As a general rule, you can hang crease-prone woven clothing and keep knitwear folded. Always check the care advice for delicate pieces. Soft fabrics such as a satin look and viscose go on a wide or padded hanger, so no marks are left behind. The shape and width of the hanger can also make a difference. Below you can read what works per garment, and how to organise your wardrobe smartly.
Why it matters
The way you store clothes has a big influence on shape and creases. Heavy knitwear can stretch at the shoulders on a thin hanger. A blouse can crease faster in a tight stack. With the right method, clothes stay neat more easily.
What should hang?
- Blouses and shirts. Woven fabrics crease when folded. On a hanger they stay smooth and ready to wear. A fitted blouse with darts in white goes on a wooden or velvet hanger, with the top button closed so the collar keeps its shape.
- Trousers. Hang them upside down by the hem with a clip hanger, or over the bar of a hanger along the crease. This keeps a tapered pleated trouser in white neatly stored.
- Skirts and dresses. Hang skirts on a clip hanger, and dresses on a wide hanger that supports the shoulders.
- Pieces with a special shape. A cape T-shirt in black goes on a padded hanger, so the cape can fall freely and does not get squashed between other clothes.
What should lie flat?
- Knitwear. Sweaters, knitted polos and cardigans stretch on a hanger, especially at the shoulders. Fold them and lay them flat. An open-knit wool and cashmere polo in beige has an open knit that is extra prone to stretching.
- Fine-knit polos. Lighter knitwear too, such as a knitted piqué polo with stripe detail in cream, sits better in a drawer or on a shelf than on a hanger.
- T-shirts and basics. These hardly crease and take up less space folded.
- Jeans. Either works, but folded on a shelf saves space and jeans barely crease.
Overview per garment
| Garment | Hang or fold | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Blouse, shirt | Hang | Wooden or velvet hanger, top button closed |
| Trousers | Hang | Clip hanger at the hem or over the bar along the crease |
| Skirt | Hang | Clip hanger at the waistband |
| Wool or cashmere sweater | Fold | Lay flat, do not stack too high |
| Knitted polo | Fold | In a drawer or on a shelf |
| Satin look, viscose | Hang | Padded hanger, prevents marks |
| Jeans, T-shirts | Fold | Saves space |
The right hanger
- Wooden hangers with wide shoulders are ideal for shirts and blouses. They support the shoulders and keep the shape.
- Velvet hangers are thin and stop smooth fabrics such as a satin look from slipping off. They also save space.
- Clip hangers are for trousers and skirts. Choose clips with a soft lining to prevent marks.
- Wire hangers from the dry cleaner are best replaced as soon as possible. They are too thin, leave marks and can rust.
How to fold knitwear without fold lines
- Lay the sweater face down on a flat surface.
- Fold both sleeves towards the centre, so they lie across the back.
- Fold the bottom up to just below the shoulders, or fold in thirds if the sweater is long.
- Turn it over and lay it flat in the wardrobe.
Do not stack heavy knitwear too high, so the pieces at the bottom are not pressed flat unnecessarily. Put heavy sweaters at the bottom and light ones on top.
Organising your wardrobe
- Hang by type and colour. Blouses with blouses, trousers with trousers, and within each group from light to dark. This helps you find what you need faster.
- Leave space. An overfull rail causes creases. Clothes should be able to hang without pressing against each other.
- Keep knitwear at eye level. Pieces you wear often belong within easy reach.
- Store seasonal clothing separately. What you are not wearing this season goes in a box or cover, so your wardrobe stays clear.
How often should you tidy your wardrobe?
A wardrobe stays organised if you keep it up regularly. At each change of season, take an hour to go through everything. Hang clothes you no longer wear separately, check knitwear for pilling or moth damage and replace worn hangers. Clothes you do not wear for a season can be stored separately so the wardrobe stays clear. That leaves room for the clothes you actually wear.
What if you have little hanging space?
In a small wardrobe you have to choose. Give hanging space to the pieces that crease the most: blouses, shirts and trousers. Knitwear, T-shirts and jeans can go in drawers or storage boxes. Thin velvet hangers take up noticeably less space than thick wooden hangers, and a second rail below the first doubles your space for short pieces.
Protect wool and cashmere
Wool and cashmere knitwear is prone to moths, especially if you leave it for a long time. Store it clean only, because moths are attracted to skin residue and food stains. Check wool and cashmere regularly and store it clean and dry. Remedies such as cedar or lavender are no substitute for good storage and checking. You will find more care tips on our page about cashmere.
Satin look and viscose
Soft fabrics such as viscose and a satin look can develop sharp lines when folded. So hang them on a padded hanger. Read more about the properties of viscose and see the washing instructions for the right care per material.
Shop the look
Delphine: fitted blouse, white
Harrison: tapered pleated trousers, white
Isadora: cape T-shirt, black
Augusta: open-knit wool and cashmere polo, beige
Alistair: knitted piqué polo, cream
Frequently asked questions
Should you hang or fold sweaters?
Usually fold. Heavier knitwear in particular can stretch at the shoulders on a hanger. Lay sweaters and knitted polos flat in a drawer or on a shelf.
How do you hang trousers without creases?
Use a clip hanger and hang the trousers upside down by the hem, or lay them over the bar of a hanger along the crease. This keeps the pleats looking good.
Which hangers are best for blouses?
Wooden hangers with wide shoulders or thin velvet hangers. Velvet stops smooth fabrics such as a satin look from slipping off.
