You Asked, Ali Answered: How to Pack Light?
You Asked, Ali Answered:
How to Pack Light?
You can take the girl out of the fashion closet, but you can’t take the fashion closet out of the girl. goop fashion director Ali Pew reports from her post at home—giving us all the inspiration and sage styling advice, as well as a peek inside her exceptionally well-maintained wardrobe. Follow us on @goop to get your style q’s answered.
Q
Is there a trick to packing light for a weekend trip and maximizing suitcase space (while still giving yourself the luxury of options)?
A
If there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that bringing the entire contents of your closet is never the answer. The less baggage you have to schlep, the better. This is why a) I always use a carry-on, and b) I never overpack. And it’s all thanks to what I’ve just coined as my five-point packing plan, which I put to the test on a recent trip to Sun Valley.
1
PLAN AROUND THE ACTIVITIES
It may sound obvious, but the first thing to keep in mind is your itinerary. Summer trips tend to be activity-based, so think about what you might need based on the agenda. For me, it’s a lot of hiking, biking, and tennis, plus a couple of casual nights out in Ketchum.
Heading to the beach? Start with some solid suit options. Mountains? Make sure you’ve got functional layers that can handle the outdoors, including lunch on the patio. Spa-bound? Bring loungewear you can throw on after a treatment. If your trip takes you to a city, make sure you’ve got versatile pieces that can hang day or night.
2
GO FOR A COHESIVE COLOR SCHEME
After you’ve established the hero pieces, figure out your palette. Stick with neutrals—three or four, max—then add something bright to keep things spicy. If you tend to lean on prints, make sure you can mix them with multiple items. I went with denim, creams, and army green and wove in classic stripes and a bold mustard (this to-and-from travel set will come in handy again later).
3
STRATEGIZE YOUR ACCESSORIES
Instead of stuffing multiple bags into one carry-on, I like to pack dual-purpose pouches. The canvas zip easily doubles as a cosmetics case and a holdall for the pool. The same goes for my Loewe leather clutch—it’s a great vessel for cords, earbuds, and other odds and ends. Plus, it will liven up whatever I’m wearing to dinner later (refer back to step two). The only other accessories you need are a great pair of sunglasses (I love that these match my suit) and an all-purpose hat that works for hiking, sunning, whatever.
4
ASSEMBLE THE OUTFITS
Laying out looks in advance is a great way to streamline. This always feels like a fun game of mix and match to me—plus, there’s something satisfying about seeing how many options I can throw together by repeating pieces.
Pro tip: Compile outfits ahead of time on the bed or floor and take photos. Selfies work, too. Then: Edit, edit, edit. This is the time to nix anything that you suspect might not get a lot of action.
5
CONSOLIDATE ANY EXTRAS
Make sure you’ve got travel-size products at the ready—this one-and-done GOOPGENES kit guarantees all bases are covered. Other go-tos include a multitasking charger and a Mason Pearson brush (this mini version is the absolute best—I take it everywhere).
