Last weekend I went on a trip to Melbourne for three days. My partner was very surprised when I told him I would be able to fit all my items into a carry-on bag. He even asked me twice when booking the tickets whether I wanted extra check-in luggage just in case. He of little faith! I assured him that I could actually fit my outfits for three days into my small suit case and that I can in fact travel light. This also included my outfit for the wedding we were attending. The trick is to mix and match your outfits so that you have minimum items but maximum outfits. This does require a little advance planning, but trust me, when you can exit the airport without having to wait for your luggage at the baggage collection area; it is totally worth the time.
One of the biggest mistakes we make is over packing. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking ‘what if'. What if I suddenly need that pink coat I bought last year and have not yet worn? What if I need an extra pair of evening shoes because the ones I have selected may not go with all my outfits? Relax, if you have not yet worn that pink coat then odds are that you won't wear it on your trip and if you plan your outfits in advance, the pair of evening shoes you do take will match all your outfits.
The first thing to consider when packing is your travel plans. Travelling for work will require slightly different outfits than travelling for pleasure. Next, think about the location and weather. Will you be travelling to a warm climate or a cold one? Finally plan your travel wardrobe. Write a checklist of what you really need and only pack these items. My biggest tip is to select clothes in neutral colours. This way they will always match with all your other clothing items and you don't have to worry about shoes and coats not matching. Blues, blacks and charcoal colours are great because they don't show the dirt. Shoes and handbags in these colours are also easy to mix and match which means that you only need to pack one or two pairs of shoes and one handbag for your trip. My weekend travel checklist included the following:
- One pair of jeans - One top for each day - One pair of brown flat shoes - One brown handbag - One dress for wedding - One pair of shoes for wedding - One small clutch handbag for wedding - Jewelry (I packed my jewelry into my clutch bag to protect it and save space) - One cream pashmina/shawl for the cooler evenings that could be worn with both jeans and dress. Light and easy to pack! - Sufficient underwear for three days. I recommend packing an extra pair of pantyhose just in case of an emergency. They have a tendency to ladder at the most inconvenient times. - Pajamas - Makeup, skin care and hair products.
If you travel regularly you may wish to buy the travel bottle packs so that skin care and hair products can be stored in smaller containers for ease of packing. This also helps to keep your luggage weight to a minimum. Note that I wore the jeans, brown flat shoes, one top and brown handbag on the plane so they did not need to be packed. Bonus space! Of course, tailor your checklist to your travel plans. If all else fails, you can always buy some extra clothes when you arrive at your destination.
Happy travels.
Anna Martin is the co-founder of Izziana Image Consultants and is a great believer that personal image is an important part of increasing people's confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing.
