How To Pack Like A Fashion Editor

Wherever your destination, packing a suitcase like a fashion editor can relieve travel stress, even before you take off. From showing the entire airport your toiletries to staying comfortable when you fly, traveling in style can be a bit of a challenge. However, a sleekly packed suitcase can help ensure you enjoy an “effortlessly chic” vacation.
Let’s be real. “Effortlessly chic” is a bit of a misnomer, as even the most minimal, laid back fashion editors put thought into their “I just woke up like this” look, which is exactly what you’re going to do in order to pack like a fashion editor. If you’re packing light, in other words, fitting all your belongings into a standard 9-by-14-by-22-inch carry-on, you’ll need tips from pros to avoid packing mistakes, and to arrive at your getaway in style.

Cayli Cavaco Reck of Knockout Beauty tells Culture Trip that the most basic rule of thumb is to pack outfits. “The last thing you want is your travel companion sees you fret about what to wear each day of your vacation,” she says. Plus, by packing outfits, you can avoid piling your entire wardrobe into your suitcase, and end up wearing only a fraction of what you’ve packed.

According to Google internal data, millennials are turning to mobile devices for everything from creative vacation ideas to packing tips. If you’re reading this on your phone right now, you know exactly what I’m talking about, so let’s get to the tips.

Don’t Roll Clothes

A common misconception is that rolling clothing saves space. Don’t do it. Jen Rubio, one of the cofounders of the luggage label Away tells Vogue, “It is so much more efficient to flat pack. If you roll-pack, your clothes will arrive more wrinkled. This seems like common sense, but I stack all of my tops together [and] bottoms together.”

Do Wear All Your Jewelry

To keep jewelry from tangling, and to save space, wear all the jewelry you’re planning for your vacation. Sure you might look a little bling-ed out at the airport, but this tip also ensures you don’t bring unnecessary jewelry with you.

Do Stick To Neutral And Monochrome Colors

Although you should be planning each outfit as you pack, if that’s too much of an ask, you should pack clothing that sticks to a neutral color palette. Monochrome colors work well in helping you achieve an effortlessly chic look; this way, your entire vacation wardrobe matches, without being too “matchy-matchy.”

Don’t Forget Your Compression Pad

When shopping for the most travel-friendly luggage, pick a suitcase that has internal flattening straps that helps keep your items flat, compressed, and helps avoid wrinkling.

Do Layer Your Clothing On The Airplane

Just like you should be wearing your jewelry when you travel, you should also layer as many pieces as possible to save space in your suitcase. Plus, flights tend to be chilly, so bringing extra layers onboard can keep you warm.

Do Repurpose Shoe Bags To Use As Lingerie/Laundry Bags

When I spend upwards of $300 on a pair of shoes, I like to utilize everything my Blahniks come with, and that includes the shoe bags. I pack intimates in one shoe bag, and save its match for stowing my dirty undies once I’m on vacation. Having a plan to keep everything separate means I don’t have to fuss once I’m chilling out.

Don’t Neglect To Make A Checklist

Katie Fish, a fashion assistant at Travel + Leisure says, “I like to make a checklist before I start packing to make sure nothing is forgotten.” Organization is everything, people, especially when you’re packing. Be ruthless, otherwise your suitcase will swallow you, and end up cramping your style.

Do Hoard Travel Size Products & Samples

I keep an entire makeup pouch full of travel size products and samples so I don’t have to be bothered with pouring my favorite potions into those “fugly” travel size plastic containers (which have opened mid-flight on me before, causing a huge mess). Just make sure to sort through all your products so you don’t depart with a dozen shampoo samples, and nothing to wash your face with. Or opt for a pre-packed travel goodie bag, like MiLK Makeup’s Have A Good Trip bag.

Don’t Overpack Shoes

Because shoes can zap space, you want to spend a lot of time selecting the right footwear and limiting your selection to no more than two pairs. Plus, utilize your shoes as storage for socks, scarves, and anything else that can fit inside your favorite pair of shoes. Although it might be a pain removing your thigh-high boots at airport security, it’s a better alternative to trying to cram them into your carry-on.

Do Use Tissue Paper

You know how your dry cleaning comes with tissue paper? Because tissue is ideal for keeping clothing static and wrinkle free. So layer a sheet between your travel items so you can forgo the iron at your vacation destination.

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.