Carry-on Chronicles

I’m a firm believer in packing good things, and not lots of things. This is what's coming with me...

I love to travel. For me, discovering new parts of the world is the ultimate privilege and luxury, and I’m fortunate that work often has me zigzagging the globe for trunk shows, bead sourcing, vendor and retailer meet-ups and the like. We also prioritize travel personally (we brought our 5 year old, Ruby, to Thailand for Thanksgiving), and in recent years have booked extended family travel in lieu of gifts and traditional celebrations over the holidays. Despite my love for travel, I hate checking a bag. I am known to my mother-in-law as Mary Poppins, who can produce many-a-different outfits from a tiny carry-on (there’s a mix-and-match strategy here!). I’m also a magpie who wants to bring home souvenirs from the places I visit, so I try to leave a few inches of space at the top of my luggage. I’m a firm believer in packing good things, and not lots of things (similar to the way I shop), and prioritizing pieces that can be dressed up and dressed down, and worn on repeat without an iron intervention. I’m recently back from two weeks in Bangkok and about to pack up for a week in Mexico en route to a few days in California (tricky because the climates will be different), and none of it will be checked.

Here: A few things that are going in my suitcase from your resident carry-on queen.

Here I am in my Bangkok hotel room wearing a favorite pair of Pleats Please pale blue pants.

1. I own a lot of Pleats Please. These clothes are the best packing hack: They pack up to nothing, they don’t wrinkle, and they flatter most everybody. I usually have at least one to two pairs of pants and dresses in my bag and they take up minimal space. Try the pants in a fun yet neutral color like terracotta, and don’t be scared of a statement dress if it packs up small. This dress is the type of cool look friends will remember (and wonder, how did she pack in a carry-on?). I own a similar version that’s been out on dates in the city and acted as a cover-up in the Caribbean.

   

2. One to two pairs of great sunnies always come with me. Make sure they’re a pair you love (not too trendy), and wear on repeat. (Also: I’m known to avoid and seek light exposure in order to beat jet lag especially during Asia travel, so you’ll sometimes see me in sunglasses at breakfast). I love these and own these.

3. I love having a place for essentials when I travel and everything that Lindquist makes is just so thoughtful and beautiful (the pieces are entirely manufactured in the brands’ Rhode Island studio). This cross body for your phone and passport is elegant and practical.

4. I recently traveled with a colleague, who has amazing skin. She said this helped her skin get back its glow after our 15 hour flight.

   

5. Another tip for travel packing is monochromatic dressing: it’s the fastest way to look “put together,” but you can get a lot of mileage out of your pieces separately as well. I discovered this (very packable!) Tibi look at Kickpleat in Austin; the skirt packs to nothing and the sweater is perfect for a cold plane ride.

6. And then pack a few necklaces to mix and match with your monochromatic look. When packing light, I prefer things that can be layered, like the Cabana (wear it long or doubled) and the Cortez (which I always wear with my 14k Tiny Beaded Turquoise Necklace and charms – my favs are this, this, and this.)

7. I own this Naghedi jewelry pouch for transporting my vacation jewels.

8. I am a big proponent of a square scarf when traveling: wear it around your neck, around your waist, or in your hair. I love this one.

9. I also never travel without a huge wrap: this is your shawl on cold evenings and your blanket on the plane. I love it in a statement color (don’t be scared to mix this with whatever clothes you bring! Color is good!).

10. I own this suit in brown and am obsessed with the luxe material. I’m into the black for versatility though: it’s elevated enough to pair with a sarong (or wear as a bodysuit in the evening), which means additional mileage beyond the beach or hotel pool.

11. Speaking of sarongs: this elegant one would be so versatile. I would positively wear this as a skirt in the evening, and because it’s silk georgette, it’s going to get a lot less wrinkled than a cotton pareo.

12. I wear a lot of jeans in life, but less so when I travel. They take up a lot of space and can look casual when you don’t have the right top / shoes / accessories to pair them with. Try a simple dress or skirt instead, like this classic white, which could be dressed up and dressed down, and again, the heavy weight jersey is going to wrinkle way less than cotton.

13. Another denim alternative that looks incredibly comfortable and will positively look cuter than jeans post-unpacking: these knit pink pants that would be equally suitable exploring a new city or lounging by the pool.

14. Headed somewhere warm? Claudent’s classic separates are made with UPF-rated fabrics, so you can look good and dress smart at the same time. The chic button up dress would be my selection from beach to lunch to dinner (tie that Matteau sarong skirt over it and add a strappy sandal!).

15. I love packing a lightweight, compact cotton robe when traveling (especially to the shared rental houses we often do with extended family over the holidays). More appropriate than PJs, but for when you’re not quite ready to get dressed, a cute robe comes in handy.

16. The ultimate travel companion: a subscription to Yolo Journal, my favorite insider guides to zillions of destinations including tips from locals, hotel reviews, and itinerary suggestions.

17. This is my sister’s recommendation, and one she swears is very much worth the room in the carry-on: a watercolor set so that she can (try to) be screen free on vacay and draw the things she sees. She’s been known to bring this everywhere.

18. For when you accidentally purchase a set of 12 dinner plates on the side of the road in Italy (I’ve done it), you may just need an extra duffle. This one folds up into essentially an envelope so it’ll fit neatly into your suitcase in case of a shopping emergency.

19. Last but not least, I love an espadrille for travel because they can be worn both day and night. This pair is extra chic in nappa leather.

    Okay, I’m off to finish packing!
    Wishing you all a happy, relaxing holiday!

    xx,

    Lizzie