Go Anywhere EFFICIENTLY With These 5 Packing Tips
It’s no secret I travel a lot. Whether it’s for work or for play, I like to think that I have my packing routine figured out. It may seem excessive, I realize that. But when you travel as much as I do, this process allows me to feel confident in the items I brought. You’ll notice that the majority of these steps happen before putting anything in my bag. From one week vacations with oversized luggage to two weeks in a carry on in Europe, here are my five no-fail tips that prepare me every time to take off successfully.
1: Start early (If You can)
This may sound silly, but I always like to visualize my outfits for a trip… I like to think about where I’ll be going, what I’ll be doing in outfits that I’d like to wear and how I want to feel. I usually start doing this a week or two prior to leaving and start getting an idea of the looks / vibe that I want to achieve while I’m gone. You could always start a note in your phone of ideas/ looks that you want to bring if you prefer to write things down.
2: Lay it out
Once I have my ideas in my head, I start to pull things out from my closet and hang them on my closet door to begin the packing process. You could also lay things out on your bed or hang them on a rolling rack if you have the space but this allows you to see all of the options that you are considering and consider your color palette. I wear size 11 shoes so it’s very important for me not to take too many pairs of shoes since they take up so much room.
3: Edit down
I’ll admit it, I am a chronic over packer but when I have to simply, I can. When I have my clothes hanging up for a few days, I’m constantly walking by them and thinking about whether or not they’re practical choices for my trip. I’ve found it’s really helpful to stick with a cohesive color palette that way you can mix + match things to re-wear. For example, if I wear a pink sweater- I’ll make sure I have at least two bottoms that coordinate well with it. Same goes for shoes - I try to only justify bringing shoes if they go with multiple outfits.
Pro tip: maximize your space by putting accessories / smaller items into your purse when you pack your bag (purse linked here, flat toiletries bag here)
4: Determine Accessories and Undergarments
Once I have my outfits figured out, I like to pair each item with their own undergarments (think - does this outfit require a strapless bra? low-cut bra? high waisted shape wear? etc.) Having my undergarments figured out prior to packing makes for a worry-free arrival - nothing worse than arriving and realizing you didn’t bring the right bra. This is also a good time to figure out what jewelry / bag / shoes are going to work with everything you brought (and may help you edit down more).
5: pack and roll
Now that you have everything figured out and feel confident about the looks you’re bringing, now is a good time to start packing. Once things are in your bag, it’s hard to see what you have so I highly encourage finalizing what you’re bringing before putting anything away. This helps with minimizing the chances of over packing. I like to use packing cubes because I find I’m able to fit more in small spaces by rolling the clothes. Depending on the luggage I use, for a carry on bag I’ll use one large cube and then roll other things around to maximize my space. I like to put my underwear in a gallon sized bag and press out the air out of them. When I arrive to my destination, I empty the bag and use it as my “dirty undies” bag.
Pro tip: I fit as much as I can in my packing cubes and then I strategically place items around it to maximize the amount of space I have!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
5 Tips for packing toiletries in a carry on
AWay luggage review and FAQ
12 DAYS IN A CARRY ON THROUGH EUROPE IN THE WINTER
For more travel content and city guides, click here!
I hope you found this helpful! Be sure to leave any questions or requests on more travel / packing tips below. Thanks for allowing me to be your to-go gal! xx CMK
photos by Ryan Kell
