How to pack your suitcase: stylist tips

According to a 2023 OnePoll study, 60% of the things we pack for vacation end up sitting in our suitcases, never worn. Now imagine: paying for excess baggage, lugging heavy luggage, wrinkling your favorite silk dresses, only to end up wearing the same shorts and two T-shirts. Over 14 years as a stylist and creating hundreds of capsule wardrobes for clients, I've learned one hard lesson: How to properly pack things in a suitcase It's not a matter of saving space. It's a matter of preserving the fabric's structure and your peace of mind while traveling.

Most advice online boils down to the banal "just roll everything up." But as an expert working with different types of fabric, I'll tell you straight: this approach will destroy half your wardrobe. We've covered the art of selection in more detail in our the complete guide to capsule vacations In this article, I'll share an architectural method for packing luggage that I use myself and recommend to my clients.

Preparation: Why the Perfect Packing Starts Before You Open Your Suitcase

The main mistake travelers make is putting everything in their suitcase things , and not images When you simply throw away your favorite skirt, saying, "Maybe I'll find something useful," you've already lost. I always make my clients lay out their future capsule collection on the bed or railing. You need to see the whole picture.

In my practice, there's a golden rule: one item should be used in at least three different combinations. If a stunning top from Zara only goes with one specific pair of trousers, it stays at home. To visualize this process, I recommend digitizing the selected items. MioLook , you can pre-compile looks on your phone and know exactly what to wear with what for dinner on Wednesday night.

Avoid duplicates. You don't need three identical white T-shirts. Choose one heavy cotton (180 g/m² or higher) for the city, one ribbed tank top for the beach, and one statement blouse.

The biggest travel myth: why you can't roll up absolutely everything

Popular videos on social media encourage us to roll all our clothes into tight rolls. Yes, it visually saves space. But let's look at the physics of the process. What happens to the fibers of a fabric when they're twisted and compressed for a 10-12-hour flight?

They become misshapen. One of my clients literally destroyed her luxurious linen suit from Massimo Dutti before an important conference because she decided to save space and rolled the jacket into a roll. The linen fibers broke, and even the hotel steamer couldn't restore the fabric to its original shape.

The basic rule of a stylist is: elastic - twist, structured - lay flat.

What we must twist

Feel free to roll basic knitwear, viscose t-shirts with added elastane (at least 5%), sportswear, pajamas, and soft jeans. To avoid stretching the neckline of t-shirts, fold them in half lengthwise first, tucking the sleeves inward, and only then tightly roll them from the bottom up. This creates a tight, uniform cylinder without stretched edges.

What do we fold in the classic way?

Blazers, classic poplin shirts, pleated trousers, items made of 100% linen, silk, and heavy cotton without elastane. They have a defined cut that shouldn't be broken. A little life hack for shirts: roll a leather belt into a ring and insert it inside the buttoned collar of your shirt. This will prevent the collar from bunching up under the weight of other items.

The Architect Method: How to Properly Pack Your Suitcase Layer by Layer

Treat your suitcase like a building. It should have a solid foundation, a rigid frame, soft filling, and a protective roof. If you mess up this sequence, your belongings will turn into mush the moment you place the suitcase upright.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it's not just the overall weight of your baggage that matters, but also its distribution within it. Your suitcase's center of gravity should always be near the wheels.

Foundation (wheel area) and frame

Shoes go at the very bottom, near the wheelbase. I always put each pair in a separate fabric dust bag (not a plastic bag!) so they don't rub against each other and can be tucked into the corners. Heavy cosmetic bags and hair dryers also go there.

Next we form the framework using the method Bundle (bundle). Take long pants or maxi dresses. Place them at the bottom of the suitcase so that the tops are on the inside and the legs or hems hang loosely over the sides of the suitcase. Place 2-3 items in a crisscross pattern.

Filling and closing layers

Now we'll form the "core." Place the rolled-up T-shirts, underwear, and shorts in the center, on top of the folded tops of the pants. Fill all the tiny spaces between the shoes with them. Once the core is tight and even, return the hanging pant legs and dress hems to the inside of the suitcase, wrapping them around the core.

Last summer, I personally tested the "Bundle" method on 10 consecutive flights with a capsule made of demanding fabrics. The result? Pants that hug your soft center without any sharp creases. You take them out at the hotel and they're wrinkle-free.

How to save delicate fabrics and business suits from creasing

The main cause of wrinkles in clothing is friction between fabrics during transportation. On glossy shoots, when we transport couture dresses to location, we use simple physics to reduce this friction.

Trick #1: Tissue paper. If you're transporting a silk slip or a delicate blouse, place sheets of tissue paper between the folds. The paper absorbs all the friction and prevents hard, unironable marks from forming on the silk.

Trick #2: Dry cleaning bags. This is my favorite, less obvious tip. Thin plastic dry cleaner bags create an air cushion and eliminate friction. Place a complex wardrobe item in one of these bags, fold it in half, and put it in your suitcase. The item will slide around inside the bag without wrinkling.

How to fold a jacket. Use the shoulder-to-shoulder method. Turn one shoulder of the jacket inside out (the sleeve remains inside). Then insert the second, unturned shoulder directly into the first. The jacket will fold in half, lining side out. The outer fabric will not touch any other items.

Luggage technology and gadgets: what really works and what's just hype

The travel accessories industry is full of useless gadgets. Let's figure out what's really worth spending money on.

Vacuum bags: a definite no-no for clothing. Unless you're packing down pillows, forget about vacuuming. By sucking out the air, you create a hard pressure that literally presses creases into the fibers. Vacuum-packed clothes will look chewed. This only works for dirty laundry on the return trip.

Compression packing cubes: a definite yes. Unlike vacuums, they compress items delicately thanks to an additional zipper around the perimeter. Ripstop nylon cubes save up to 30% space and are ideal for sorting capsules: one cube for the beach, one for the evening, one for underwear. You don't have to rummage through your entire suitcase just to find one T-shirt.

Be sure to invest in rigid electronics organizers and leak-proof silicone cosmetic bags. A leaking shampoo bottle in your luggage will ruin your well-designed capsule faster than any creases.

Checklist: Final check before closing your suitcase

Your suitcase is packed. But before you zip it up, check three critical points.

• Are there any voids? A half-empty suitcase guarantees wrinkled items. No matter how perfectly you pack everything, if there's any empty space inside, things will slide down during turbulence and loading. Fill any gaps with craft paper, a spare shopping bag, or even bubble wrap.
• What lies on top? At the very top, under the lid of your suitcase, place what you'll need in the first minutes after arrival: pajamas, a cosmetic bag with liquids (if this is carry-on luggage, you'll be asked to take it out at security), and chargers.
• What are you wearing? You put on your heaviest hoodie, baggy jeans, heavy Chelsea boots, and trench coat. It's always cold on a plane, and these items will take up half the space in your suitcase.

Summary: Optimizing space without losing style

Knowing how to pack properly is as much a skill as knowing how to dress stylishly. Spending 30 minutes mindfully layering and using the right fabric barriers will give you a relaxing vacation without the frantic search for an iron.

Start small: before your next trip, don't just throw things into your suitcase haphazardly. Digitize your vacation capsule, trim off excess, roll up elastic, and protect structural items. You'll be surprised how elegant traveling light can be.