The Panic of Packing!!

Do you have panic attacks over packing for a weekend, a week, two weeks, or even a month-long trip? I certainly do! It’s a struggle every time I start to pack for a trip where flying is involved; the stress takes over. How do I pack for comfort, sightseeing, AND special occasions (vow renewals, photo shoots, cool museums)? If it’s the heat of summer, will I really want to wear the same clothes again? (I went through that last year, ugh!)  Or, what if it’s really cold and I need more layers than a mailman at the North Pole? Checking baggage didn’t cross my mind, but then the dreaded baggage fee became a permanent extra cost, which I have had to account for when budgeting and planning my trip. I’ve been lucky not to lose any luggage (knock on wood). However, I have had my luggage damaged when I retrieved it from the baggage carousel. Not a great feeling! So, let’s explore this conundrum together and hopefully, we’ll learn something new!

 

To Carry-on or Not to Carry-on??

The last time I packed for a month-long trip was in 2001 for a school trip to Paris (you’ll recall I had the dreaded gym shoe incident while there). I know many people can manage it, but I still don’t know if I could live a month out of a carry-on, so today, I’m going to focus on the shorter trips. Now comes the dreaded question: “Carry-on only or checked bag?” Oh, the agony of trying to decide. My preference, of course, would be to use a carry-on only, but like I said in my intro blog, I’m vain and want to wear some of my favorite clothes to match the destination or event.

On our last trip, the hubby and I tried to get everything into carry-ons plus one personal item each. It was like a bad game of Tetris! I couldn’t make it work and felt defeated. I was putting so much pressure on myself because, reading through many travel blogs and social forums, I felt I would be checked bag-shamed! (Yep, it’s a real thing!)  It happened to a friend of mine. C’est quoi? Let me say – Hallway of Fashion is a total non-judgement zone. We have to be accountable only for ourselves, and there are definite pros and cons for both. So, let’s unpack that! (yes, pun intended, ha!)

Carry-on Bag

Checked Bag

When it comes to quick weekend trips in the States, I’ve mastered that for the most part, except for the one trip to NYC and the Manhattan Vintage Show, where my bags kind of ran over with some killer vintage finds. Oh, and that trip to Dallas where I found the perfect Victor Costa tea-length puffy party gown. And, oh yeah, the time I had to wear a coat over another coat on the flight back because it wouldn’t fit at all in my suitcase. Hmmm, so maybe I don’t have quick trips completely mastered when shopping is involved! So, we’ll figure that one out in a bit.

Wardrobe Mix & Match!

When shopping isn’t involved, I build a “capsule wardrobe” to mix and match with ease. Before Ann Everett retired, I would buy pieces from her that would work with other pieces I already owned. What I ended up with was a well-rounded set of pieces. And what makes them all work together are the color(s) and fabrics. I tend to wear only one color (black or navy) with maybe an accent color to break things up. Then the fabrics I choose tend to travel well with minimal ironing, such as a silk or matte jersey, denim, and Ponte knit. You don’t need a designer brand to do this either. You can use the same principles.

I like to be comfortable yet fashionably presentable for travel days, so I typically wear jeans. I really don’t like to wear anything that is too tight, so if it’s not jeans, I will sometimes wear a dress or skirt. I’m definitely not going to experiment with a jumpsuit on a plane! I will take 2-3 tops, 2 pairs of pants (or a pair of pants and a skirt), some layering pieces like a vest, cardigan, or jacket, and 1-2 pairs of shoes. Of course, I pack workout gear, underpinnings, pajamas, and tennis shoes too. I keep my jewelry really simple and only bring a few options. This combination will get me by every time for a conference or work trip.

 

But what about this and what about that?

Now what do you do when you have a special occasion and you’re going to be gone for at least one week???? That is my current conundrum. Can I fit a great outfit for photographing along with a killer hat in a carry-on? Then of course, what do I do about shoes!!?

Last September, I went to Paris and dreamed of wearing a dress from @winiandi_along with a platter hat from @rarejulevintage to La Galerie Dior (one of my favorite places on earth). La Galerie Dior is an explosion of beauty with both rotating designs and permanent collections. I feel the need to match the venue’s magnificence when I visit. I ended up taking a checked bag due to the hat situation. It also allowed me to pack full-size cosmetics, extra shoes, and of course the dress itself. It’s what works best for me – social forums be darned!

 

Packing the gorgeous platter hat paid off!! The onsite Dior milliners’ faces lit up and I started hearing a flurry of French when they saw me. I, of course, had to say “je ne comprends pas” to the lovely ladies, and they explained that they appreciated that I was wearing a hat, as many of the visitors don’t. It was such a lovely moment that I would have missed if I packed in a carry-on only!!!

The drawback of that trip was discovered at the airport for my return flight. I didn’t really think about all the walking and waiting in lines I would have to do without having a rolling bag after I checked in my suitcase. BIG MISTAKE for me! I had to lug around two bags without the benefit of wheels. At my age, my shoulders and back are not what they used to be! The pros of having a carry-on when traveling solo might start to outweigh the cons!

What Fits Best?

In preparation for my next trip, I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of different methods to pack for a long trip in a carry-on only. There are thousands upon thousands of YouTube videos on how to pack for a trip like this packing video by Alyssa Beltempo. There are also countless blogs about it (je suis désolé to add another one to the list). WOW, now how do you decide!! I definitely like some more than others, such as the wonderful tip-filled blog for holiday travel from @Urbsuburbstyle.

Similar to when you’re looking for new or new-to-you clothes, you will have to try a few on and see what “fits”!! So, during my adventures in “packing wonderland”, I found three YouTube channels that I liked and will try to incorporate a little bit from each. If I do find the perfect system, I will let you know!

The first YouTube video is The Tripped Travel Gear team and it’s the “Three Day Method”. This is the one I’m going to try for the upcoming trip. I’ll be traveling for two weeks but there is a washer/dryer at the Airbnb, so I plan to dabble doing laundry! I have no issues repeating outfits as long as they aren’t dirty or smelly. This can be an issue in the hot months or unexpectedly hot temps, like my trip last year. It was in the 90s, and the thought of wearing something over just wasn’t what I wanted to do! When I shop, I analyze if the piece I’m interested in could also be used on a trip if needed. I try to not have too many one-offs in my collection that require one pair of shoes, one jacket, etc. I love that I can mix and match with my existing wardrobe and fill in the gaps when necessary.

I like the idea of packing around your essential day, your every day, and your travel day! I definitely know what I’m wearing for my travel days and that’s usually the same outfit, and what I set aside first. For travel days, I want to be comfortable but put together. I always hear in the back of my mind, the travel guru Samantha Brown saying how you might snag an upgrade or some extra perks if you look nice and have nice luggage. Well, I would love to end up in first class one of these days!!!

So back to the 3-day packing method—I’m going to try it out and let you know how it goes or if I can accomplish it.  Wish me luck!!! I know my shoulders and back will thank me – and maybe my credit card too!!!

Another notable YouTube team is Away Together, who go over the top 10 packing mistakes. I liked their video because I’ve been known to really overpack on accessories. I just recently started going through all my travel supplies and found that I have four—YES, FOUR—international travel adapters. Sadly, one is even still in its plastic cocoon! This video reinforced that I need to be intentional about what I bring, especially when it comes to electronics, as they can take up so much space and added weight. Why am I so concerned I won’t have the correct charger when I can easily purchase one at my destination!? I’ll definitely be watching this video again when I start packing!

I want to also recommend Travel Tips with Laurie. Laurie is the wife of an airline pilot and for their family’s last-minute trips, they can only pack in carry-on luggage in case they have to get off the flight. She offers a lot of great tips, including what type of clothes to wear on the plane for maximum comfort. I appreciate her no-nonsense approach to packing and watch her videos quite often.

I would love to hear how you pack and if you have any tips and tricks to share!!!

Bon Voyage!!