Start by cleaning your room! This may sound a little strange but it’s great to start from a clean slate. Make sure your laundry is done & put away so you’re choosing from the best selection of clothes. You’ll be able to see what items you’ll need to take with you, making sure you don’t forget anything!
Make sure you choose the best size bag. Unless you really know that you need a big bag, opt for the bag that you always think will be too small. It always ends up doing just fine. This being said make sure you leave some space for souvenirs & maybe new clothes!
Make a list of all the items you’ll need to take. Always best to forget things off the initial list & be able to add them on later than forget completely!
PLAN YOUR OUTFITS TO PREVENT OVERPACKING
To prevent over packing, be ruthless with the number of outfits you take. Just as fashion stylists advise you to create a capsule wardrobe based on your lifestyle, aim to create a ‘capsule suitcase’ based on the reason for your trip, taking into consideration the length of your stay & the weather at your destination.Select items which work together to make multiple outfits which cross over from day to night. For example, a sari for the beach can double as a wrap for the evening. For work, consider one dark jacket that can make a smart suit for daytime & can be glammed up with a silk top & jeans for evening drinks. Shoes take up a lot of space, so wear your comfiest, bulkiest pair whilst travelling & pack sandals with a bit of glitz which will work on the beach & at the restaurant. Wraps & sari’s are a must because they can turn a day dress into an evening dazzler. They also fold infinitesimally small, allowing you to indulge yourself by packing a little selection.
When I say consider the weather, I mean really think about the temperature. In the past I have made the mistake of packing dresses for Europe suited to summer in St Ives not St Tropez!
HOW TO ORGANISE A SUITCASE
Lay everything that you want to pack out on the floor or bed. Place the heaviest items at the bottom of the case, (the bottom is the section closest to the wheels). Fold or roll clothes as you prefer but try to group larger clothes together in outfits so they are easy to find. Place shoes down the gaps at the side & place underwear inside them; as well as making the most of available space, this also helps to maintain the shoe’s shape.Wrap liquids in plastic bags to save your entire case from spillages & if taking liquids in carry-on luggage, make sure you take no more than the maximum limit of 100ml per item and no more than a litre in total. These should be placed in a sealable plastic bag; full guidelines are available here. Make sure you have the bag to hand at the airport.
If you’re looking to minimise creases, try our Folding Palette. It contains a folding board with instructions on how to fold your clothes!
ORGANISE GARMENTS WITH PACKING CUBES
Packing Cubes make organising & protecting your clothes so much easier. Use them to separate larger bulky items or put outfits together. Having cubes in a range of sizes means you can keep small garments & accessories together making them easier to find. Separating items in packing cubes also helps to protect delicate garments from being snagged by zips, shoe or belt buckles. Packing cubes help to compress items making it easier to close your suitcase & ensure that everything stays in place. This is especially useful if you have to open you case at any point during the journey.
I have found travel packing cubes so useful that I have added them to my clothes care range. I wanted to ensure that mine were made from a light fabric to allow clothes to breath & ensure odours do not accumulate inside. They also have a transparent mesh lid so its easy to see what is packed inside; simple but so important for saving time. Our set includes 3 different sizes which fit together into a carry-on suitcase. 
To add a touch of luxury to my suitcase, I like to include one of our May Chang Drawer Sachets & Hanging Ovals in my case. These are perfectly compact & keep clothes smelling gorgeous during transit & they can be popped in to drawers or hung in wardrobes when you get to your destination. The scent is designed to deter clothes moths, so they also provide protection in storage away from home & help to improve hotel wardrobes that might not meet your standards!
TO FOLD OR TO ROLL CLOTHES?
Rolling clothes can help make more of the small space available. To reduce creasing, I like to roll items that crease more easily around bulkier items that crease less, a bit like a Swiss roll. However, you simply can’t avoid some creasing, so I always pack a handheld steamer because they are perfect for any type of fabric, even the most delicate, & they are small enough for a carry-on suitcase. We supply a super steamer which comes with a water bottle adapter, so you only need to pack the compact steaming unit. Here is our blog on Advice on How To Steam Clothes .NEED HELP?
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