5 Tips To Keep Clothes Fresh While Traveling

THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH ON VACATION IS WRINKLED, MUSTY CLOTHES. THE COVETEUR SHARES WAYS TO KEEP YOUR WARDROBE FRESH DURING ANY TYPE OF TRAVEL.

If there are two things we’re known for, it’s an eye for really good (if sometimes outrageous) fashion, and traveling the world in pursuit of it. While we’ve learned the finer points of efficient security clearance, in-transit gourmet (or close to it) options, and hotel room beauty tricks, our constant airport-airplane-hotel-repeat routine has also yielded a certain knowledge about how to arrive at any destination looking fresh. By "fresh," we mean the ability to pull our Proenza Schouler frock and Saint Laurent stilettos out of our suitcase wrinkle- and scuff-free, as though they’ve been sitting in our closet the whole time and not squished in our carry-on next to a neck pillow. Here, a few tricks of the traveling-with-sartorially-valuable-baggage trade. 

Dust Bags
Always pack your shoes in dust bags—most high-quality pairs will come with their own bags, but we order these cheeky Flight 001 bags for those that don't. There’s nothing sadder than getting a crisp white shirt dirty before you’ve even worn it, right? Even if you’re packing a brand new pair of shoes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We also like to think of the sacks as protective bundles for our babies—‘cause it’s really all about the footwear when it comes down to crafting a meeting-to-date outfit on the fly.

Steamer
We here at The Coveteur hold a strong belief that steamers are the stuff of life as far as your closet is concerned. Seriously, a hand-held steamer can save your silk Equipment shirt from looking like it was ever folded into your suitcase to begin with. Our favorites are by Rowenta—they even have travel-size options available. Consider it your best (and most necessary) travel companion.

The Stylist’s Kit
Shoots spent clipping, pinning, and pasting on models have taught us a thing or two about the little tricks that can make the difference between a perfectly fitting frock and a wardrobe malfunction. We suggest filling a makeup bag with all those rarely-needed-until-you-really-need-them items: double-sided tape, a mini lint roller, a small sewing kit, and safety pins. 

Roll, Don't Fold
Instead of folding your clothes, roll cotton and jersey items that would otherwise compulsively crease. (Please note: This does not cancel out the dire need for a steamer.) Another majorly positive result of the rolling method? If you tend to bring a bit too much (we’ll totally admit to overpacking), rolling instead of folding your shirts, pants, and skirts is a major space saver. Be warned, however, that the extra space might just lead to heavy baggage fees.

The Ultimate Silk Savior
If you’re anything like us, then a good portion of your wardrobe is made up of next-to-impossible-to pack silk. In what is perhaps the most sartorially savvy use for a garbage bag ever, we’ve discovered that folding silks on the top of your suitcase, with the aforementioned garbage bag laid over them, helps hugely to prevent wrinkling. You’ll be thankful when you have just five minutes to prep in your hotel room before your first meeting. 

Citing: cntraveler.com