My life... in a suitcase

I am obsessed with planning. And one of my favorite things to prep for is travel! 

For a period of my life I lived out of a suitcase for almost three years. One year in particular, I had to cart a 6-week, supply of business casual, fitness, and heavy duty work wear around in a suitcase weighing no more than 50 pounds. I'm talking heels, dresses, steel toes, Carharts, workout wear, laundry detergent and enough toiletries to last six entire weeks without access to a grocery store. It is from these experiences that I am a self-titled packing expert. 

Tip #1 DO NOT spend money on a high-end suitcase. 

I spent premium dollars for a suitcase that boasted "ballistic nylon" material, intended for people who do "hard travel up to 30 weeks of the year". As a salesperson, I should have known I was being fed a load of bullox. Trip number one with that suitcase the top handle broke, then the runner panels that protected the footing of the suitcase ripped off, and then finally I the side handle met its fate. Within a year I was literally loading my suitcase by the extendable handle and apologizing to taxi drivers for having to manhandle the heavy luggage sans handle. Oh, and then top notch Warranty they offered was a bust because the luggage shops in my city were fed up with not being paid by the manufacturer. Go to Bay Days, buy the lightest and most affordable bag they have, and expect to replace it annually if you travel a lot. 

Tip #2 Invest in CUBES!

For the organizational gurus out there life doesn't get any better than packing accessories that allow you to quickly organize a mess like this... 

Into this...!

Unlike the luggage that takes a beating, these cubes last a long time so you'll only have to invest in this once. The ones in the picture are the very same ones I bought 4 years ago. Total investment approx $100. Look for functional pieces like a sports sac that is dual zippered and allows you to move clothing between the meshed side to the sealed side once it's been worn without taking up additional space in a laundry bag. The folios show you exactly how to fold the clothes to make maximal use of the space-- you truly can haul around two weeks worth of business casual wear in a single folio.

Tip #3 Pick a colour palette and stick with it

How often do you find yourself packing at the last minute, only to panic that you're forgetting something so you dump your entire closet into the suitcase and later regret it? At the beginning of packing I will pick a base colour, say grey, and ensure that all my outfits go with a grey heel and a grey flat, and then viola! Select only those outfits that match this shoe colour. This way you prevent yourself from packing five pairs or shoes just to match all the outfits you are dragging along. Traveling for business or an event? Accessorizing doesn't have to be complicated. Choose either gold or silver jewelry for the entirety of your trip in order to minimize the number of pieces you have to carry to complete an outfit. A travel jewelry organizer (like the cute cherry-printed one above) keeps things in plain view and without risk of tangling in your luggage. If you travel with expensive pieces, this jewelry organizer stashes neatly into your carry on so you can rest your mind about your luggage being rifled through. 

Tip #4 "Minis" are your friend

I don't just mean the cute little gin bottles you get for free on international flights. For less than $5 you can get re-fillable squeeze tubes to take all your fave cosmetics and toiletries with you. If you think you need a full-size shampoo to get through a couple weeks you go right ahead, but that's a pound of luggage you just wasted that could have otherwise been filled up with some amazing shopping finds. These little guys below get me through at least three weeks at a time and weigh half a pound in total-- shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.

Well, I'm off! But I'd love to hear what helps keep you organized while you're on the road!