I’m here to give you a packing intervention, because wanderlust and a love of fashion sometimes don’t mix. I love looking good on my travels and having lots of options to wear, but I don’t want to lug a bunch of heavy bags back and forth on a trip. That’s just not how a gypsetter travels. So how does one pack for a trip to look good and travel effortlessly? I’ve put together this post to help you maximize your suitcase space and learn how to pack like a gypsetter.
The Suitcase
It all starts with a good travel suitcase, like the Tumi Vapor Lite Series. The hard shell keeps your clothes safe and dry and the multi-directional wheels makes it easy to roll it around in any direction. Pick a color like this sexy, hot pink that can be spotted a mile away in the pile of black luggage at the airport.
Gypset Girl’s Contents
Depending on how many days I’m traveling, I like to lay out my clothes on the bed. I then pick the most versatile pieces that can mix and match or layer, like the perfect little black dress by Isabel Marant I bought for my trip to Morocco. If anything left on the bed can’t be worn 3 ways or more, it’s out of the edit.
Once I have my fabulous fashion basics narrowed down, I add my favorite shoes and accessories to the mix, making sure they work with all the items in different ways.
Some essential items I pack for any trip include:
- An oversized scarf I can use as a shawl, wrap or travel blanket
- A hat that I’ll probably wear while traveling and not have to pack
- A cashmere cardigan for cooler nights and layering
- An empty duffel that’s easy to roll up or fold for my travel shopping finds
- A scented travel size candle like Jo Malone’s Lime Basil and Mandarin for my private zen time or to freshen up a musty hotel room
I’m ready to pack the items now. And there’s a whole art to packing to maximize space and keep your luggage contents looking fresh and clean.
Wisdom From a Fashion Stylist on How to Pack
I picked up a few tips from a fashion stylist on how to pack well. A fashion stylist’s goals when packing are three-fold:
- Protect contents from dirt or damage
- Keep items from creasing or wrinkling
- Pack as many items as possible
First thing to do is to place each pair of shoes in their own pouch. This keeps the shoes protected from each other and from getting your clothes dirty. Place smaller items like socks, jewelry or underwear inside the shoes, in their own small pouches. Place the shoes and heavy items like your makeup bag at the bottom of the suitcase or along the side that can be strapped in place. This will keep your shoes from crushing your clothes.
All clothing should be rolled with tissue paper like the kind stores use in gift boxes. The tissue paper will save space and minimize wrinkles. Lay the clothing item out, add a piece of tissue paper on top and roll tightly. Clothing that has inner lining like some skirts or a jacket can be turned inside out, tissued and rolled.
If you dry clean often, save the plastic bags your garments come in and use them, instead of tissue, to roll your clothing. They won’t rip as easily as tissue and you’ll be repurposing the bags, which aren’t recyclable in most areas.
Once all your items are rolled, grab the heaviest ones and place them in the suitcase first. Pack them at the bottom of your suitcase, on top of your cosmetic bag and shoes and add items from heaviest to lightest to minimize wrinkles.
Once you’re packed, congratulate yourself on packing like a gypsetter. Surprisingly, you may still have space in your luggage. Don’t add more stuff! Remember that you can always fill that space with one or two (or ten) new things on a shopping trip at your travel destination.
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