5 Tips for Packing Your Carry-On Like a Pro.

I’m heading back to New Jersey tonight to spend Christmas with my family and wanted to share a few packing tips I’ve picked up as I’ve racked up the frequent flyer miles with a fair amount of work and personal travel over the past few years. My #1 tip? Always carry on. And I mean always. It saves not only money, but also time and headaches (no one wants to deal with lost luggage!) – I’ve managed to pack for 10 days in Japan in my small roller bag and even plan to do the same for our two week trip to the east coast and Chicago. A bit of advice to help you do the same and pack your carry on like a pro:

Plan Outfits in Advance: Listen, you’ve got to be strategic which means no winging it. Packing without a plan will likely lead to including unnecessary items in your suitcase OR forgetting crucial items (um, I forgot socks for our Japan trip which was a pain!). Think through not only what you’ll pack but also the outfits that you’ll wear, focusing on packing pieces that can be mixed and matched with others to maximize the outfits you’re able to create with the smallest number of items. Stick to neutral pieces that are versatile and avoid packing anything that requires ironing or isn’t easy to toss in the wash while you’re on-the-go.
Keep It Simple with Pants & Shoes: My fatal flaw in packing in the past has been shoes, but who can blame a girl! While it’s lovely to have plenty of shoe options, they take up a ton of room in your suitcase so it’s best to stick to one or two pairs. Going to be on your feet a lot? Be sure to pack a pair of sneakers (I love my Nike Flyknits because they are incredibly comfortable but also lightweight and don’t take up very much room!). The same keep it simple rule applies to pants as well – focus on packing only one or two pairs (especially with denim) and mix up your outfits with different tops.
Make Your Beauty Routine Mini: Traveling always takes a toll on my skin so while I’d love to keep my beauty routine minimal, I typically like to pack a few extras to hydrate and refresh my dull, tired travel skin. Minimize your amount of beauty product clutter by transferring your favorite products into smaller, leak-proof bottles (GoToobs are my absolute favorites!) with labels so you cane easily see what’s what. You can also purchase a lot of your favorite products in mini size by checking out the area near checkout at Sephora – one of my favorite natural skincare brands, Drunk Elephant just recently introduced a line of all of their products in small sizes and The DryBar also has a range of travel kits tailored to specific hair types/needs. Brilliant!
Maximize Your Personal Item: Make the most of the space under the seat in front of you by using a large tote or backpack as your personal item. Your personal item is the perfect spot for any valuables and electronics so you can keep a close eye on ’em. Also be sure to pack anything you’ll need to be comfortable in-flight, from books (my Kindle is my ultimate airplane companion!), snacks to a moisturizer for in-flight hydration, and your makeup for a quick touch up upon landing.
Use Pouches to Stay Organized: Save yourself time and the stress of dealing with clutter by using various pouches to stay organized. Packing a bunch of cords and chargers? Keep ’em all together in a pouch packed in your carry on to save yourself from a tangle at the bottom of your bag. Store beauty items together in a waterproof bag to keep the rest of your luggage safe from leaks. Stash your makeup in a small makeup pouch so you can easily get glam in the airplane bathroom. Traveling for business? Use a small pencil case to keep receipts all in one place to make your expense reports a breeze.