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Master the Art of Smart Packing for Your Next Escape

Strategic Planning for Seamless Journeys: The Vogue Editor's Approach

As the long weekends of summer beckon, the anticipation of a refreshing escape fills the air. Before you dive into booking your dream destination, consider adopting a strategic approach to your travel preparations. This season, resolve to refine your packing methodology, transforming what can often be a chaotic chore into an organized art form. The joy of an impromptu weekend trip is significantly enhanced when you possess the knack for consolidating your entire travel wardrobe into a compact roller bag with efficiency and precision.

It's no exaggeration to say that the editorial team at Vogue has accumulated extensive travel miles, granting them the status of seasoned globetrotters. Their experiences have led to a collection of tried-and-true packing philosophies that promise to revolutionize your travel habits.

Whether the challenge lies in curating a minimalist capsule wardrobe for your travels, maximizing every available centimeter within your luggage, or discovering a surprisingly spacious personal bag for plane essentials, our experts have a wealth of opinions and practical solutions. The debate between rolling and folding garments, or relying on a travel steamer versus simply hoping for the best, is thoroughly explored. Moreover, our editors reveal the indispensable travel items they never leave home without, ranging from skincare products designed to combat post-flight fatigue to elegant toiletry bags that neatly accommodate all your beauty necessities.

Join us as we unveil the ultimate Vogue editor's guide to packing for your sun-drenched adventures.

Talia Abbas: The Packing Enthusiast's Detailed Rituals

Talia Abbas, our esteemed shopping director, admits to a peculiar fondness for the packing process. She clarifies that her enjoyment stems not from the often-stressful task of outfit selection, but from the methodical physical act itself—the precise fitting, careful folding, and meticulous rolling, likening it to a strategic game of Tetris. For her, nearly every item is meticulously placed within a designated pouch, particularly footwear. Shoes, she insists, must be carefully stuffed with socks, wrapped in protective paper, and then nestled into individual cloth dust bags to prevent any contact with clothing. A non-negotiable item for any trip is her Alex Mill tote, which she describes as a "giant nesting doll." This versatile bag, she explains, might simultaneously hold her lunch, a non-foldable handbag, her ski helmet, all her jewelry (securely tucked into its own pouch, of course), and even additional shoes that couldn't fit into her carry-on. As someone who enjoys staying active even while on holiday, she always ensures there's adequate space for her running shoes.

Elly Leavitt: The Art of Maximizing Luggage Space

Elly Leavitt, lifestyle editor focusing on shopping, confesses she is far from a minimalist packer. Even for brief five-day excursions, she opts for the largest suitcase permitted by airlines like Delta. This is because she anticipates returning with cherished souvenirs, such as wrapped ceramics and jars of local honey. To safeguard these treasures, she lines the bottom of her suitcase with a beach towel, providing an extra layer of cushioning rather than merely rolling it. She mentions her current search for a new, lightweight linen option for this purpose. From there, her packing strategy evolves into a series of "Russian dolls," where smaller items are cleverly nested within larger ones. For instance, if she carries tall boots, a curious customs officer would discover them filled with an assortment of smaller essentials, from socks and playing cards to a curling iron. She's in the process of becoming a convert to packing cubes, which she uses to categorize items such as skirts, t-shirts, and bulkier clothing. Any remaining pockets of space are then filled with countless pouches containing chargers, beauty products, and pajama sets, providing additional padding. Despite the intricate nature of this operation, she proudly states that she has yet to experience a shattered honey jar upon her return.

Madeline Fass: Curated Outfits and Essential Organizers

Madeline Fass, fashion market director for shopping, customizes her packing strategy based on the duration of her trip. For any journey, she begins by trying on a variety of ensembles, meticulously selecting a few complete outfits that she knows will be suitable for her planned activities. While this process may not be the most time-efficient, she finds it highly effective. Often, she'll make minor adjustments to her selected looks during her trip, enjoying the creative challenge of working with the pieces she has. Her preferred method involves rolling clothes and carefully stowing shoes, handbags, and other accessories within dust bags and pouches for protection. As a frequent traveler, she maintains a collection of mini bottles and containers for her essential products, which she refills as needed. She keeps a dedicated pouch always ready, containing her passport, airplane headphones, eye mask, travel adapters, and hand cream, ensuring these critical items are always together and easily accessible. Among all her travel investments, she considers her blow-dry styler, which is compatible with European power sockets, to be her most valuable.

Liam Hess: The Durable and Practical Traveler

Liam Hess, senior lifestyle editor, offers a crucial tip for those concerned about maintaining a formal appearance during their travels: invest in Issey Miyake. He highlights his intentional acquisition of three Homme Plissé suits in varying colors over several years, praising their exceptional ability to return to their original shape without the need for steaming or ironing, a significant advantage in hotel settings. For long-haul flights, he strongly advises packing a miniature version of your toiletry bag within your carry-on. This allows for freshening up in the airplane restroom before landing, and he emphasizes bringing a bottle of water specifically for brushing teeth. He proudly notes that his scotchgrain leather Mulberry washbag has been a reliable companion for nearly two decades, proving its worth as a long-term investment. Additionally, he recommends the mini version of the Lineage Cream Skin mist for anyone whose skin tends to become dry and "crusty" after extended air travel, much like his own.

Kiana Murden: Organized Chaos and Preparedness

Kiana Murden, beauty editor for shopping, describes her packing philosophy as "systematic chaos." For outfits that aren't meticulously planned down to the last accessory, she organizes her clothing based on wearability, ensuring she includes any item she might potentially want to wear. Unsurprisingly, this leads her to be an over-packer. Fortunately, packing cubes help her maintain a semblance of order: a large one for folded clothes, and a smaller one for activewear, pajamas, and undergarments. Shoes and purses are carefully placed in dust bags. Her toiletry bag, makeup pouch, and perfume samples are consistently packed. She shares a beauty editor's tip: always keep a sheet mask, eye patches, and cotton rounds readily available in your carry-on's mesh pocket. After all jewelry is secured in her suitcase, she places any necessary hot tools on top before closing it.

Given her extensive packing, a carry-on alone is insufficient. Her personal item, therefore, must be capacious enough to hold last-minute additions, cosmetics, and accessories, along with a collection of mini pouches for sanitizers, headphones, and medications. She concludes by stating her desire to be prepared for any eventuality.

Conçetta Ciarlo: Efficiency Through Organization and Smart Choices

Conçetta Ciarlo, a beauty writer for shopping, candidly admits her disdain for both packing and unpacking, finding no relief in either task. Her primary objective when traveling is to avoid checking a suitcase, motivated by impatience and observing less-than-ideal behavior at airports. Her method involves a strategic division of items: clothes, a single hair tool, and shoes go into her suitcase, always leaving space for potential shopping. Toiletries, her laptop, and other personal items are kept in her personal bag. To streamline her packing, she was introduced to Baggu packing cubes by a professional photographer friend who frequently travels with music artists. These cubes have transformed her routine, eliminating the need to search through layers of clothes; tops reside in one cube, undergarments in another, and shoes are kept separate. She prefers to pack by envisioning complete outfits, allowing for versatile use of each item. She is particular about her skincare and shampoo, opting for travel-sized versions when possible, or using her pre-labeled Cadence capsules to decant products. For makeup, she prefers a vertical storage case to easily access items. When it comes to hair tools, she chooses a universal-voltage option capable of multiple styles, trusting that hotels will provide a hair dryer.

Irene Kim: The Under-Packer's Strategic Choices

Irene Kim, production and editorial associate for runway, identifies as an under-packer, committed to fitting all her belongings into a carry-on and a personal item. This approach demands meticulous strategic planning. Her go-to carry-on alternates between a fashionable Off-White suitcase and her dependable Bigger Carry-On from Away. However, she emphatically recommends the Alex Mill Weekend tote, describing it as a life-changing item. Its ability to fit under an economy class seat and its adjustable size, achieved with a few simple snaps, make it exceptionally versatile. For vacations, she embraces her natural hair texture to avoid the bulk and weight of hair tools, relying instead on a quality curl cream like her favorite from Crown Affair. Her clothing choices prioritize essentials, typically including one or two Dôen dresses, a pair of jeans, and Havaianas. For all other items, she remains flexible, adapting to her destination and often hoping to borrow from her travel companions.

Minty Mellon: Balancing Practicality with Unexpected Needs

Minty Mellon, a market editor for shopping, adheres to a straightforward rule: for trips under a week, she commits to using only a carry-on. However, she acknowledges that this is often more complex than it sounds. Her process begins with creating piles of clothing—denim, knits, and a "just in case" selection. She then inevitably overfills her suitcase, initiating a painstaking editing process of removing items one by one until the zipper finally closes. While she finds this the most practical method, she also describes it as emotionally challenging, as letting go of potential outfit options can be difficult when preparing for unforeseen moments. In contrast to her sometimes-chaotic suitcase, her travel tote is meticulously organized. Her Parker Thatch Jack bag comfortably accommodates all her necessities: a laptop (an absolute must-have), a makeup bag, a separate toiletry case, a couple of books she optimistically plans to read, and a small stuffed bunny she refuses to leave behind. It may not be perfect, she admits, but it consistently serves her needs.

Andrea Zendejas: Evolving Packing Strategies for Family Travel

Andrea Zendejas, a market editor for shopping, admits she has never been a light packer. While she has improved over time, the addition of a new family member has transformed light packing from a mere goal into a critical necessity. One of her most valuable packing tips came from her sister, Sarah, who advocates for packing items as flat as possible. This technique converted Andrea from a loyal packing cube user, as she quickly realized it allowed her to fit significantly more into her luggage. She makes an effort to pack all clothing inside out, particularly delicate fabrics and blazers, to provide extra protection during transit. Her wardrobe choices lean towards pieces made from wrinkle-resistant fabrics, such as jersey, which hold up well during travel. For her beauty essentials, she relies on a train case. Another helpful tip, from her sister Susanna, is to always include an extra foldable tote bag for any purchases made during the trip. This additional duffel, she finds, acts as a complete safety net for unexpected acquisitions.