How To Pack Like A Fashion Editor

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.