Gather all the Garments you Anticipate Needing.
Then put half of them back. Select clothes in the same
color family, packing more tops than bottoms. For a
five-day trip, youll likely need five shirts, two pairs
of slacks or jeans, and one skirt.
Choose Knits, Wools, and Cottons. These
fabrics tend to resist wrinkles and are versatile
(some garments can do double duty, like yoga pants that
moonlight as pajamas.)
Roll Softer Garments and Fold Stiffer Ones.
Underwear, T-shirts, jeans, cotton pants, and knitwear
wont wrinkle when rolled tightly. Stiffer fabrics,
such as starched cotton shirts, blazers, dressy
pants. And skirts should be carefully folded.
Arrange Rolled Items in the Bottom of the Bag.
Think of your suitcase as a three-layer cake. The Suitcase is the icing, the
rolled items make up the first layer.
Place Folded Garments Next.
For your (cream filling) middle layer, start with the
longest items, like skirts and slacks. Stack the
garments on top of each other, alternating waists
with hems. Position the pile flush with the suitcase,
draping leftover fabric over the opposite end (This
conserves space since thick waistbands wont be piled on
top of one another). Wrap the draped ends of the pile
into the center. Next, lay collars of shorter items,
like shirts, at the hinge with the ends over the
handles. Fold the collars over once and fold the arms
in.
Cover the Pile with a Dry-Cleaning Bag.
Its like Botox for your clothes. Because of the bags slippery surface,
folded clothes dont stay in one place long enough for
creases to set. Easy upgrade - place a bag between each
layer of clothing. To get to a certain layer easily,
simply pull the ends of the bag up on either side.
Top
the Pile with the Clothes You'll Need First.
Anything goes with your top layer a bathing suit or pajamas.
Snake Belts Around the Perimeter of the Bag.
This cradles your three layers.
Your Shoes
Follow the Rule of Three.
Consider one casual sandal or loafer, sneakers and an
evening shoe to be your holy trinity. Wear the heaviest
pair and pack the rest.
Stuff Shoes. With sunglasses and electronic
chargers or socks.
Slip Shoes into One-Gallon Size Resealable Bags.
Then set them along the sides of the bag.
Your Valuables
Never Pack Your Valuables in Checked Bags. Since
9/11, all checked backed must be unlocked. These bags go through an X-ray machine
for inspectors to see what's in your bags and at their discretion open your bags.
Unfortunately, there are some dishonest screeners who steal valuables from bags
they are screening.
Stow Jewelry in Small Containers.
35-millimeter film containers or seven-day plastic pillboxes make good
jewelry containers. Line them with tissue paper.
Your Cosmetics
The New TSA Rules Limit Liquid
Carry On. 3 ounce bottles or less (by volume)
must be put into a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic,
zip-top bag and placed in screening bin. The one-quart
bag per person limits the total liquid volume each
traveler can bring on to 3 oz. The rest of your
cosmetics must be in your checked bags.
