

The Perfect: Way to Pack

Expert tips from packing pro Hitha Palepu.


Welcome to "The Perfect," ELLE.com's weekly roundup, where we lay out exactly what you'll need for the perfect outfit, shopping list, Saturday night, or whatever it may be. In a shopping landscape where the options are endless, consider it a complete snapshot of must-haves.

Believe it or not, there's so much more to packing than considering what you might want to wear while you're away and tossing it all in your suitcase. "It takes some planning, but you can absolutely pack for 10 days in a carry-on," explained Hitha Palepu, an expert who's wrote the book, literally, on smart packing (How to Pack, amazon.com). "I'm a big proponent of packing clothes that can be worn in multiple looks, and for trips with a lot of single-wear outfits, especially weddings, you can squeeze 3-5 days in a carry-on suitcase," she told ELLE.com.

"I was traveling on a weekly basis for my work at a pharmaceutical company. Each trip was different and often had multiple pit stops: a pitch meeting, a manufacturing facility tour, internal meetings. Packing in a carry-on was a must when you're expected to move quickly and efficiently, but not a reason to sacrifice my personal style," says Palepu. A year of suitcase trial-and-error resulted in a method she wound up sharing with others on her blog, an experience that proved the hunger for help is real ("Tips for power-packing have become my most viewed and shared content"). Here, an entry-level class on perfecting your packing game.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1 Suitcase

"The two biggest factors when picking a suitcase is how you're traveling—plane, train, or automobile—and the space limitations of your transportation. If you're flying on small airplanes or have connections, a four-wheeled suitcase that meets international carry-on requirements will be your best option, as it's easier to drag alongside or fit in tiny overhead bins."

Away The Carry-On, $225; awaytravel.com

2 Weekender

"It's important think about how long you'll be walking with your suitcase or whether you have tight connections. If you have limited time with your luggage, like in a car or train, a weekender bag or a two-wheeled suitcase is perfect."

Everlane The Dipped Weekender, $115; everlane.com

3 Liquid Carry-All

"Ditch the sad plastic baggie, and invest in a quart-sized, zippered bag. You'll immediately have more room, and the bag will prevent spills from seeping into the rest of your luggage. For items I need to pack, I check to see if there's a non-liquid option, like facial towelettes instead of face wash, sheet masks instead of liquid tubes, solid deodorant instead of a spray. All of my non-liquid toiletries go in their own dopp kit so I can fit as many liquid products in my quart-sized bag as possible."

Madewell Large Crystalline Travel Bag, $25; madewell.com

4 Accessories


Clockwise from top: Lo Progeny Bag, $469 at current conversion rate, loprogeny.com; Ray-Ban Classic Wayfarer, $150; nordstrom.com; MZ Wallace Medium Metro Tote, $215; mzwallace.com; Malone Souliers Flat Slides, $425; shopbop.com

5 Clothing

Use Palepu's formulaic packing list when thinking about clothes to pack.  "You can get two to three wears out of a collared shirt," she advises. "Chambray styles are great because you can wear them buttoned up or open over a dress, and it can be both casual and dressed up. Dresses get two to three wears too. I like ones that come with a slip so you can break it down and wear the sheer top as a swim coverup and the slip as nightwear. You can wear a pair of pants three to four times—pack ones that don't stretch out after a single wear."

Gap Boyfriend Shirt, $48; gap.com

6 Cosmetic Case


TDE Mini Travel Case, $100; thedailyedited.com

7 Skincare

"I divide my regular beauty routine into two categories when packing: what I must use and what I can swap. For the former, I purchase travel-sized versions of them. For the items I'm not particular about, I'll leave them at home and use the hotel's body wash, lotion, and conditioner as a shave gel." 

Verso Travel Series, $55; net-a-porter.com

8 Shoe Protection

"I have an accessory math rule that I follow on every trip: 3 shoes, 2 bags, 1 scarf, hat, and pair of sunglasses. I've found that I never wear more than 3 pairs of shoes while I'm traveling—most people don't. I use a roomy shoe bag to pack two pairs of shoes and wear the third. If you don't own a shoe bag, a shower cap can work."

Tumi Shoe Bags, $45; tumi.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From The Perfect