Preventing creases in cotton?

[Aparecium]

I wore a lovely cotton shirt today, which I very rarely wear because it ceases so much. I had ironed it, then hung it up in the wardrobe. Looked smart and tidy when I left the house, but by the time I got to work my shirt had lost the tidy appearance. By tea-break the shirt looked like it had never been ironed in the first place.

Is there some way of treating the shirt to keep it looking crisp and smart for longer? I wondered about trying starch, but will that just 'iron in' new creases from sitting down, or from the seat belt?

Partly it depends on the type and weight of cotton fabric. Sea island cotton, or any type of twill, or weighty material will crease less than thin cotton poplin. (Inevitably most High St / mainstream cotton shirts or dresses are made of thin poplin now - it’s an awful fabric.)

I wear cotton shirts often and only the sleeves become creased if I roll them up. It helps if you’re wearing something under the shirt - at this time of year I’m stocking up on thermal vests but any layering works.

There’s no harm in experimenting with starch to see if it provides a solution for you. After a long period of forgetting its existence I’ve recently started using it again and find it makes ironing easier - but I haven’t really noticed a difference in creasing.

As for seatbelts - they are a nuisance to clothes. You could try keeping a loose gilet in the car, just for your journey. That might work.