Go from the airport straight to the board room
Expert-Approved Savvy Packing Essentials
- Timeless Travel Staple: Zeagoo Button-Up Shirt, $14 (orig. $22)
- Layer with Blazers: Lotusmile Chiffon Blouse, $24
- Breezy Airport Blouse: Egretlac V-Neck Blouse, $20 (orig. $28)
- Stretchy Fabric: Lee Wrinkle-Free Bootcut Pants, $24 with coupon (orig. $35)
- Hidden $20 Find: Ewedoos Stretch Pants, $20 (orig. $40)
- Holds 9 Day’s-Worth of Clothes: SwissGear Premium Rolling Garment Bag, $235
- Separated Shoe Pockets: Halfday 2-in-1 Garment Duffel Bag, $128
My dad is an experienced business traveler — and after 40-plus years of taking international flights, he’s mastered the art of packing dress shirts so they remain wrinkle-free on every leg of his journey.
Because there’s no time for ironing during his trips, he relies on smart folding tricks and steaming hacks to release sneaky creases within minutes. That said, my dad insists that the real game-changer for traveling with perpetually-crisp clothing is one clever suitcase: a garment bag.
Below, discover more of his pro tips for wrinkle-free packing — along with snappy dress shirts, crisp pants, and garment bags you’ll be glad you brought on your trip.
Related: Amazon’s October Prime Day Is Almost Here! Here’s Exactly When It Starts, Plus Early Deals to Shop from $1
Tip #1: These Materials Pack Well
Though my dad hangs his cotton dress shirts inside his garment bag, he also packs wrinkle-resistant styles made with blended or stretchy fabrics because they’re “less prone to wrinkling, especially in warm climates.” If your shirts do get wrinkled, he recommends hanging them in the hotel bathroom while a hot shower is running, as the steam instantly removes creases.
Zeagoo Button-Up Shirt
$22 $14 at Amazon
Shop More Wrinkle-Resistant Shirts
- Classic Shirttail Hemline: Siliteelon Wrinkle-Free Dress Shirt, $27
- Breathable Built-In Camisole: Rumia Eyelet Lace Blouse, $24
- Whimsical Ruffle Details: Lotusmile Chiffon Blouse, $24
- Elegant Princess Sleeves: Egretlac V-Neck Blouse, $20 (orig. $28)
- Business Casual Office Staple: Rapbin V-Neck Polo Shirt, $25
Tip #2: How to Prevent Wrinkled Pants
There’s one step my dad never skips during packing: He always smooths his dress pants along their seams and pleats to minimize creases. Then, he either hangs them inside his garment bag, or he folds them to pack inside his outer luggage pockets. He also appreciates wrinkle-resistant slacks as reliable travel staples, as they release lingering creases once he hangs them in his hotel closet.
Related: My Mom Worked 30+ Years for an Airline — These Are the 13 Fall Styles She Says Pull Double Duty in a Carry-On
Lee Wrinkle-Free Bootcut Pants, $24 with coupon
$35 $24 at Amazon
Shop More Wrinkle-Resistant Dress Pants
- Surprisingly Spacious Pockets: Ewedoos Stretch Pants, $20 (orig. $40)
- Sleek Silhouette: Kiczoy Straight-Leg Pants, $30 (orig. $42)
- Designer Vibes: Prettygarden Wide-Leg Pleated Pants, $32 (orig. $41)
- Non-See-Through: Willit Bootcut Dress Pants, $32 (orig. $34)
- Cascading Fabric: Tronjori Palazzo Pants, $36
Tip #3: Invest in a Garment Bag
My dad swapped his suitcase for a garment bag decades ago, and I can see why. Their built-in racks allow you to hang shirts and pants — then they gently fold in half to prevent sharp creases and wrinkles. Even better? “They have pockets for everything,” he emphasizes, noting his bag has separate compartments for his toiletries, shoes, and other travel essentials.
While you can pack several day’s worth of clothing inside a garment bag, my dad says the trick to crease-free packing is to not overstuff it. Instead, giving shirts and pants a little room to breathe prevents wrinkles from settling in during transit — and, most importantly, “it saves your collars from getting crushed, because nothing’s worse than that.”
Related: Stop Overstuffing Your Suitcase! A Travel Expert’s 9-Piece Packing Hack Creates 27 Outfits — Try It from $20
SwissGear Premium Rolling Garment Bag
$235 at Amazon
Shop More Garment Bags
- Wet/Dry Pocket: Noozion Garment Bag, $61
- Lightweight Yet Durable: Samsonite Ascella 3.0 Garment Bag, $203
- Trolley Sleeve: Halfday 2-in-1 Garment Duffel Bag, $128
- Water-Resistant Coating: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Garment Bag, $176 with coupon (orig. $195)
- 3,500+ Five-Star Ratings: Travel Select Amsterdam Garment Bag, $99
Keep scrolling to shop wrinkle-free travel essentials that let you leave the iron at home.
Siliteelon Wrinkle-Free Dress Shirt
$27 at Amazon
Willit Bootcut Dress Pants
$34 $32 at Amazon
Egretlac V-Neck Blouse
$28 $20 at Amazon
Tronjori Palazzo Pants
$36 at Amazon
Lotusmile Chiffon Blouse
$24 at Amazon
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