I pride myself on being an outstanding packer. The greatest compliment anyone can give me is, "Wow, is that all you brought?" I harshly judge struggle to understand people who drag around luggage larger than mine. I pity my friends whose suitcases explode into chaos upon arriving at their destination — but who still always manage to forget something.
I own one very broken-in rollerboard Samsonite that fits in most overhead bins, and it's the largest suitcase I have ever used — even for two-week-long vacations to multiple climates. I'm particularly proud of the time I managed to pack only my trusty Samsonite for an eight-day trip that started in Hawaii, where I was a bridesmaid in a wedding, followed by three days in San Francisco for work. (I also lost my driver's license on that trip, but hey, I never said I was good at everything.)
My ability to pack lightly doesn't require sacrifice: I still want to look stylish, and I always have everything I want and need. The key is thorough planning, lots of practice, and plenty of tried-and-true packing hacks — some of which I think I invented. To be a light packer, you must first agree to four simple rules:
Still on board? Here are my pro tips for packing a better suitcase.
Although my list-making method has never failed me, it might not work for everyone. All that matters is that you make a list, because every great packer I know starts with a list. Here's how I make mine.
I've found this system to be pretty foolproof, though occasionally something does slip through the cracks, which leads me to my final tip: if you do forget something, just throw money at the problem when you arrive at your destination.