When you hit the road for a business trip, you need to look good at your destination. You’re probably meeting with clients, attending a convention, or at some other occasion where looking your professional best is important. Having traveled from far away isn’t an excuse for looking rumpled, and good packing techniques will ensure that you turn up for the day’s meetings and events looking every bit as good as the locals.

Step-by-step instructions
 

First you need to lay out everything you intend to take, as there’s a right and a wrong way to pack a bag, and everything needs to go into the bag in a certain order.

1. Start with the pants.

Fold the pants on the pressed crease as if you were about to hang them up. Lay the first pair of pants lengthwise on the bottom of the suitcase with the waistband at one side, leaving the legs hanging over the edge. Lay the next pair of pants in the opposite direction with the waistband against the other side of the case. Continue layering pants in this way.

2. Shirts are next. 

The best option is to professionally launder shirts before the trip and have them folded. If that’s not a possibility, button each shirt completely and fold the sleeves back at the shoulder. Lay the shirt face down in your suitcase with the collar at one end, leaving the tail hanging out of the case. Fold the tail into the case. Turn the shirt over. It is now neatly folded, and the crease will be hidden below the waistline.

3. Roll smaller items.

Roll underwear, socks, T-shirts, sweat pants, or any other miscellaneous items into small cylinders. Place them on top of the shirts and anywhere you need to fill up space. Place toiletries in the case as well and make sure you put your toiletries kit into a large sealable plastic bag (like a Ziploc®) to prevent any spills from getting onto your clothing.

4. Begin folding.

Now there is a pile of clothes in the suitcase, with the ends of the pant legs hanging out the sides. Fold the legs up over the pile, keeping the pants as straight as possible. Packing in this manner will reduce wrinkles.

Rule of thumb: Place hard items on the perimeter of the suitcase, soft items in the center. Place shoes (in bags) and belts around the edge of the suitcase to help keep clothes from shifting.

5. Wear your blazer.

If it’s at all possible, wear your blazer. If it absolutely has to go into the bag, here’s how to go about it. Hold the blazer in front of you, placing one hand inside each shoulder. Turn one shoulder inside out. Fold the opposite shoulder inside it so the lining faces out. Then fold the jacket in half and place it on top of the pile of clothes.

When you arrive at your destination, unpack and hang the pants, dress shirts, and suit coats to let the wrinkles fall out. If that doesn’t work, try hanging the clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower, as the steam should help to reduce wrinkles. But with your new packing techniques, badly rumpled clothes should be a thing of the past.