Holiday Fits: Does it all fit?

By: LL

I don't know about all of you, but I know that it can be very challenging to pack for a trip - whether business or pleasure. I feel that I have learned to minimize and maximize over the last few years as traveling efficiently has become a necessity. (A little less now that I live where Southwest is an option and I have more space with my bags flying free!). Either way, for women, and sometimes for men too, packing for a trip can be a daunting task as we struggle to pack all the options we feel we might need. 

This morning I started the task of packing for my Thanksgiving trip. Here are the standard steps that I take to make certain that I pack the most amount of fits with the least amount of items. 

1. I write out a list of the different activities I knew we will be doing and try to imagine the most likely additions to that list. Then, I pull my favorite looks for each of those activities. 

2. I review all the clothes that I pulled and try to minimize what I actually need. I consolidate, swapping in one blazer that could work over two different blouses and one pair of skinnies that could go from day to night. These simple moves help decrease your unnecessary inventory (heck, it also helps you create new looks that you hadn't tried before!). 

3. Then, I bulk up on accessories. Necklaces and scarves can really make an outfit look completely different and can help to bring a day outfit into an evening look. They also do not take up much space. 

4. I categorize what needs to go in a carryon and what can go in checked luggage. (Will it fit??)

5. I then pack all the essentials, including toiletries. (Hint: Bring a skinnier flat iron that can also double as a curling iron and leave the blow-dryer at home. There is always a blow-dryer at hotels and at most homes you will visit.)

6. If there is extra room, don't fill it with another look. Leave extra space for anything you might pick up during your trip. Such as new clothes from a fashion swap?? (Here is a peek at what I am bring for my fashion swap with my sisters. Looking forward to some new pieces replacing these on the trip home.)

 And who could forget the awesome race tees?!?!?

Happy Thanksgiving!!! And good luck packing to those of you who are also traveling for the holiday.