A Chick’s Guide to Clever (Over)packing
I’ve become a notorious over-packer amongst my family and friends. My bags are usually hovering on the edge of overweight when I fly (or sometimes just blatantly too heavy, like when I went back to school in August this year with 3 suitcases, 2 of which were around 75 pounds each) and I always travel with multiple bags… even if I’m only going away for the weekend. I’m always scared of not having what I need, even though you can usually find anything anywhere you are now-a-days, and I like being prepared and secure (Small handbags? Not even an option). Despite my efforts - and I really do try - I can never seem to achieve the art of packing lightly. I just can’t get around my need to be prepared (and I wasn’t even a Girl Scout) and even when I think I’m packing well, I always end up with a lot of stuff. I have gotten better though (practice makes perfect) at making it seem as if I’ve packed less - and sometimes actually doing it. I’m going to share my wisdom with you, chicks, so that hopefully I can save you from the $25 (or is it $50 now?) fee on overweight luggage I know too well. What you pack in is just as important as what you pack Especially when traveling by air, a light suitcase is a much. Make sure it’s roomy and has wheels (who wants to carry a suitcase after sitting on a plane for hours?), but test it out before you buy to make sure it won’t take up half of your allotted weight. Despite how beautiful and stylish Louis Vuitton trunks are, flying with them is only practical if you’re traveling on a private jet (not too mention they’re pretty pricey…). Go for one in a bright color so you know it’s yours. I love bags with big pockets on the outside, because sometimes things just fit so much better there, and you can access them easily if you need to grab or store something at the last minute. Get a duffel bag like this one in case you need to take things out of your suitcase if it’s overweight (it folds up and slips into small pockets with ease) - or as an extra bag for all the souvenirs you’re inevitably going to buy. If you want to have lots of options but don’t have too much room, pack tons of accessories - jewelry, clutches, scarves, and belts are over-packer friendly additions to your outfits. Dazzle at night with a sparkly statement jewelry piece of choice - more than one can overwhelm (try any department store for a big selection), and go casual chic for day with a light scarf and cute sunglasses (Ray Bans always look effortlessly cool, and stores like Forever 21 always have cute - and cheap - shades). Try to keep your shoes to a bare minimum - one pair of sandals, one pair of heels, and a pair of rubber flip-flops, sneakers, or flats, depending on where you’re going. If you cant decide between two pairs of sandals (I always have this problem), do eenie meenie minie mo and stick with it - or buy a new pair that you love even more than the first two (I try to avoid this last option). Be Savvy Stick toiletries or rolled up socks into your shoes, and make sure you put the big stuff (like your sneakers and your shampoo) a the bottom of your suitcase (your clothes with form around them). Some say that rolling your clothes instead of folding saves space, but I have yet to try it. Think really hard about everything you put in your suitcase and if you’ll really need it, or try packing everything and then taking a quarter of it out (or, if you’re feeling ballsy, a half). Make sure everything you pack can be used in three different ways, outfits, or occasions. And always carry a Tide-to-Go, and no one will ever know you wore that shirt on the plane, too. Daniella is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis. She always returns back to school from holidays with one more suitcase then when she left, and has (almost) mastered the art of packing exactly 49.5 pounds in her suitcases.
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