By: Katie Baum
Over the course of these past 10 days I have been traveling through Ireland and yes, I did the impossible—I brought only carry-on. One reason for this may be justified through my fear of lost luggage, but my ability to be a power packer over the years wouldn’t be feasible without all my accessory necessities!
Most of us have a tendency to over-pack—but there are certainly ways to limit your load. The key is simply planning specific outfits in advance. I know, I know—sometimes our moods will change and that adorable outfit you picked out to wear days ago suddenly doesn’t seem too cute anymore.…so what now you may ask?
First off, I always like to bring another outfit or two just in case this thought of “what was I thinking” comes over me. But also, think layers and accessories. It’s amazing how much a scarf or even a chunky necklace can transform an outfit, or even create a second look for you to wear while on your trip. After wearing you favorite little black dress once, try sporting it with a silky scarf to instantly create a new look!
A few more words to live by when packing for your trip is: less is more. While we may want to bring a multitude of shoes in order to have options throughout the week—the truth is shoes add bulk. Too many will not only steer you further away from packing light, but will just spin you in a circle of indecision when it comes to actually picking which one to wear! So do yourself a favor and bring no more than 3-4 pairs of shoes…one flat, one wedge, one pair of flip-flops, and a shoe for the gym or to power walk around town. Avoid the temptation to add “an extra just in case”…trust me, you won’t need it.
Three more tricks for your bag…
Never leave home without a travel sweater. Don’t try google-ing this term because I will admit that I made it up…but a travel sweater in my book is cute, comfortable and “no fuss.” Perfect for the airplane but also great to layer on for dinner—these sweaters will basically sell themselves. My personal go-to is a wrap sweater similar to this one.
Another rule of thumb—a pair of flip-flops is ALWAYS a good idea. I decided to bring my brand new pair of ballet flats with me to wear for my trip, but unfortunately hadn’t had a chance to thoroughly break them in quite yet… soon enough, my feet were unhappy and so was I. Thankfully I anticipated that this scenario could very well happen and I threw a pair of flip-flops in my purse just in case. I was able to quickly swap my flats for flip-flops and continued on my jolly way avoiding any potential blisters or sore spots that could’ve put a damper on my vacay.
One more accessory necessity is the hair tie—but not the typical hair tie. I personally love these and bring them with me everywhere. Not only do they leave hair creaseless …but they also just look cute and casual layered around your wrist. These ones are only $8 from Sephora and come in metallic tones as well.
There you have it! I am living proof that over-packing is a habit easy to break—so do yourself a favor and consider these tips for your next vacation. Packing light is right and don’t you forget it.
