Packed and ready

How I pack, as a person who packs often (and other travel tips)

My frequent travel destination: our house in Saint-Calais, France.

I just got back to L.A. from a trip to France—mostly spent at our home in Saint-Calais, with a few day trips into Paris. I’ve been traveling a lot lately, mostly for work, a little for fun (if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the shuffle). With all the packing and unpacking, plus it being peak travel season, I thought I’d share how I pack and what I’ve found works best (for me).

Here are my travel “rules”—aka habits I’ve acquired over the years.

My Saint-Calais staple wardrobe

Pack by outfit:

I always start with the purpose of the trip, what’s on the schedule each day, and plan outfits accordingly. One for the day, one for the night. This is especially true for work trips. This time, since I was mostly in Saint-Calais, packing was simpler—both because it’s a very casual place, and because I’ve built a pretty good staple wardrobe that stays there.

Bring my fun pieces:

Travel is an opportunity to wear the pieces I don’t often wear at home. Depending on season, it could be a vintage (fake) fur stole, a wide-brimmed sun hat, fun jewelry, a patterned windbreaker, or silk scarves… These statement pieces can smarten up otherwise simple outfits.

Make piles:

Once I’ve thought about my outfits and have picked out all my pieces, I make piles. This is where the editing happens. (As seen in the video—too many shirts this time. Had to cut back.)

Luggage:

Most often: 1 checked bag, 1 rolly carry-on, my Weekender.

Rolly carry-on: shoes in shoe bags, jewelry, accessories, a hat, and some extra room for shopping while I’m away.

Clare V. Weekender: Rolled-up soft pants (for long flights—to change into before takeoff and out of before landing), laptop, eye mask and bandana for sleeping, a book, a craft, a pared-down version of toiletries (contact lens case & toothpaste/brush), headphones, passport, wallet, and sweater.

Checked bag: Everything else. I place dresses, blazers, and trousers that I don’t want to get too creased on the flat side of the suitcase (without the telescoping handle), then layer the rest, folded, on top. I fold everything nicely (it takes up less space) and unroll any sleeves or pant legs (cuffs take up more space). All the tees, under garments, workout wear, and soft clothes can be folded and rolled, and go on other side of suitcase.

The bags I packed for this trip: Petit Pot de Miel, Fanny Pack, Flat Clutch, Coin Clutch, Lune, Summer Simple Tote, Kathryn.

Entertainment:

For the flight, always bring a book—lately I’m finding the movie selection less and less interesting. I love an airport bookstore and have nearly missed many a flight while perusing. On this trip, I read The Tell by Amy Griffin, a memoir about her process of recovering the suppressed memories of sexual assault when she was a teenager. I liked it, it really felt like a novel. It is well-written and moving.

I also bring a craft on every trip—often some sort of embroidery. This time, I brought these deadstock vintage khaki French army envelopes, which I embroidered with friends’ initials (or hearts) for sunglasses.

Travel outfit #1 (skirt edition) ft. Weekender, Kathryn, Petit Pot De Miel

Travel outfit #2 ft. Petite Jeanne

Travel outfit #3 ft. Petit Moyen (we’re sold out of the fringe), Le Beaded Tassel, Lips Fob

Travel outfit #4 ft. Turnlock Louis (we’re sold out of the Turnlock version, check out our Le Resale section of the site)

Travel outfit:

I don’t wear athleisure (or sweats) when traveling, I just don’t feel like myself. My go-to travel outfit: loafers, trousers or skirt, button-up, blazer, baseball hat, sweater or sweatshirt for the plane, and always compression socks. Google ‘compression socks and flying’ and you’ll never fly without them again.

Toiletries:

I bring my own shampoo and my three Shani Darden staple skincare products, plus a few other essentials—all packed in my Vacances. I love this toiletry case. This summer it just lives open on my sink, ready to go—it’s so cute I don’t even mind.

Unpacking:

If I’m staying somewhere for more than two days, I unpack. I use the hotel dresser and pray to the hotel gods that it has been cleaned.

Beating jet lag:

May be controversial, but for big time differences, I take Advil PM for the first three nights I’m there, then stop. Same when I get home. It works every time. Many a second or third night, I think, “I got this, tonight I’m going to sleep well without the pill.” I don’t.

Fin

Did you read till the end? Do you want your 4 minutes back? Sorry, can’t give them to you, but I will read any travel hacks you can’t live without if you write them in the comment section. :) I hope you’re having a wonderful summer so far.