It seems like travel is back again, and I am so happy about that. As much as I love being at my cozy home, I enjoy a great trip. This year I am heading to Palm Beach for The Pink Retreat, A Lilly Pulitzer get-together. It’s going to be an amazing trip as always. I am also hoping to get to Disney for the 50th-anniversary celebration. Sometimes packing can really feel like a chore. I used to be such a heavy packer and would take as much as the airlines would allow. Not anymore, I like to travel light especially since I travel alone sometimes. These are just a few of my favorite packing tips that make my life so much easier.
I always start with a list of activities, events, and things I am planning to do each day. Make sure to check the weather report too! I’ll lay out the outfits for each day with accessories, shoes, and bags and write each outfit down and the day I plan on wearing it. I always try to duplicate the accessories, bags, and shoes. It may seem like so much work but I know about how many dressy and casual outfits I need.
A few basics that I always pack are a white denim jacket and a neutral-colored cardigan. It seems like everywhere you go, it’s cold inside. Shoes and purses get bulky and heavy too. I always pack a pair of cute tennis if I am going to do a lot of walking, gold flat sandals, gold wedge sandals, and pool sandals. Golds will go with everything. The same goes for bags, I usually pack a gold crossbody, gold tote, gold clutch, and a small sling. The bags all fit into the tote for easy packing. Again, the same thing applies to jewelry. I usually stick with gold or silver and pack a few casual pieces and a few statement pieces. I used to find myself packing so much jewelry and sticking with my favorites anyway. I pack each in an individual bag and then into a monogrammed jewelry roll from my luggage set.
Toiletries are a quick way to way luggage down fast. I always save my sample sizes or gift with purchases just for travel. I keep them all in a separate drawer in my bathroom so I never have to search for them. If I do need to bring other products, I always decant them into smaller travel-size bottles. You can find sets everywhere. Some beauty and haircare lines have even started creating travel size kits, which I love.
Now that I have everything ready, it’s time to pack. Packing cubes have become my go-to when packing. There are so many cute ones available and I picked up some different sets on Amazon. Usually, I pack each cube by clothing type because that is how I arrange things in a hotel. Rolling your clothes saves so much space and also keeps them from wrinkling, bonus! Who wants to iron on vacation? I always bring an empty cube for laundry, just to keep things organized.
A Lilly Pulitzer backpack has been my go-to for my carry-on bag. It’s so easy to throw on and my hands are free if I have a carry-on suitcase. Backpacks are so roomy too. I always carry an empty insulated water bottle in it to keep a bottle of water cold once I am through security.
I also want to find my luggage quickly. I’m ready to start my trip not sit at an airport. Amazon has some great luggage and I ordered a hot pink suitcase, you can’t miss it. Another tip, I always put a business card or contact information inside my suitcase. You never know if it will get lost and the luggage tag broken off. Coordinating monogrammed luggage is just classic and my favorite. Depending on the length of my trip, I will take my monogrammed weekender bag as my carry-on. I also have the coordinating jewelry roll, toiletry bag, and garment bag from Initial Outfitters. I just love when everything coordinates!
I hope you found some useful tips and are able to enjoy a trip soon. Now, how many days until Palm Beach?
Until next week,
Carrie
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Carrie Kelly Boutique, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
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