A Traveler's Guide to Packing Light Without Sacrificing Style
Fitting a week's worth of outfits into one bag doesn't mean giving up on looking good. Here's how our crew does it.
1. Build around two or three colors
Pick a small color palette and stick to it. When every piece coordinates with every other piece, you can mix and match your way into twice as many outfits with half as many clothes.
2. Choose fabrics that travel well
Knits, merino wool, and wrinkle-resistant blends look fresh even after being balled up in a suitcase for a week. Save the linen for when you have an iron waiting.
3. Layer instead of bulking up
A few thin layers pack down smaller than one heavy jacket and give you more outfit combinations for changing weather. Think lightweight cardigan, packable vest, and a scarf you can add or drop as needed.
4. Let one statement piece do the heavy lifting
A bold scarf, a great pair of earrings, or a patterned bag can make the same basic outfit look completely different from one day to the next, without adding another full outfit to your bag.
5. Roll, don't fold
Rolling your clothes instead of folding them saves space and cuts down on deep creases, so you can skip packing the travel iron.
6. Bring two pairs of shoes, max
One pair that goes with everything and looks put-together, and one pair built for walking or whatever activity your trip calls for. Shoes take up the most room for the least payoff, so be picky.
7. Pack pieces that pull double duty
A dress that works for a museum in the day and dinner at night, or a jacket that layers over everything else you packed, earns its spot in your bag twice over.
Bonus: Pack a Berry Caye® tote
A foldable tote takes up almost no space in your suitcase, but it's ready the moment you need an extra bag for a day trip, a market run, or an overpacked souvenir stash on the way home.