4 Packing Tips for Your Next Trip Abroad
Packing for a trip, and especially for a trip abroad can be fun but also a bit stressful. You don’t want to forget any items that you may need –and you want to look your best while jet-setting around the globe. When your closet is packed with stuff, it’s hard to find that special blouse or dress that you set aside for your next fabulous Moroccan adventure–wink-wink!!
As a matter of fact, planning outfits in general can become stress-inducing when your closet isn’t well-organized. That’s where my pals at Inspired Closets come to the rescue! They transform clutter closets into fun organized spaces where you can have fun expressing your inner fashionista.
When I connected with the designers at Inspired Closets–they shared these 4 closet accessories that will make packing for your next adventure easy and beautiful.
1. Plan Ahead with a Valet Rod.
You can buy a dress form to display your outfits–or you can go old school and lay it out on the bed–but if you have a fur baby–like me–you want to keep your clothing clean and fur-free. Using Inspired Closets valet rod–I discovered just how perfect this handy accessory is for planning outfits ahead. It’s always a good idea to lay out the outfits you plan to wear while on vacation and see if you can take away about 30% of what you think you will need. I love to shop while on vacation, and I have just made it a habit to leave some space in my suitcase for something new to bring home. After visiting one or two vintage shops, I can almost always find a fun new piece to add to my wardrobe collection. My preference is to travel with a few items that I can wear more than once to save space in my suitcase. A “travel outfit” also saves space in my luggage because I wear the bulkiest shoes, jacket, etc… that I have for the trip.
2. Choose which Scarves to add to your Suitcase with a Scarf Pull-Out.
Scarves are the ideal travel companion. Inspired Closets offers a solution to organize scarves that is built directly into your personalized closet system. This easily allows you to see all of the scarves that you have and makes packing them for a trip much easier. In most cases a scarf or pashmina is perfect for sweltering summer travel in countries where you are wearing a tank top–but respect for religious or social customs will make an open tank or low cut dress impossible to wear in certain spaces. You will want to pop into a church or a mosque to see the stunning architecture or art on display inside–so bring a scarf to modify your outfit and be respectful of the customs and religions where you are traveling. In a country like Morocco, a scarf is a must have –not just in a house of worship–but also when out and about. In a larger city like Marrakech, people will wear anything–but wearing revealing clothing will attract a lot of attention. So if you would rather blend in a bit more—bring a few cover-ups. Moreover, having a scarf is perfect for keeping off the chill that sets in once the sun goes down in the desert-like climate of North Africa—I always bring a few—and also wear one on the plane that doubles as a blanket for naptime.
3. Try Everything on Before you pack with a Built-In Mirror.
A built-in mirror is an extremely practical feature to add into a closet of any size. It folds seamlessly away and doesn’t take up as much space as a free-standing mirror–perfect for trying on clothes before you go on vacation! This step is important because you can catch any items that need to be mended, are stained, or (horror) do not fit anymore. You don’t want the unpleasant surprise of finding out that your pants are too tight or have a broken zipper. Some of us–and I do mean me–have fantasy outfits that we think are going to be just perfect for our trip. While in reality maybe these outfits aren’t the most practical or comfortable to be wearing for our camel-back ride through the desert. That’s why I recommend trying on all of your outfits before packing because it can help you decide what you really want to bring and what you may need to eliminate from your suitcase.
4. Lay Out Your Costume Jewelry for Travel with a Black Velvet Lined Jewelry Tray.
The chances are that you’ve got jewelry that is either expensive or sentimental to you. You want to keep it in a place that is secure and organized too. That’s why Inspired Closets offers a built-in black velvet lined jewelry tray with the option to add a locking mechanism. One of my personal longtime travel rules is absolutely no precious jewelry while traveling. By precious I mean, diamonds, pearls, gemstones, 14 to 18kt gold, platinum–etc. Too often, in many countries, wearing diamonds is an overt display of wealth and invites pickpockets in places like Morocco. I have been on a retreat where clients have taken off jewelry when getting a massage and they forgot they had it rolled up in their clothing and there goes their family heirloom! I am a big fan of jewelry of all kinds and a bold pair of costume jewelry can go a long way in dressing up an outfit. If you lose a pair of $20 earrings, it is not a big deal. I love to lay out my vintage costume jewelry when I am getting my packing done so I can see it all and visualize it with different outfits.
Whether you’re planning your outfit ahead for the next day or going on an international adventure with me to Morocco, an organized space makes everything easier. I hope you got some fun ideas from this article and consider working with a local closet professional like Inspired Closets for your closet makeover.
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