Dresses made from delicate fabrics such as silk, lace, satin, and chiffon can be cumbersome to pack. Simply dumping them in a box could deform their shapes or create creases and wrinkles that could make them look like you’ve been sleeping in them weeks.
To ensure that the delicate clothing is in excellent condition when the recipient pulls it out of the package, here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a dress.
To minimize wrinkles and creases, use tissue paper (the light-weight paper used in wrapping presents) when packing delicate dresses. Lay out a sheet of tissue on a flat surface like a table or bed, place the dress on top, and lay another sheet of tissue on top. Carefully fold the dress in half (lengthwise), then cross-wise before rolling it up but not too tightly. Rolling the dress will minimize the chances of getting stubborn wrinkles.
For hard to roll fabrics, just fold the dress as neatly as possible with tissue paper in between folds. Longer dresses can be folded in thirds lengthwise.
Place the rolled or wrapped dress inside a large Ziploc bag, remove any air from the bag and seal. This will protect the dress from moisture and dirt in case the package gets exposed to the elements during transit. Alternatively, bubble wrap can be used instead of a bag. Just make sure that the wrap is well secured with tape to keep it from unraveling.
Place the dress in a sturdy shipping box that is not too big nor too small. The dress should snugly fit in the box. Fill any remaining empty spaces with additional packing materials such as packing paper to keep the item from moving around during transit.
Close the box and seal with packaging tape. Make sure the bottom flaps of the box are securely taped as well. Address and label the box. Take the package to your local post office or shipping company.