
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Brush it lightly: Using a fabric brush or lint roller, gently brushing your suit will remove any dirt or lint and keep it looking pristine.
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Remove stains: Spot-clean small marks and stains with a damp cloth so they don’t show up next time.
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Air it properly: Make sure your suit is aired overnight on a hanger in a well-ventilated space before placing it back in storage. This will remove any odours and keep your suit feeling fresh.
However, sometimes your suit needs a deeper clean than a light refresh. A professional dry cleaner is safest, though over-cleaning can damage fibres. For lightly used suits, a home steam and iron press will suffice until it’s time for your next professional clean.
Ultimately, travelling with a suit shouldn’t be stressful. Picking the right fabric, packing carefully, using a garment bag, folding properly and refreshing it with steam will keep it wrinkle-free. With these simple precautions, your suit stays sharp, so you can travel in style and focus on looking your best.
How to Travel with a Suit Plus Accessories
Your outfit isn’t complete without the right accessories. But your shoes, belts, ties and shirts quickly add bulk or get crushed if not packed carefully.
Shoes, Ties and Belts
Use shoe bags to protect your formal shoes from dirt, while keeping socks inside your shoes to save space and maintain their shape. Slide trouser belts along the edges of your suitcase instead of rolling them to avoid lumps. Neckties should be rolled gently and tucked into a corner or a packing cube to keep them neat.
Dress Shirts and Undershirts
Button up dress shirts before folding to help them retain their shape and minimize creases. Adding tissue paper between folds provides extra protection. Use undershirts as padding between delicate items to absorb pressure and keep everything in place.
Keeping Accessories Crease-Free
Don’t pile small items together as they can crease easily. Organise accessories in separate cubes or bags to protect them and make unpacking much simpler.
Now You Know How to Travel with a Suit…
…you may want to invest in the latest range of men’s quality suits from Cavani. From stylish wedding suits and three-piece suits to classic navy blue suits and lightweight summer suits, every option is covered.
You can also book a free appointment at our UK stores, where our personal stylists will help you create the perfect look for any occasion.