How to Pack a Carry-On like a Pro
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Photo courtesy of Métier
Traveling light is an acquired skill. It takes experience to judge the difference between a necessity and a nice-to-have (and it takes a keen sense of spatial awareness to make it all fit inside a small bag). With holiday travel fast approaching, we decided to put together a guide to getting it right.
Choose the Right Bag
While this ultimately comes down to personal preference, there are some practical realities to consider. A wheelie is better for your back and shoulders, but a weekender is easier to dart around with, as Métier founder and designer Melissa Morris once pointed out to us. Rolling bags don’t mix well with cobblestone streets or stairs, so it’s important to keep your destination in mind. And maintaining the integrity of your neatly folded clothing is more difficult with a soft-sided duffel (though packing cubes can help). Decide what matters most to you and choose your bag accordingly.
Strategize Your Travel Outfit
You’ll want to wear your outerwear on the plane: It will save space in the aforementioned bag and keep you warm no matter how frigid the in-flight AC. Jeans, sweats, and knits are also notoriously bulky, so to the extent that you can transport a few of these pieces on your person (without looking crazy), you should.
Pick Your Anchoring Pieces
And plan to style them a few different ways throughout your trip. Say, for instance, you bring this double-breasted House of Dagmar jacket: You could pair it with blue jeans and sneakers for a day of café-hopping, museum-exploring, window-shopping, and whatever else is on the docket. Come dinnertime, swap in sleek black pants and ballet flats, remove the strap from the crossbody bag you were carrying earlier, and voilà: a whole new look.
For Day
For Night
Organize the Little Things
Our best tip here is to invest in high-quality organizers that make the tedious job of packing all the bits and bobs somewhat enjoyable (and maybe even fun). A few things we love: The durable travel-size containers from Cadence, which are leakproof, magnetic, and great for decanting a few days’ worth of essential beauty products. An elegant toiletry kit in easy-to-wipe-down coated canvas. And a system of suede jewelry pouches that snap together and keep your pieces protected en route.
Left to right: Cadence Capsules, Cadence, $161; Métier Packing Set, Metier, $1,390; Métier Jewelry Travel Case, Métier, $1,250
Bonus Points: TSA-Friendly Beauty
Solid shampoo and conditioner bars, powders, balms, and wipes save you precious space in your quart-size cosmetics case.
