While everyone gets excited at being able to travel overseas, we never really look forward to packing our luggage for the trip. Some of us just wing it, leave it to the last minute and throw whatever we think we need into our many different bags without a second thought. So in order to prevent that, we have listed down a few easy ways for you to pack smart and travel in style, without lugging around an over-packed bag filled with unnecessary items.
1. Make a list
The first step in packing smart is to make a list of whatever you would need to bring for the trip. Kind of like your shopping list for when you do some grocery shopping, you would also need a list to refer to while packing, in case you forget anything. This is also to prevent you from going overboard by over-packing.
2. Choose your clothes wisely
It is easy to pack when you have versatile pieces such as the ubiquitous striped long sleeved shirt, black ballet flats, a classic white shirt and a pair of dark coloured jeans. Keep look looks simple, choose the easy way out by going all white or all black and you will look instantly put together. You can throw on an interesting pattern or a pop of colour sometimes, just to mix things up. Adopt Kate Middleton’s recycled-outfit policy and repeat your clothing items more than once during the trip, make sure that these pieces can be mixed, matched or even layered to create different looks.
3. Minimal accessories
No need to pile on the bracelets, bangles and whatnot. Try to choose suitable jewelry that you can wear with several different outfits. Because these small trinkets tend to get lost easily, pack them into zip lock bags and store them safely. A pair of sunglasses is a much needed essential for travelling in style. They are useful for protection against the sun, and also shield your tired eyes for when you just get off the plane. Nobody will notice how tired you are because you’ll be as chic as any other celeb at the airport.
4. Hair and makeup
When travelling, there probably might not be enough time for you to put on that much war paint or style up your hair, so try to keep them simple. All those airport security restrictions on liquids and aerosol cans can be difficult to remember, so when in doubt, go small. Save precious space in your toiletries bag by either getting sample sized toiletries or decanting them into travel-sized bottles. Also take note that a simple beauty trick like a classic red lip can also instantly brighten up your face and change up your look effortlessly.
5. Fully utilise luggage space
Anyone can tell you that folding your clothes flat and tight can ensure that you will have more space for more stuff. Placement is also pretty important, so pack the bulkier items into the suitcase first, and fill in between those spaces with lighter garments. I find that rolling clothes can sometimes just take up too much space, so you can just play around with folding or rolling techniques to see what fits your baggage better.
Unless you’re heading to an extremely rural area, there is bound to be a pharmacy, convenient store and shopping mart that stocks all your necessities in case of emergencies. So you can forget about bringing something along “just in case you need it”.
Do you have any other tips on packing like a pro? Share with us in the comments section below. And remember to have fun on your travels!
