Keep Calm & Carry On…

Your luggage, that is.  My summer globe-trotting has made me a huge fan of the carry-on bag… really, what could be better than avoiding the long wait at the carousel and the fear of lost luggage?  But traveling with everything you need packed into one petite bag takes some serious strategy and has turned me into something of a packing phenom, if I do say so myself.  Here I share my top tips:

1. Avoid overpacking with a “Wardrobe Itinerary.”

Before I go on every trip, I create a schedule of each day’s planned activities and what I plan to wear for them.  For example, a Monday schedule might include outfits for “morning run in the park,” “client lunch meeting downtown,” and “dinner with friends at Nobu.” The key here is to include everything you’ll need for each outfit including shoes, jewelry, handbags, and undergarments.  Then when it’s time to pack, you’ll have a detailed list and know exactly whether that woven brown belt should stay or go.

2. Pick a palette.

By bringing clothes that stick to a similar color palette, you avoid having to pack loads of shoes & handbags (which take up tons of room in a suitcase.)  It also allows you to mix and match outfits to get multiple wears out of an item.  I tend to pack clothes in neutrals (black, white, beige, & navy), and add a splash of one color for variety (in my case usually pink.)  Then I can keep the shoes minimal: Nikes for workouts, a great pair of heels for meetings & nighttime, and fun flats for daytime sightseeing.

3. Edit your toiletries.

Bobbi Brown Travel Set, Nordstrom

As a lover of skincare & beauty products, this is a tough one for me, but I’ve learned to bring only those products that I use every day at home and buy “travel-size” whenever possible.  Airport security requires that all carry-on liquids be smaller than 3.2 oz and fit in a quart-sized ziplock, so I stock up on mini-versions of my favorite products, and ask for a sample tube of my fave fragrance at the department store.  I keep my travel-friendly products stored in a toiletries bag in my suitcase at home, so when it’s time to pack for a trip, I know just where to find them.

4. Use Accessories wisely.

Luckily, the most space-saving items (scarves, headbands, & jewelry) go a long way towards transforming an outfit.  If I have to head straight from a long flight to a fancy dinner out, I may keep the outfit but add a drapey scarf, sparkly jeweled earrings, festive heels, and a little clutch, and Poof!  I’m ready to hit the town.  And by the way, a swipe of bold red lipstick never hurts either!