1) BAG- the ideal TSA approved carry on size is 21 inches. Anything within and under that range is doable. I personally prefer an expandable hard-case suitcase like this one. Not only is it stylish, but also travels well and will sustain all the mishandling. In addition, I love love love these clear toiletry pouches. Not only are they TSA approved, the multiple sizes will hold all your little shenanigans in the most efficient way.
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2) CLOTHING : depending on your destination and the no. of days you are out, decide the kind of clothes you need. For my weeklong tropical destination, I am bringing two pairs of shorts with a t-shirt and a blouse to go with each, three dresses, a pair of jeans with two easy-breezy printed blouses, and a denim jacket. You never know how and when the temperatures might change, so a denim jacket has made it's way to the suitcase. In addition, an LBD ( little black dress ) for the unexpected date night is also tagging along. The best way to maximize your space, is to roll up the clothing and place them tightly in the crevices of your suitcase base.
3) SHOES- believe it or not, after clothing , your shoes are the second most important component of your suitcase. Considering all the walking you have to do, pack your shoes smart. I would have liked to bring my entire shoe-closet, a pair to go with every outfit, but that ain't practical. So I am bringing my trusted sneakers and my comfiest Tory Burch Reva flats for a more dressier evening soiree. And yes, my socks are well-rolled up and have been tightly placed inside my shoes.
4) UNDERGARMENTS- one for each day and a couple extra, just in case.... As I mentioned earlier, these bags are your suitcases' best friend and so for my undies too. Make sure to bring one nude and one black bra and coordinating panties. These will be the foundation for any outfit and will keep you covered in case of any wardrobe-malfunction.
5) SWIM AND BEACH ACCESSORIES- a tropical getaway and a swim-suit are inseparable. We will be hitting the beach once during the trip, so I have my teeny-weeny red swimsuit carefully placed in my beach hat. This will save space and keep all the beach necessities together. And.....yes, don't forget your beach towel, tanning lotion, sunscreen and sunglasses.
6) TECH ACCESSORIES- undeniably, life without tech-tools has become an impossibility. Headphones, chargers, I-pod, back-up charger, tablet...pack them all in these transparent cases and stay organized on the go.
7) HAIRCARE AND ACCESSORIES- as much as I love to don a playful natural wavy look, an occasional hair straightening is always on the cards. This time I am ditching my clunky jumbo hair straightener and bringing this sleek mini hair straightener with me. It is lightweight, tiny, effective, fits any space without adding any significant weight and also doubles up as a curler. For those time-crunched mornings, I'm also bringing my favorite travel-sized dry shampoo and conditioner, both from Eva NYC, a hairspray, a few hair-ties and bobby pins.
8) JEWELRY- I like to bring statement earrings to spruce up my outfits. I'll pack them in little individual tissue bags and plop them in my extra handbag that I've packed. You could do the same for your scarves and necklaces and bracelets too.
9) TOILETRIES - you can easily overpack, when it comes to toiletries. The TSA-approved sizing for carry-on liquids is 100ml per bottle, so I would suggest limiting your products to :
shampoo/conditioner
body wash
body lotion
body mist
face wash
moisturizer ( day/night )
makeup cleanser
cotton rounds
toothpaste/toothbrush
mouth rinse
10) MAKEUP- last but not the least: your makeup. I can bring my whole vanity, but I've learn't to limit the size of my makeup bag to a few basics, coz believe me, it tends to add a lot of weight to your suitcase. So for this time, I am bringing just the essentials: BB cream, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipgloss.
What are your packing hacks, and what other things are you bringing to your next trip ??
SHOP MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
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