Now that most professionals are going into the office regularly and travelling more for work, clothing that is wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant can seem pretty appealing, especially for those of us who dread ironing or steaming our dress shirts and suiting at home. Or for those who want to save – as Canadians spend about a billion dollars a year on dry cleaning each year, according to the market research firm IBISWorld.
But the added convenience of wrinkle-resistant clothing is “not free,” says Juan P. Hinestroza, a professor of fibre science and apparel design at Cornell University. To improve a fabric’s wrinkle resistance, manufacturers may apply chemicals that typically release formaldehyde. While these compounds are generally safe for the wearer, some may find them skin-irritating, and the added chemicals could add weight to the fabric or change its colour. Further, says Hinestroza, “many of these compounds are good for a limited amount of time” and the effect may fade after many washings. “So, nothing is forever and there is no perfect solution.”
Still, for work or for travel, it can be convenient to skip the dry cleaning or ironing and not have to worry about wrinkled clothes – and remember, there are chemicals involved in dry cleaning, too.
If you decide to add some “no-iron” or wrinkle-resistant garments to your wardrobe, Hinestroza suggests carefully following the instructions on the care label so that they will last longer and retain their wrinkle-resistance properties. For most fabrics, he suggests using a mild detergent, and either washing them on cold or handwashing the garments.
In the men’s section
Ideal for travel and active days, this packable blazer features a wrinkle-resistant, water-repellent stretch fabric made with a polyester-and-elastane blend. There are matching trousers, too, if you’re looking for a machine-washable suit.
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Boss slim-fit jacket, $645 through hugoboss.com.
Available in eight colours and up to four different inseam lengths, these wrinkle-resistant dress pants are made with a cotton-and-elastane fabric. The Italian stretch material is also breathable and machine-washable.
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Banana Republic wrinkle-resistant dress pant, $200 through bananarepublic.gapcanada.ca.
The textured, cotton-and-elastane dobby fabric of this classic dress shirt has been treated for wrinkle resistance. With this finish, it’s machine washable and can be tumble-dried at a low temperature, but cannot be dry cleaned.
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RW & Co. slim-fit Dobby dress shirt, $100 through rw-co.com.
In the women’s section
The product description for these pleated, 100-per-cent polyester trousers boasts that the Japanese crepe fabric “basically never wrinkles.” It’s available in short, regular and tall lengths and more than a dozen colours including this limited-edition hue, Smoky Sage.
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Aritzia The Effortless Pant Wider, $148 through aritzia.com.
Available in both standard and Women+ sizing, this button-up is made with a wrinkle-resistant, cotton, nylon and spandex blend fabric that’s also lightweight. There’s also an underarm gusset for more comfortable movement.
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Joe Fresh On-the-Go poplin shirt, $49 through joefresh.com.
This office-ready, cotton-and-elastane dress shirt is made with a specially treated fabric, so you won’t have to worry about wrinkles or dry cleaning. Available in sizes 1X to 3X.
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Ralph Lauren no-iron stretch cotton shirt, $115 through ralphlauren.ca.