I had to pack a carry on suitcase for a 6 day trip to New York City. 3 of those days will be a fun girls weekend, followed by a 3 day menswear buying trip for work. I love market trips to New York and I think it is one of the most exciting parts of my job! One of the more daunting tasks is deciding what to wear for such a quick trip while packing a carry on suitcase. I need to be able to look work appropriate, be comfortable and have my outfit translate from day to night. I like to keep my outfits effortless and simple. Dresses are a must– very easy to pack and appropriate no matter what you are doing. You never know who you will meet or what buying meetings could turn into dinner and cocktails.
Top 3 Packing Tips for a Carry On Suitcase
Plan your outfits in advance: I can’t stress enough how important this is. I know my schedule in advance for each day I will be in NYC. This allows me to plan out my outfits, accessories and shoes to prevent overpacking. I usually do not have a lot of time in my room and want to get as much sleep as possible, so I photograph my looks before hand. This allows me to make sure I do not forget any pieces I wanted to wear with each outfit and is a huge time saver!
Roll everything: If you want to prevent wrinkling, rolling your clothes is a godsend! I find this also helps to save space in my suitcase.
Maximize space: If you are bringing any purses, for example I am bringing my Rebecca Minkoff black quilted bag for dinner and drinks, it’s a great space saver to put any socks, underwear or jewelry inside the bag. This will also help keep the shape of the bag and prevent it from being crushed in your travels.
Follow me on Snapchat (deakinchelsea) and on Instagram for behind the scenes footage of what a buying trip looks like. I promise it involves way more fun than work and lots of shopping!