Clothing Packing Hacks

Whether you're leaving for vacation on a plane or taking a cross-country road trip, packing the right way is an art. You want to maximize the space in your luggage so you can fit multiple outfits — but you also want to keep those garments wrinkle-free and ready to wear. While packing your suitcase certainly isn't the most exciting part of your trip, there are a few things you can do to make packing a piece of cake and jet off to your destination with ease.

Here are some of our favorite clothing packing hacks and the best ways to fold clothes to save space.

1. Choose Your Suitcase Wisely

Before you start building outfits, choose your suitcase or bag. If you're traveling on a plane and want to limit yourself to just a carry-on, you'll need to select a suitcase large enough to fit your belongings but small enough to sit at your feet or in the overhead compartment. Consider how many items you'll need to pack to determine the suitcase size that best fits your needs.

As far as the bag's structure goes, a suitcase with a hard outer shell is usually the best option for navigation and protection. It's also smart to keep an eye out for bags that have different compartments. This way, you can keep smaller items organized in their own sections. Picking a suitcase that makes it easy to sort and store everything will help ensure you pack whatever you need.

2. Select Your Favorite Outfits

Perhaps the most exciting part of packing is choosing the array of outfits to take with you. You'll want to think about the type of trip you're going on and what you're doing when you arrive. Your outfits are likely to be very different if you're going on a relaxing beach vacation compared to a backpacking trip across Europe.

It's also essential to choose clothing that's less likely to wrinkle. If you don't want to iron when you get to your destination, you might want to stay away from fabrics that easily wrinkle, like linen and cotton. Another top tip is to pack only the outfits you're going to wear. Many of us are guilty of overpacking, wanting to prepare for every scenario. If you want to save on space, though, you'll need to pack only the essentials.

3. Roll Clothing to Save Space

Now that you've chosen your suitcase and outfits, let's go over some top folding strategies to save space in your bag so you can start packing. One of the best ways to fold your clothes isn't to actually fold them. Instead, it's best to roll them to maximize space. You can easily pack rolled clothing tightly to squeeze into smaller spaces and fit into corners.

We recommend rolling clothing that's the least likely to wrinkle, so items such as casual t-shirts and jeans are perfect for this technique. Roll your shirts by folding back the arms, folding the shirt in half and rolling up from the bottom. For jeans, you can fold one leg over the other and roll up from the ankles. Then, lay the rolls in your suitcase in a row.

This strategy is the best way to pack those everyday items and create more space for your accessories and toiletries.

4. Overlap and Layer Garments

Though rolling your clothes is best for more casual items, it might not be the best technique for your dresses. Eliminating wrinkles when packing items for events like anniversaries or weddings requires a different packing method. You'll want to layer your clothing to make the most out of your suitcase space and ensure you can keep your fancier items as safe from wrinkles as possible. 

Start with packing your rolled clothing on the bottom of your suitcase. Then, start to layer your heavier and more prone-to-wrinkle items on top. If you have enough room, simply lay the garment across the row of rolled clothing. Avoid folding these items more than once, as doing so will create wrinkles.

5. Use Plastic Clothing Bags

Another excellent clothing hack is to use plastic when packing your suitcase. Wrinkles are caused by friction. Therefore, when your clothes move around in your luggage and rub against other materials, wrinkles will form. Plastic can help prevent friction by separating your different clothing items. Opt to place your most important clothing in a plastic garment or dry-cleaning bag to protect them from wrinkles as much as possible.

Try to stick to a limit of one outfit per bag to keep the wrinkles to a minimum and keep them looking like they're fresh off the hanger. Bonus tip — stuff your clothing with tissue paper to prevent them from flattening during travel before placing them in the bag. While this trick may take up a little more space, it could be worth losing a little bit of room if keeping this outfit looking runway-ready is crucial.

6. Limit the Number of Shoes

The next step is to pick out some stylish shoes for your trip. When it comes to saving space, you'll want to limit your choice of shoes as much as possible. Shoes are the bulkiest and most oversized items to pack, meaning they can take up a lot of space and aren't ideal for fitting into corners or tight spaces. Limiting yourself to two or three pairs of shoes is the best option for maximizing that suitcase space.

Think about what activities you'll do while traveling to determine the best shoes to bring. In most cases, you may only need some comfortable walking shoes and a pair of sandals. Heels can be bulky and difficult to pack, so choosing a stylish sandal could work for almost any occasion.

7. Wear Your Bulkiest Clothing During Travel

If you need to pack any outerwear, like a cardigan or jacket, it's best to wear those types of items during your travels. The same idea goes for shoes. These items take up excess room in your suitcase, especially if you're limiting yourself to just one carry-on bag. 

It's smart to wear your heaviest items while traveling to free up space in your luggage. If you're leaving from a warm area to go to a colder destination, you probably won't want to wear your ski jacket in the heat. But if you can wear your bulkiest sweatshirt and pair of platform sneakers on the plane, you'll be able to fit more in your suitcase.

Shop for Your Next Travel Look at Perfectly Priscilla

Picking clothing you feel comfortable and confident in is essential to enjoying your travels. Choosing the perfect outfits you can easily pack to save the most space is the key to getting away on a plane with just your carry-on. At Perfectly Priscilla, we can help you find the perfect look for your travels.

We offer women of all sizes high-quality boutique clothing that's sure to match your style so you can feel radiant and confident. Shop our collection to find your next look!