The search has been long and hard. It has produced broken straps, bags that couldn’t withstand the contents and that lingering feeling that something was missing. There weren’t enough compartments. I would wish the zipper would go all the way around. After buying what seemed like a $50 tote bag from various chain stores for every trip since I was 18, I finally caved and splurged on the Lo and Sons O.G. bag. Could this finally be the one? A few years ago, I posed the question, “Where art thou perfect travel tote bag?” Many others joined in on their troubles of locating the perfect bag for Continue Reading
The Rule of 7: How I Am Fashionably Carrying On For Three Months in Europe
The first time I traveled to Europe for an extensive period of time, I brought two large suitcases, a small duffle bag and a large tote. Since those early days of over-packing, each time I head to Europe for more than a month, I try to pair down how much I carry. Lugging suitcases on trains, planes and across cobbled cities while dodging tour groups is every traveler’s hellish, sweaty nightmare. Those condensed packing lists advising to just pack two T-shirts, one tank top, three dresses and four pairs of underwear aren’t up any sort of alley I want to be on in the first place. Traveling Continue Reading
To Cube or Not To Cube? Revelations on Packing Cubes
When I first used packing cubes, my motives were for one reason and one reason only. I wanted to bring more without taking up the extra space. I would load up packing cubes until they seemed more like packing bowling balls, heavy and cumbersome. At times I worried they would burst open due to the overloading. As these cubes ended up being more of a hindrance, I wrote off packing cubes, concluding they were actually space hoarders and that simple and careful placement of items in a bag could allow you to bring more instead. As I prepare to spend three months in Europe this summer, I am Continue Reading
The Root of The Matter: How To Pack For Your Mane
For most women, travel can take its toll on our heads of hair. From weird curls that spring up without warning to hair dryers that take down the electricity at your bed and breakfast overseas, traveling and packing for your mane can end up being your main packing problem. At the same time, packing for your hair can take up a great deal of space in your suitcase. From hair appliances to bottles of shampoo, I wanted to get to the root of the matter. For my upcoming three months in Europe, I need to be as compact as possible. This week I’m sharing how I go about packing compactly and smartly for Continue Reading
How To Be Cute and Compact For Holiday Travel
The last time that I had to pack for “home” for the holidays, I was in college and still somewhat of an over-packer. I would lug home a giant suitcase, usually one that I had to check and wait for at baggage claim. After years of already being home for the holidays, with little travel required, I am now faced with returning home for Thanksgiving and packing accordingly. I can’t just run down to my apartment if my jeans split at dinner. And yes, that did happened one year but I blame the pants, of course. Coming home for the holidays has its packing challenges. An over-packed bag with no Continue Reading
Six Greek Island Packing Essentials
When I begin the packing process, I always try to read up on what to wear for that specific destination. I don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb when I travel. For Greece in late summer and early fall, most of what I read noted that the dress is very casual, a shorts and T-shirts kind of place and season. Packing would be simple, or so I thought. In the chaos of getting married in a few days and also packing for three weeks in Greece and Sicily, I was left with that ultimate packing challenge I described earlier. And rather than accepting defeat and throwing a hodgepodge of articles Continue Reading
My Stylish Summer Travel Packing Essentials
I fell in love with packing at a young age, mostly for summer vacations. Clothes were lighter than winter, leaving more room for Little Mermaid tapes and toys. Even to this day, I never struggle when I have to pack for summer travel. It isn’t like spring where the weather cannot make up its mind. Summer packing is supposed to be easy, without need for sitting on suitcases to make bulky items fit. And yet many still struggle with summer packing, especially women where the options aren’t as simple as they can be for men of shorts, T-shirts and maybe a dress shirt here and there. I tend to Continue Reading