Master Class

How To Pack Like a Pro

10/07/2021

The first step to any great trip is a perfectly packed bag. Because who doesn't love a well-organized suitcase—expertly folded clothing, easy access to items you need first, and that feeling of success upon arrival? Here, we've gathered some of the best tips we've learned from the Veronicas and from the incredible women we're featuring in our #MAKEITHAPPEN series.

The Veronicas' Packing Tips

1. Less is more. We're fans of the maximalist mindset here at Veronica Beard—more color, more leopard—but when it comes to packing, we aim for a tight edit. An easy way to do this is to pack by outfit, not by item. Trust us, it will help cut down on the overpacking.

2. Some people prefer to fold their clothes; others swear by rolling to save space. We like both. Fold heavier items like jeans and sweaters and save the thinner garments for the roll-up treatment (which also minimizes wrinkles).

3. Pack your clothes inside out. You'll thank us if something spills in your suitcase.

4.Dickey jackets! They're our travel MVPs because you can get more outfits from your looks—and with less bulk, too. Plus, they're great for a wardrobe quick-change so you can spend more time actually enjoying your vacation.

5. Get creative with hidden spaces, like the insides of your shoes. Stuff them with socks, belts and other smaller objects. You can also pack a rolled-up belt in the collar of a shirt to help keep its shape. Empty sunglasses cases, meanwhile, are great for storing charging cables or more fragile items.

6. Layer Bounce dryer sheets between the clothes in your suitcase. They'll keep everything fresh and evoke that just-out-of-the-dryer feel.

7. Packing cubes are an essential. Not only do they keep things organized in your suitcase, but you can easily transfer those cubes into hotel drawers and closets—instant unpacking and repacking!

8. Keep toiletries and any liquids near the top of your suitcase. In case you're subjected to a customs or TSA search, the agents won't have to dig and undo all your brilliant packing.

EXTRA TIPS & TRICKS

Brittany Bromley: I travel frequently for work, so rather than pack my skincare and toiletries, I have a second set—it’s just zip the bag and go! In the same vein, packing and unpacking can feel like a full-time job so I use a hanging bag suitcase that gets packed with all my clothes on hangers. When I arrive, I just unzip and hang.

Tricia Clarke-Stone & Antoinette Clarke: We don’t travel with bulky jewelry cases. We use press-and-seal plastic wrap instead to keep our jewelry from getting tangled and seal each piece separately. We always travel with extra bars of scented soap that we keep in the same compartment as our dirty laundry because it keeps our clothes smelling clean.

Aya Kanai: Take the shower caps from hotels and use them as bags for your shoes. The elastic keeps the shoes from making your clothes dirty.