How to Fold Pants
A key indication of professionalism and panache in one’s appearance is absence of pant wrinkles. Ironing directly before one wears pants will ensure the necessity. To prevent deep wrinkles, however, and to treat a formal pair of slacks or jeans with the delicacy and respect that it deserves, folding properly is vital.
First, lay the pants out on a flat, clean surface. Make sure the zipper (or button) is facing directly upward and both leg flaps are straight and neat. Before beginning the folding process, make sure the zipper is closed and any other button or attachment is closed. Then, grip the side of the right leg flap at the bottom and top of the pant; pull the right flap gently over the left flap and set it down. At this point, it should appear as if the there is only one leg flap (if observing from a side angle).
Then, grip the bottom of the pant and gently lift to its halfway point. Lay it down gently. Perform the same motion from the top of the pant, until the end result is a perfect square. This is the standard method that applies to jeans and semi-formal wear. For formal wear, such as suit pants, a slightly different method may be utilized.
Because most suit pants have creases that run down the very front of each pant leg, these creases need to be preserved as neatly as possible. First, lay one leg flap on a flat surface. Then, pull the pant up by its crease and rotate the pant 90 degrees, until the crease is at the top and the pant leg is laid flat. Perform the same motion for the other leg flap, and lay it perfectly over the first. Then, according to one’s preference, fold either one time for a rectangular shaped fold or two times for a square shaped fold.
