Wahhh! I am not going to BlogHer Chicago this year. If I were going though, I know just what I would pack. Listen up girls, when it comes to packing, I know what I’m talking about. So here are my best tips that are good for conferences or family vacations:
- Pack separates in the same color palette. If you spill something on your top or skirt/slacks, you will have a variety of choices to swap out that one piece. Keep dresses to a minimum. If you tear or spill on a dress, it’s trashed for your entire trip and you will come up short on clothes.
- Do pack one pretty dress for every two nights you will be away. They are your impact pieces and give you the opportunity to break out of that same color palette.
- Pack no more than 3 shoes.
1 pair in your color palette suitable for walking
1 pair in your color palette that is dressier for evenings
1 pair evening shoes in a neutral color to match all of your dresses
If you must pack running shoes, consider leaving the evening shoes to match your separates at home.
- Mail ahead. Anything you can send ahead to general delivery or the hotel saves you packing weight and time. Items I’d send ahead include heavy items, gifts and items that do not qualify for airline carry on.
- Double check your toiletries against carry on regulations. I have a swell travel curling iron that has to stay at home when I fly because it runs on propane cartridges. Don’t forget the three ounce liquid rule and be sure all your liquids are in a ziploc bag in an outside pocket of your suitcase so it can be removed quickly for the Screeners.
- Speaking of TSA Screeners, Do not wear metallic items like underwire bras, hair barettes and jewelry when flying. Seriously. For that matter leave all valuable jewelry at home. I only wear costume when I travel. Why worry when you are on vacation?
- Finally, be sure to pack a soft duffel type bag for the trip home. While checked baggage is a hassle when arriving, it’s often helpful when heading back home. Just remember not to pack anything in your checked bags you aren’t willing to lose forever.
Hope you found these tips helpful. For excellent BlogHer specific tips, visit Poppy. She’s got the scoop. Here’s to safe easy summer travel!
For more tips visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family
4 responses so far ↓
1
Pinkpeaks
// Jul 22, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Here are a few more tips:
Keep a cosmetics and toiletries bag packed at all times. When you travel, you can grab the travel bag and go.
If you are taking anything that could be crushed (like chips or crackers to eat as a snack - so you can save on pricey meals), pack it in a metal lunch box and place the lunch box in your suitcase.
No matter what the season, take an oversized hooded sweatshirt on the plane. Use it as a blanket that you KNOW is clean. The hood can cover your ears. And if you don’t need it for warmth, you can roll it up and use it as a pillow. It’s easy to carry: tie it around your waist. We’re going for comfort here, not style.
2
witchypoo
// Jul 23, 2009 at 6:16 am
One more tip, this from the military. If you tightly roll your garments properly, you can jam far more in the suitbase, plus done right, they emerge wrinkle-free. Bonus!
I always have a toiletries thingie ready to go.
3
Green Girl in Wisconsin
// Jul 23, 2009 at 12:03 pm
You are a smart packer–I’ve found that I always pack more than I need to bring and I’m a light packer to begin with.
4
Jen on the Edge
// Jul 24, 2009 at 8:15 am
Speaking as someone who as a LOT of, ahem, structure in her underwire bras, I can tell you that I have never, ever had a problem with airport security.
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