Fitting 50 Garments Into 1 Carry-On

[trip style = any]

People often ask me how I fit everything into my carry-on and still look like I've got a wardrobe's worth of clothes. Whether I travel for a weekend or a month, on trip styles ranging from glamping to cold-climate sightseeing, it's ALWAYS with a carry-on.

This Thursday, I'm boarding a flight to Thailand with only a purse and a carry-on suitcase to sustain me for a 12-day trip style = sun + beach + luxe + urban adventure. While sightseeing in Bangkok, beaching it in Hua Hin and exploring Narita, Japan, I'll use packing techniques and outfit trickery to make it seem like I've lugged around a massive suitcase, yet all I'll need will be contained in a 14 x 9 x 22" space.

To give you a sense of how many items can actually fit into a boxy, hollow space, I've documented my Thailand packing process below from outfit chaos to suitcase order. Think about the exponential outfit possibilities with 50+ garments! I dare you to take the plunge and pack less. Less is more on the road. {PS. It's possible on business trips too! My husband brings the same size carry-on with two suits, downtime-wear, etc. for five days on the road.}

Airport wear: blazer, top, jeans, belt, shoes and pashminaPacked: flip flops, sandals, wooden wedges, shorts, pants, long skirt, short skirt, sweater, blazer, 5 dresses, 8 tops, 3 tanks, yoga clothes, 2 bathing suits, belt, scarf, toiletries, costume jewelry {limit 'good stuff' while you travel}, straightener, clutch, fold-flat beach bag, fold-flat hat, sunglasses, magazines/books and tech with plugins

Carry-On Secrets {Outfit Trickery}

• Bring a bag that's nearing the airline's maximum allowable carry-on size.
• Invest in a rolling suitcase that's black, tall and slim with wheels that don't protrude too much {short and wide bags in bright colors are ALWAYS targeted by nitpicky airlines}.
• Bring a purse, murse {man bag} or laptop bag for extra items you'll need in-flight and store this under your seat {people who put double bags in the overhead bin on full flights are cheaters}.
• If you're packing two shirts that are similar, go with one. Edit. Edit. Edit.
• Don't worry about wearing the same garment twice, it's mission critical to carry-on survival and accessories will help distract from--gasp--wearing the same top as yesterday.
• Opt for a higher amount of tops over bottoms.
• Limit bulky jackets and blazers and wear these on the plane to save space in your bag. You can always take them off as soon as you board.
• Pack in general color groups. For example, I haven't brought only blacks and whites, but rather a few color themes that will allow me to mix and match. Beyond this, have a little fun-- for example, my clutch is a subdued leopard print.
• If needed, wash small garments while there {for 2-week+ trips, send garments out to be cleaned or find a laundromat}.

[photos by @tripstyler]

NYC Restau-Style

[trip style = urban]

{Editor's Note: Today is a hybrid of our destination Spotlight{s} and Fashion Friday columns mix-mastered into one! Enjoy.}

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May I take a minute of your time for a New York minute?

I recently wrote an article for the travel section of The Daily Meal {an NYC-based foodie site} about what to pack for food-loving adventures, one of which was restaurant tasting in NYC.

The Trip In late November my sister {Trip Styler's Fashion Friday columnist} and I took a literal bite out of the Big Apple. Not wanting to waste any time during our 3-night/4-day stay, she made a foodie itinerary---based on the army of lifestyle bloggers she follows---that took us to corner bistros and alley-cat restaurants. See my top 3 picks below.

The Garb Trying to fit a restaurant and shopping checklist the size of the Chrysler building into one trip style = extended weekend, we were constantly on the go, meaning many of the fancier get-ups we brought for dinner didn't get worn. Ideally, it's always fun to get dressed up for a night out, but practically, it doesn't always happen that way when you've been out and about ALL day and need nourishment at.that.moment---hence the above day-to-night NYC restaurant'ing packing/style guide. - Women // Start with colored jeans, jean shirt, leather jacket and a Kate Spade messenger bag. End with the same bottoms, plus a black tank and leopard blazer to finish the look. - Men // Start with dark-wash jeans, button-up shirt and blazer. End by adding a pocket square and scarf to finish the look.

The Restaurants 1/ Breakfast // Freemans - Walking down a narrow alley, you reach a tall brick building with a small, nondescript door. Inside, the people and cuisine are the art in the old, canvas-like space. Freemans is an urban tavern experience with food that pulls from American traditions.

2/ Lunch // Cafe Cluny - This petite, cream-colored corner bistro is where conversation and contemplation happen---a place you could just as easily chat with friends or sit solo and read a novel. Servers wear striped Breton shirts, which I'm quite sure makes the French food taste that much better.

3/ Dinner // August - A small and simple interior meant to highlight the Mediterranean meals opens up into a glass-enclosed terrace with glowing lights, overhanging flowers and banquette seating reminiscent of massive church pews. Warning: the restaurant might have to kick you out, because you'll want to stay all night.

*See additional Trip Styler NYC suggestions here: eat, do & stay.

[photos and images via @tripstyler, cafe cluny & august]

Packing Pointers With Shaun

[trip style = any]

Last week we had the great pleasure of interviewing Shaun, a Canadian rock star and author of "How To Pack Like A Rock Star" for our monthly feature, The Savvy Traveler.

Today, we get a sneak-peek at Shaun's packing prowess. Curious about how he fits a LOT into a LITTLE space, I asked him to share a few of his never-before-published techniques {that I plan to incorporate into my own packing process}:

1/ About his patent-pending folding method
"It's about being able to see all your clothes from the moment you open your bag; that way you're not rummaging through everything just to find that one article of clothing."

2/ What he likens his packing method to
"Bricks. For the same reason bricks aren't round, in a square suitcase you don't save space by putting in cylindrical objects because they don't stack well on top of each other."

3/ How many articles of clothing he fits in his carry-on {for a two-week trip}
"Ten t-shirts, two pairs of jeans, four dress shirts, a hoodie, 10 pairs of underwear, five white and five dark pairs of socks, and a toiletries bag. I can easily hide a pair of runners underneath as well, not to mention the two external pockets that are empty, but I tend to use those for dirty clothes and shower sandals."

4/ What items are always on his packing list
a} "Two words: Shower. Sandals." "My work lends me to exploring many great cities; however, it can also include some very dark and dirty music venues with dingy showers. Cheap flip flops have saved me on numerous occasions and they slip away easily into a wet pocket on the outside of my suitcase!"

b} "Three words: Industrial. Strength. Earplugs." "When I wake up on the plane or in a new country, I prefer to ease my ears into it by keeping them covered until I'm fully ready to explore. I like taking in the sights of a new city first without overloading my senses."

Related
Packing 103
Packing 102
Packing 101 Size Matters
Travel iPhone Apps :: PackingPro

[photos c/o shaun]

Size Matters

[trip style = weekending] With airlines continuing to jack up prices for checked baggage, and carry-on allowances getting more scant, traveling with the right type and size of carry-on can increase your packing space and provide peace of mind. Any time I'm travelling on an airline with stingy or overly strict carry-on requirements, or on a summer road trip, I bring a flexible bag instead of a structured carry-on, here's why...

Why Carry-On Type And Size Matter If an airline ever has any suspicion about your bag’s size, it will be tested in either the carry-on ‘cage’ or with a measuring tape. And if your bag’s wheels stick out even 2 cm beyond the guidelines, too bad so sad. Not only is your thoughtfully packed carry-on going under the plane, you may even get stuck with a fee. After leaning 'the hard way' from an experience with Allegiant Airlines, from now on, if my carry-on does not exactly fit with the airline’s baggage requirements, I will always travel with a flexible bag (like my preferred Longchamp Le Pliage), so it can be moulded and punched into place if selected for a sizing test.

Flexible Bags a) Maintain the convenience of carry-on travel. b) Allow you to pack to the fullest knowing that if required, the bag could be forced into the airline’s carry-on configuration. c) Are lighter than structured carry-ons, allowing you to maximize the weight inside the bag! d) Provide travel {and packing} confidence.

Tips

• always favour bags in darker colours, they stand out less and seldom attract a ‘random measurement.’
• know your airline’s baggage sizing requirements, and be able to quote them if your bag is in question---being confident and assertive helps.
• if you think there’s any grey area between your measurement and the airline’s measurement of your bag, bring a smaller size or buy an unstructured bag to cram into the measurement cage, if requested.
• when buying a carry-on, look for long and lean versus short and wide. wider bags ‘appear’ bigger.
• most airlines allow a max carry-on size of 45″ total, or 22″ x 14″ x 9″.
• don’t forget about weight, many airlines' max carry-on weight is now 25 pounds or less, and again, if you bag looks big, it will be weighed.

Trip Styler Tip :: Flexible, dark-coloured, duffel-like bags are also great for summer road trips, weekending at the cabin or boating. They can be crammed into small spaces like a crevice in your trunk or boat, and beaten-up a little enroute. Your casual weekend clothes won't mind, just remember to pack your toiletries extra well, or keep them with you.

Related Packing 103 Packing 102 Mastering the Art of Packing {Packing 101} Travel Essentials for Any Trip Style High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat? A Summer Weekend Packing List Go-To Carry-On Toiletries Travel iPhone Apps :: PackingPro The Art of Carry-On Travel Going Away? Packing and To Do List

[photo: Longchamp Extendible Le Pliage bag from Neiman Marcus in the US, and here in Canada.]

10 Travel Tips for Every Trip Style

[trip style = any]

Recently, I've been traveling a lot on planes, trains and automobiles, partaking in a variety of different trip styles: glamping, urban, sightseeing, sun, beach, sailing, luxe and budget. On a recent trip to NYC, I couldn't sleep because I was severely jetlagged just having come home from Australia, so in a sudden moment of 4am inspiration, I started to compile the below list of simple, and {hopefully} helpful travel tips, applicable to any trip style.

10 Travel Tips For Any Trip Style 1/ Smartphone = Mirror If your hotel room has no full-length mirror, which is sadly more common than you'd think, check your outfit by taking a picture of yourself with your smarphone or digi cam. Edit your look based on the picture.

2/ Slip It Always bring washable slippers on vacation. They work well for hotels that don't provide them, as well as keep you cozy on the plane {never, never walk to the bathroom in sox or bare feet}. I usually bring old hotel slippers, which amazingly, wash really well.

3/ Wrap It For those of you who read Trip Styler regularly, you know my deep affinity for pashminas and oversized scarves for travel. Use this multi-purpose wonder as a scarf, plane blanket, beach towel or pool/beach cover-up. Recently, my pashmina also came in handy when I walked home from my Canada Line {Vancouver's airport to downtown train} station post-flight. I wore it like this to protect my head from the rain.

4/ Wipe it You never know when wipes will come in handy. Every time I travel, whether the trip style is adventure, urban or anything in between, there's always an opportunity to use wipes. They are great for cleaning sticky food from your hands, sanitizing anything or having an impromptu shower in the airport's bathroom.

5/ Back-Up Always travel with back-up of your travel itinerary and photocopy of essential travel documents. I use the Tripit app to compile my travel itinerary digitally, but having a physical back-up is great when your phone is about to die, etc...

6/ H20 Stay healthy on the road. For the duration of your entire trip, from lift-off to touch-down, keep drinking water to flush your system. As well, consider taking a daily emergen-c vitamin supplement pack {or like product} to make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape for your cross-border galavanting.

7/ When In Rome This is one of my favourite all-time sayings. It also acts as a call to action for travelers. When abroad, there is nothing sweeter than attempting to live like a local, diving head first into the culture. For example, in New York: walk everywhere, dress-up for dinner and try to find a roof-top terrace to enjoy a drink, or in Italy: eat dinner at 9pm and go for it with the pasta. You can always work off the pounds when you return.

8/ Blend Be yourself and stay true to a version of your style, but try to blend in, so you don't become a tourist target. This is a lot easier said than done, but when possible, not sticking out like a soar thumb will only help your case as a tourist. Practically speaking, I usually observe what people are wearing, and if I like it, buy one or two pieces of clothing as a blending technique and trip momento.

9/ Suggestion Dominos Start with people you trust when asking for travel suggestions in your destination. Once there, if there's a restaurant you like, ask the server or manager where they'd suggest, and so on. Wild card: for true local faves, ask cab drivers or hotel workers where they like to eat.

10/ Let's Get Physical Always get a local map in case there’s no wifi, or your phone dies. Fold it so you only need to look at a small portion every time you take it out. Though I'm a huge lover of all things digital and app-related, having a physical document as a back-up does provide that extra bit of insurance.