Keep it Simple.
What is the one thing that folks dread the most? Packing!! I am going to be straight forward and just say to KEEP IT SIMPLE. What I do first — make a list. I actually have a special notebook that I got at Marshall’s years ago. Nothing fancy–you could even just use a plain notebook. I usually think about how many days I will be traveling to my destination. Plus, will I be driving, flying or taking a train? These all factor into how you should pack.
First of all — packing cubes are your best friend. Yes, I am on TEAM PACKING CUBES. My first set was a cheap set that I got from Amazon. I upgraded and got a pretty floral packing cube set at Marshall’s. Packing cubes come in many patterns and sets. The smallest packing cube is filled with my socks, underwear and bras. I pack extra underwear, because if I am forced to check my bag when I am flying, plus if the airline “loses” my luggage — which now seems to be the norm lately.
Think. Plan. Pack.
Next I think about what my agenda will be. Will there be meetings, events, parties, lots of touring that involves a lot of walking? Can I get away with all casual outfits or do I need some formal? What will the weather be like? Check the weather a week before you are scheduled to leave. This will help to plan out in advance before deciding what to pack.
What I pack.
To keep things simple — I always pack a travel capsule wardrobe. I wear only the color black, which is my favorite color. I have always worn black and it really makes mix and matching very easy. Every piece of clothing literally goes well with each other. The clothing pieces that I pack are interchangeable…safe, classic and neutral. This works for me. The color black works perfectly for me. Pack only the clothing items that make you feel good and works for you.
I follow the rule:
5-4-3-2-1
- 5 Tops
- 4 Bottoms
- 3 Layers (jeans jacket, cardigan sweater, blazer etc.)
- 2 Shoes
- 1 Purse
Mix & Match.
All my clothing mix and matches. Now obliviously Spring and Summer clothing will not be as bulky in your suitcase. Fall and Winter clothing will take up more room in your carryon. I like to layer using tank tops, t-shirts, thin sweaters, jeans jacket or blazer. Bottoms for me, consist of a pair of black jeans, a dark blue jeans, a pair of black leggings and my Chico’s Travelers black stretchy pants — all which can be dressed up or down. I highly suggest Chico’s Travelers clothing. They are made for traveling, this brand does not wrinkle, they are extremely comfortable and they literally fold flat or rolled for space saving in your packing cube. Pack tops and layering pieces in one packing cube and bottoms in another packing cube, this way you will be more organized. Shoes are super easy to pack by wearing one pair and packing the other in a shoe bag in your suitcase. Sometimes I sneak in another pair of shoes, because I love my Tieks flats. Depending on the season — you have to decide what shoes go with all of your outfits. Shoes take up a lot of space, so wear your bulkiest pair.
My Favorite Bags.
My favorite purse to take when traveling internationally is my Travelon Crossbody Purse. You can see me wearing it in the picture above. It has locking zippers, so it makes it more difficult to get pick pocketed. If you are traveling internationally, please do your homework to see if the country that you are visiting warns you which bigger cities tends to have more cases of pick pocket’s. It has lots of pockets inside to keep you organized. Plus it gives you peace of mind knowing that your wallet and passport are secure. It is RFID, slash proof, locking zippers, and two outside zipped pockets that open up to hold a water bottle and small umbrella. It is nylon material that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. My suitcase, which is a London Fog 20 inch carryon size. Lo & Son OG bag is what I use for my personal item when flying. I have the original. Loads of compartments to keep you organized on the plane. Go on the Lo & Son website you can actually pick what color combination you want, plus you will be supporting a small family business. OG holds my wallet, passport, keys, pack of tissues, my 3-1-1 toiletries bag, iPad, vitamins, first aide kit, portable battery charger, cords for my electronics. I cannot express how much I love this bag!! It is definitely worth the money. It has a ton of pockets, zippered sections to keep everything in its place and you organized. Plus the sleeve on the back fits over your rolling luggage handle.
Liquids Bag & First Aide Kit.
I keep my 3-1-1 clear reusable bag to just the necessaries. All liquids go into this bag and they all must be 3 oz. or smaller containers. I personally pack my skincare products, lip mask, eye cream (which are all e.l.f. holy hydration line), lipstick, eyeliner, pocket mini e.l.f. eye shadow set, foundation, blush, mascara, deodorant, mini shavor, shampoo and conditioner, and lastly hair gel. I have natural curly hair so I must have my Ouidad hair products. I also have my toothpaste and chapstick in there. In a small makeup bag I pack a nail clipper, tweezers, small scissors (and TSA has never taken away my small scissors). I also have another small makeup bag that serves as a first aide kit with items that I might need and don’t want to search for a pharmacy on my trip. I have these items on hand instead of trying to find a place that sells them, plus it will save me money, especially if I am traveling to another country. Medicine is something that I hope that I never have to use on a trip, but its peace of mind that I have it and it really does not take up a lot of space.
- anti-diarrhea
- Dranamine
- Advil or Tylenol
- tums
- pepto bismol tablets
- bandaids
- triple antibiotics gel
- Shout wipe packet or two for stains
Accessories.
To breakup my outfits to make them look a bit different, I accessorize with 3-5 scarves from my collection. I have been collecting scarves from my thrifting adventures. They are great for changing the look of an outfit that you already wore. Scarves add another layer if it gets too cold. And ladies if your neck is covered you tend not to get cold. Next is jewelry. I personally tend to keep this simple. Silver hoop earrings, my Apple Watch, some silver bangle bracelets and my wedding ring. Pretty simple, and very classic, which goes with any of my outfits.
Keep Calm and Pack On.
That’s it!! Remember to travel light and keep it simple! You will end up enjoying the trip. The key is organization. I have all shapes and sizes of makeup bags. These small bags are great for keeping everything in its place and easy to find when you need it. And don’t forget those of you who have pets — they want to help you pack — I know that our Roscoe is very involved with the packing…here are some pictures for you to enjoy.
NOTE: All the name brands that I mentioned in this blog article did not sponsor me in any way. They are just all brands that I love to purchase and use.
