Packing the fancy stuff??

[mbeaulieu]

Okay--here's one I haven't seen and am wondering about--What is the best packing procedure/luggage to use for properly packing formal wear? We have traveled extensively (however, no fancy clothes were required!) but this will be our first cruise and I am wondering how I am going to get a tux, cocktail dresses and all that goes with them on the ship without braking my back or requiring the use of a dingy just to get our things onboard-- (I am a notorius over-packer. I get teased about it extensively, but guess who they come to when something is needed!) I don't want to have to send all of our evening wear to the laundry for a pressing as soon as we board. Does anyone have suggestions? Any tried and true protocol?

PS: it's not just getting from the car to the ship, but we will be taking a two-hour car ride to BWI (outside of DC) then catch a two-hour flight to the port in Florida...

Thanks for any help!

Michele

[Sylvia and Rich]

Michele- Last year we had two formal dinners. I had two long gowns. I packed them in a garment bag and they were on two different flights. The gowns were fine. My boyfriend rented his tux from the ship ahead of time so he didn’t have to worry. I read on the boards that they will press your gowns for eight dollars and have them back to you the same day.

Hope this helps

SYLVIA

[kyriecat]

I haven't tried this yet, but I read that if you take men's dress shirts to the cleaners and have them washed and lightly starched, they don't wrinkle after being packed. I'm going to try that before my October cruise and see what happens. My husband is bringing a suit for formal nights instead of a tux, although renting a tux would probably be easier. I also bought a travel steamer and Downy wrinkle releaser for touch-ups.

 

I'm bringing a long, flowing dress that is supposed to look a little wrinkled (type of fabric) and a black dress that is a spandex-type velvet look material. It travels really well - the wrinkles just fall out after it's hung. Hopefully I won't need to worry about them getting too wrinkled.

[moofus]

Hubby rents a tux,,, way too easy, my formal wear is that chiffony or rayon stuff, can be folded or hung.

 

This is a great ideas: My DH travels alot on business, so we take DHs shirts to a cleaner that washes, starches, presses, and then folds them with the cardboard thing in the shirt, and puts it in a plastic bag... just like you can buy them in the stores,,, they pack really well

[Happy ks]

Separate from your regular suitcase. Hang your dresses and cover each with a dry cleaner bag, or two. If you have a long gown, hang it, cover it with a bag, then hang the lower portion over another hanger, (the kind you get your pants hung on, with the sticky bar) then put another plastic bag over that portion also. I did this with my daughters gown on our last cruise, it worked great. I will have to say, I got this tip over on the fashion board, unfortunately I don't remember whom to thank.

[JMG]

plastic cleaner bags work very well! For full skirts, I lay them flat in my suitcase - spread out over the edges. place the cleaner bag on top of that, then slacks go in - with the pant legs hanging over the sides of the suitcase. Then I pack the underwear in the 2 galloon ziplock bags. Next go the shirts and tops. Then I start folding the pants legs in and then the sides of my skirt and finally, then the top(if it is long dress) and then the bottom of the skirt. I place the cleaner bags between some of the layers. Things come out with few wrinkles. I then use the steam from the shower to help release wrinkles and then I go. If someone has a problem with some wrinkles - well - I will probably never see that person again after the cruise so - too bad!

Hubby takes his shirt to the cleaners and has then fold it and package it. It is then packed. Wearing the suit jacket, a very small portion of the shirt actually shows so the folds in the shirt are not a problem.

Of course, another option is to just send the things to the laundry on board ship and have them pressed. Also, when purchasing clothes - consider how well they will pack.

The purpose of the cruises for all of us is to relax, destress and have fun. So, I would not get all bent out of shape over some wrinkles.

[jrm9999]

A lot of newer suitcases are "suiters" where the lid is designed for you to pack formal wear. I pack my suit that way and my wife her dresses. We don't pack them in the suitcase until right before we leave and we hang them up right away when we get there and they hold up fairly well and I much prefer having them in a rolling suitcase than a garment bag

 

As for dress shirts, we always fold them. Eagle creek makes an awesome case called "Pack-It Folders" for folding and storing dress shirts neatly. Here is a link to it:

 

http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions.html

[madelinerose]

Go the cruise fashions thread for hundreds of replies to this question. ;)

[mbeaulieu]

A lot of newer suitcases are "suiters" where the lid is designed for you to pack formal wear. I pack my suit that way and my wife her dresses. We don't pack them in the suitcase until right before we leave and we hang them up right away when we get there and they hold up fairly well and I much prefer having them in a rolling suitcase than a garment bag

 

As for dress shirts, we always fold them. Eagle creek makes an awesome case called "Pack-It Folders" for folding and storing dress shirts neatly. Here is a link to it:

 

http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions.html

 

Thanks for the link--I will definately look into that!

 

Michele

[mbeaulieu]

Go the cruise fashions thread for hundreds of replies to this question. ;)

 

Didn't realize there was a "curise fashions thread" THANKS!

Michele

[mbeaulieu]

Michele- Last year we had two formal dinners. I had two long gowns. I packed them in a garment bag and they were on two different flights. The gowns were fine. My boyfriend rented his tux from the ship ahead of time so he didn’t have to worry. I read on the boards that they will press your gowns for eight dollars and have them back to you the same day.

Hope this helps

SYLVIA

 

Was really considering buy DH a nice tux--but by the sounds of it here--Renting is the way to go.

Thanks!

Michele

[mbeaulieu]

Hubby rents a tux,,, way too easy, my formal wear is that chiffony or rayon stuff, can be folded or hung.

 

This is a great ideas: My DH travels alot on business, so we take DHs shirts to a cleaner that washes, starches, presses, and then folds them with the cardboard thing in the shirt, and puts it in a plastic bag... just like you can buy them in the stores,,, they pack really well

 

sounds great! Thanks!

Michele

[Folgy]

One last tip.

 

My DW always brings a tiny steamer to take out wrinkles. (she hates wrinkles)

[mbeaulieu]

Thanks to all who were kind enough to reply to my question. All the suggestions are wonderful and I appreciate the ingenuity! I will try out the fashion thread as suggested, and also look into the link posted for the special lugguge.

You guys are great!

[smoothdancer]

Maybe I can offer a few tips here.....

 

Husband And I compete in ballroom dancing and we have lugged gowns and tuxes through many a airports!!!

 

Here is what we do.... We use a garmet bag for our formals...Do not be tempted to put anything into the garmet bag except the formals... overpacking, or jamming one extra short outfit in the bag will cause the formals to wrinkle. Devote the bag only to your formals.....

 

Next, Each dress or tux ..place in plastic, from the cleaners..do not double up, one dress in each plastic, same for each mans shirt...ect.... If you have a local cleaners, they will give you extra bags for no charge if you ask. In a garmet bag, you can take a full length ballgown, and fold only once... Take care to fold only once.

 

Pack the formals the night before the flight...no sooner

 

As soon as you arrive, empty the suitcase and hang. Whatever wrinkles happened during flight, will fall out overnight. If by chance wrinkles are still there, just hang the dress or shirt somewhere in the bathroom prior to a shower, (long shower!!!)and the steam will take care of any creases.....

 

Just trust me on this one guys.... We travel with our formals about every other month, and these tricks have never failed us yet!!!

 

Happy formal night