How to Fold a Dress

Co-authored by Caitlin Jaymes

Last Updated: October 14, 2022 References

Whether you are packing for a trip or trying to save closet space, folding a dress can be tricky! You want to avoid wrinkles and definitely don’t want to have to re-iron a dress every time you want to wear it. By starting with a clean, ironed dress, you can learn how to fold or roll your garment to reduce wrinkles and save space!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Folding the Dress

1
Fold the sleeves inward first if the dress has any. You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body of the dress. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. ^{[1]
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- If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section.
2
Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Align the skirt’s side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. ^{[2]
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- Try folding the dress on a flat, hard surface, like a table. This will help you fold more neatly.
- It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight.
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3
Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you’ll fold the excess material again, in the opposite direction. ^{[3]
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4
Fold the dress in half or thirds. Start by folding the bottom of the dress toward the top of the dress. This will give you a good idea of how many times you will need to fold the dress to make it the right size. ^{[4]
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- When the dress is completely folded, it should be a neat square or rectangle.
- For a short dress, one fold in half will work, but for a knee-length or calf-length dress, you may need to fold the dress in thirds to make it the right size for storage.
- If the dress is exceptionally long, like a floor-length sundress, you may want to fold the dress into even smaller sections.
5
Fold dresses in a dry-cleaning bag or unscented grocery bag for travel. This trick works really well to protect the dress from getting ruffled by other clothes in your suitcase. You will put the dress into the bag before starting any of the folding steps. Align the top of the dress with the top of the bag and fold as instructed above. ^{[5]
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- If the dress is longer than the bag, fold the excess skirt material up into the bag and proceed to fold as normal.
- Don’t flatten out the bag and push out all the excess air. A little air buffer can help protect the dress and keep it fresh when you travel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Rolling Method

1
Fold in the arms of your dress, if there are any. You want the sleeves to cross the chest and lay flat against the body. Start with the right sleeve and fold it inward keeping the fold even with the arm seam. Do the same with the left sleeve. ^{[6]
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- If the sleeves go past the waistline of the dress, fold the crossed sleeves upward so they fit in the top half section.
2
Fold the dress in half lengthwise. Align the skirt’s side seams so they are even. Give the dress a quick shake to smooth out any ruffles and use your hands to smooth out the fabric of the skirt. ^{[7]
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- Try putting the dress on a table. The hard surface will make folding and rolling easier!
- It is okay if the skirt of the dress is taking up a lot of space even after being folded in half. The important part is getting the seams lined up evenly so you have a side of the dress that is straight.
3
Fold the excess skirt material toward the straight line of fabric. The goal is to make the shape of your dress a neat rectangle. If there is too much material (i.e. the skirt fabric now extends past the straight fold you made lengthwise) you’ll fold the excess material again, up in the opposite direction. ^{[8]
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4
Roll from the bottom of the dress up toward the top. This is a great way to pack a dress in a suitcase. It saves space and should keep your dress from getting wrinkly. ^{[9]
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- This option should be used mainly for cotton dresses. Dresses made of other materials like silk, satin, or certain blends should be folded rather than rolled. ^{[10]
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5
Pack or store the dress with the seam of the roll face down. This will prevent it from coming unrolled or loose while it is in storage or in your suitcase.
6
Avoid cramming too many dresses into one storage space. This will help keep the material from getting wrinkled, which will make the dress easier to wear as soon as you unroll it! ^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Putting the Garment Away

1
Use drawers or shelves to hold dresses you plan to wear soon. Don’t stack dresses more than 3 thick. The weight from too many garments will cause wrinkles. Letting them have room rather than packing them tight will keep them wrinkle-free! ^{[12]
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2
Pack your dress in a suitcase if you are packing for a trip. Remember to pack the dress last, so it is on top of the other items in your bag. This will help keep it from getting smashed and wrinkled. ^{[13]
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3
Put the dress in storage if you don’t plan on wearing it for a while. If you are trying to save space, moving those summer dresses into storage when winter comes around is a great way to free up some room! Invest in a storage tote and pack dresses (either folded or rolled), keeping in mind to not overstuff the tote. ^{[14]
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- Put a sachet of potpourri in with your clothes. This will help keep them smelling fresh until you take them back out of storage. ^{[15]
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