If you have to sit on your suitcase to zip it, well, there really is a better way. Just follow this three-step plan on what
to bring, how to fold, and where to (phew!) fit it all in.
Pack Mentality
Getting ready for a trip can feel like a
game of Tetris, in which you’re figuring out how to fit everything while
frantically
planning for each possible scenario. “When
traveling, people become fearful of going into the unknown and use
clothes as a
security blanket,” says Cary Cooper, a
professor of psychology at Lancaster University, in England. “But all
those what-ifs
only lead to overpacking.” (And even more
stress.) Here’s a surefire way to eliminate the agita.
Step 1
Decide what you’re taking.
And, just as important, what you’re not. These streamlining guidelines
will help, whether you’re bound for a beach or a boardroom.
Follow a simple formula.
Pack three tops for every bottom. Generally, pants and skirts take up
more room than shirts, and when you wear them multiple
times, no one is the wiser, says Justin
Klosky, the founder of the Los Angeles–based organizational-consulting
company O.C.D.
Experience. A weeklong trip, he says,
shouldn’t require more than six tops, one pair of pants, one pair of
shorts, one dress,
and three bras. “Choose staples you feel
most confident in so that you’ll be less inclined to bring
alternatives,” says Lesley
Grosvenor, a cofounder of Clothes Up
Style, a wardrobe-advising service in Los Angeles. Then, for a handy
reminder about all
the other stuff you’ll need, from floss to
batteries, print the vacation-essentials checklist at
realsimple.com/packingchecklist.
Stick to a color scheme.
“Start with two neutrals for your core basics and add two to three fun
shades that coordinate,” advises Alan Krantzler, the
senior vice president of brand management
at Tumi, a travel brand. A dark palette hides stains and easily sails
from day to
night. If that feels too uptight for your
jaunt to Margaritaville, try a breezy mix of white, navy, red, teal, and
pale yellow.
Or “plan your wardrobe around one shoe
color,” says Judith Gilford, the author of
The Packing Book ($15,
amazon.com). You need only three pairs—sneakers, flats or sandals, and heels or wedges.
Be a lightweight.
Not all clothes are worth their weight. Leave behind pieces with bulky
linings or heavy embellishments. Think thin and opt
for pants made of polyester-rayon or
acetate-spandex. Also, stretchy jeans or jeggings can take up half the
space of regular
denim. Control temperature with layers,
says Heather Poole, a flight attendant and the author of
Cruising Attitude ($15,
amazon.com). She piles on tees, tanks, and cashmere cardigans instead of bringing thick sweaters or a hefty jacket. (If you’re traveling
somewhere cold, keep reading for a clever tip on transporting a down coat.)
Step 2
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Lighten your load further with multitaskers—which don’t have to be those
girl-explorer zip-off cargo pants. T-shirt dresses,
leggings, tunics, and maxis take you from
sightseeing to dinner. Let yoga pants moonlight as pj’s, or use your
cover-up in
place of a robe. New York City–based
designer Yigal Azrouël favors sarongs, because you can tie them multiple
ways as a cover-up
or a stylish wrap at night. If possible,
wear a garment for the dressiest occasion early in the trip, when it’s
less likely
to be dirty, says Poole. For instance, one
tank can stretch for days: Pair it with a skirt and heels for dinner on
Saturday,
capris and sandals for shopping on Monday,
and shorts and sneakers for a Tuesday hike.
Embrace the accents.
Satisfy your craving for variety with little things, like fun belts,
bold jewelry, and printed scarves. “Chunky, colorful
bracelets and necklaces draw the eye so
people don’t focus on the clothes,” says Alanna Richman, the owner of
Alanna Bess
Jewelry.
Choose fabrics wisely.
Blends containing nylon, elastane, or polyester beautifully resist
wrinkling. Prefer something more natural? You’ll have
the most luck with wool, Lyocell, or
modal. Cotton mixed with polyester or spandex will also hold up better
than 100 percent
cotton. Anything with texture (crinkled
gauze, ruched jersey, seersucker) or a busy print helps camouflage fold
marks, says
Los Angeles–based stylist Nicole Chavez.
When in doubt, scrunch the material in your hand to see if it crumples
easily. Keep
in mind: The longer clothes stay stashed
in your suitcase, the deeper creases get. For quick touch-ups, pack a
travel-size
(and TSA-approved) bottle of Downy Wrinkle
Releaser spray ($2 for three ounces, at drugstores).
Step 3
Roll It, Fold It, or Bundle It
Rolling and folding are classic expert-packer methods; bundling is advanced—but ingenious. (To learn how, see the following
slides.) The best option depends on the type of garment and the luggage you’re carrying it in.
Rolling
Great for:
- Unstructured bags, like a duffel or a carry-on tote.
- Stretchy knit fabrics that are unlikely to wrinkle, including T-shirts, workout pants, light sweaters, and jersey dresses,
as well as jeans.
- Stuffing seven days’ worth of stuff into a weekender.
How to Roll
PantsFold pants in half lengthwise so that the back pockets face outward. Roll tightly from the cuffs to the waistband.
A Straight Skirt or DressIf the dress has sleeves, first fold each sleeve backward. Fold the entire garment in half lengthwise. Roll from the bottom
hem up.
A Winter Down JacketZip
it, then roll it the same way you would a top, trying to squeeze as
much air out of it as possible as you go. Secure it
tightly with string or large rubber bands
so that it doesn’t come undone. Slip it into a pillowcase and you’ve
even got a
germ-free headrest for the plane.
Folding
Great for:
- Structured suitcases.
- Wrinkle-prone fabrics, such as linen, rayon, and silk.
- Tailored garments (dress shirts, woven skirts, trousers, jackets) and thick sweaters.
How to Fold
A Dress ShirtDo it
the department-store way: Lay a buttoned-up shirt facedown and flat.
Center a magazine below the collar. Fold in the
right side of the shirt, using the
magazine’s edge as a guide. Take the arm and position it straight down,
parallel to the
shirt’s body. Repeat on the opposite side.
Fold the bottom of the shirt so that the hem touches the shoulders.
Slide out the
magazine from the top. If you have several
shirts of similar shape and size, you can stack them, folding them all
as one to
cushion the creases.
Dress PantsFold along the center creases or the side seams so that the legs stack on top of each other. Fold in half so that the waist
touches the hem. Fold in half again.
A Full Skirt or DressPut it in a large plastic trash bag. “The slippery surface keeps wrinkles from setting,” says Evelyn Hannon, the editor of
journeywoman.com,
a travel site for women. Fold it in half lengthwise so that the side
seams line up—you’ll have an angle down one side. Fold
the angled edge inward to form a
rectangle. Fold the garment in half horizontally or, if it’s on the
longer side, in thirds.
Pack it on top of everything else in the
suitcase.
From: Realsimple.com/ Posted by Mags
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