Thanks to OBOW and FlyerTalk uber-poster Till for this useful tip:
“Suit-Able” – The Three-Step Suit Jacket Folding Technique
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CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGEI cannot take credit for inventing this very simple technique. I read about it in a German Men’s Health magazine about ten years ago and have used it with great success ever since. The benefits of this technique are that it needs no bundle, no envelope or garment bag or any other extra gadget. It can be used for packing suits in an ordinary suitcase or in a one-bag shoulder bag. A jacket thusly folded might be just a bit too big for the footprint of the one-bag carryon. But, no fear! You simply put it as the last piece on top of what you have already packed in a compartment and soften out the edges, wrapping them a little over the pile of clothes beneath it. It will stay smooth because the jacket’s lining is slippery and will not allow the other contents to catch on and wrinkle the jacket. Just give it some space, preferable its own compartment. You can also wrap the pants around this bundle core. Or you could even wrap a tie around the jacket first and then the pants. Cuff links are best stored in the interior pocket of the jacket where they will always be close at hand.
Step 1: Lay the jacket on a flat clean surface. Lining down. Jacket wide open. Collar and lapel turned up (this is important). Buttons on sleeves are pointing upwards. You should get the triangular shape seen in the photo. It works best with jackets that do have a back vent or two but others are fine, too. Make sure you smooth out the fabric under the shoulder and in the triangle between shoulders and collar. The smoothing out will take 10-20 seconds.
Step 2: Fold one side over towards the center. You will feel a natural resistance created by the shoulder pad that will tell you how far to fold. Then fold over the other side. It does not matter which side you start with. The jacket will now look as in picture Step 2b.
Step 3: Fold the jacket from the bottom up towards the collar. Again you will feel the natural crease line. This line is about where the elbows of the sleeves are. This will result in a bit of the collar standing over as you can see in the picture.
Voila, you just folded a jacket very neatly and it will travel rather well like this. The usual methods of unpacking the jacket first, airing it out, steaming in the bathroom or with an iron (without touching the cloth) still apply. Enjoy!