How to Fold Plus Size Clothes for Travel or Packing when Plus Size

How to Fold Plus Size Clothes for Travel or Packing when Plus Size

It’s the time of year when we’re all jetting off somewhere. You might be attending a family reunion or going on a once-in-a-life vacation. Wherever you’re heading, packing for your trip can be daunting – especially when you’re plus-sized.

We live in an era of ‘capsule closets’ and ‘carry on only’ travel. You might be skipping a checked-in suitcase to save money or to make your travels easier. Maybe you’re trying to squeeze two weeks worthy of clothing into a suitcase with space for souvenirs on the trip back. – and at some point we’ll make a video so you can see how I pack.

Packing plus-size clothes require a little extra attention. Your clothes will naturally take up more of your suitcase. It means you can often find yourself trying to play Jenga with your clothes. That’s why your folding method matters.

At Sante Grace, we want you to walk into your next vacation feeling beautiful and full of body confidence. We think that planning for your holiday is just as much fun as sipping cocktails by the beach.

Our guide on how to fold plus-size clothes for travel will help you maximize every inch of space in your suitcase. We’ll make sure you have plenty of space for all those splurge purchases and last-minute souvenirs.

Grab your suitcase. Get your favorite Sante Grace pieces. Let’s pack for your travels.

How to Fold Plus-Size Clothing

Every body type is unique and beautiful. While there are popular folding methods, there’s no true one-size-fits-all method. Every garment and size will require a slightly different folding method. Everyone has their own way of wanting to fold their clothes. Some methods work better than others.

The most popular folding method is the ‘KonMari’ method. If you’re a Netflix fan, you’ve probably come across Marie Kondo on your recommendations page. She’s famous for her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’. Her TV series and books cover different tidying methods, including how to fold clothes.

The popularity of Marie Kondo – and the KonMari method – has left people asking if it works for plus-size clothing. Yes (with a few amendments!).

We’re breaking it down step-by-step as to how to apply the KonMari method to folding plus-size clothes for travel.

1. Smooth your items on a flat surface

The golden rule to packing clothes is to always work with a flat surface. You want to keep your clothes as smooth as possible to make it easier to fold them compactly. Start by laying your clothes down flat and smoothing the fabric.

Smoothing your clothes will make them easier to fold and get rid of any wrinkles. Doing this step means you can usually skip bringing a steamer or having to iron your clothes when you arrive. It also helps to get rid of any excess air in your garment that could make it bulkier than it is.

2. Avoid overlapping when folding

Plus-size clothes are wider than smaller sizes. You’re more likely to end up overlapping the fabric of your garment as a result. Overlapping when folding will make your clothes more voluminous and bulkier.

Choose a folding method for plus-size clothing that involves as little overlapping as possible. Keep your clothes compact by creating as few folds as possible. Larger garments, such as sweaters woolen dresses, should only be folded once lengthwise.

3. Is It Better to Fold or Roll Your Clothes?

One of the biggest questions around packing is whether it’s better to fold or roll your clothes. It’s easy to assume that rolling doesn’t work for plus-size clothing.

While this may be true, rolling will work for lightweight garments. You can roll casual clothing, such as a tie-dye sweat suit. The rolling method is also useful for clothes that you want to avoid wrinkling.

Rolling won’t work for all plus-size clothing. Natural fibers, such as cotton and linen, should be folded. You can still avoid wrinkles when folding your plus-size clothing by using packing cubes.

Give your dressier clothing a little extra TLC with a garment bag. Alternatively, you can fold your more formal clothing on top of your other clothes.

4. Stack into your suitcase

You want to think of packing as stacking. Work with a firm hand to get your plus-size clothes as compact as possible. Stacking your clothes will allow you to give the garments a little room to breathe while being able to see the contents of your suitcase.

Stack your clothes in your suitcase left to right. You can think of your suitcase as being like a drawer. If you want to be extra organized, stack your clothing into a packing cube.

You’ll typically be able to stack three garments comfortably on top of each other without overfolding.

Instead of stacking your clothes on top of each other, you can also stack them left to right. This method is ideal for larger suitcases or when you’re packing fewer clothes. Stacking clothes with a filing method going from left to right allows you to easily see what you’ve packed.

5. Think About Wearability

The fabric of your garment will usually determine how you pack it. Plus-size garments are naturally larger, especially in thicker fabrics. Synthetic fabrics and lightweight natural fibers are the easiest to fold and will be more compact.

Avoid packing your jacket or any heavier clothes that you might be able to wear while traveling. Focus your packing list on garments that are easy to layer and multi-functional like our leopard kimono  which will be compact to pack and will take you from tanning by the beach to post-dinner cocktails.

6. Don’t Overlook Your Suitcase

The weight of your suitcase matters just as much as the clothes you pack in it. Plus-size clothes have more fabric and are therefore heavier.

Your folding technique may help you squeeze in more clothing, but it only works if you can keep it under your weight limit. Invest in a lightweight soft-shell suitcase that will give you extra wiggle room. While your folding method matters, your suitcase is the unsung hero of every trip.

Don’t stress about packing plus-size clothing. While it can take a little trial and error, you’ll be able to fit all your favorite Sante Grace pieces into your suitcase.

Addendum:

I’ve revised my technique.

1. I think about how many days/nights I’m away? What are my “special occasions” for this trip and pack everything I need for the special occasion. Fragrance. Jewelry. Mask? Hair ornaments? Makeup.
2. Away for seven days and six nights – I think of a color scheme. For me it’s usually black on black with a splash of color. Maybe turquoise.
3. Now I build a collection.

4. And feel free to use packing cubes. I love them and have used them with great success for trips with multiple locations or longer than a week.
5. Don’t forget to include lifestyle things like, lotions, laptop, phone cords…

Where are you traveling next? More importantly, what are you bringing along? Let us know in the comments below.