08 May 2012

Personal Shopper: Packing for a Trip, Part I

When going through my ever-growing folder of Personal Shopper requests, I discovered that three different readers had recently written in, asking for advice on  how to pack light for a trip:
  1. Hi there - I'm going to New Orleans for a long weekend (4 days) with a group of girlfriends. I want to travel light and just bring a carry-on. Do you have any advice about what I should pack for both day and night?
  2. Hi! My fiance and I are going to LA for his sister's graduation from USC. We plan to tour, hike and hit the trendy places for the week, but we're trying to save money by keeping the luggage to a minimum. Do you have any suggestions for travel/hiking/day-to-night wear that will all fit in a carry-on? I'll also need something nice but not too dressy to wear to the graduation itself. Thanks so much! 
  3. Hello. I'm traveling to Germany this summer for a two week class. After it's done, I'm staying to travel around by myself for five days. I want to look chic and travel light, but I'm at a loss what to pack. Any helpful ideas would be appreciated!
Last year, I documented my packing for a trip to Alaska (part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). I was packing for cooler weather, but the principles are the same: pack versatile pieces that you can mix and match.

For the next few days, I'll be posting my suggestions, starting with tops and dresses. Stay tuned for bottoms tomorrow!

Shop Now:
A casual striped tee $15 //  A knit frock that can be dressed up or down $39 // A basic denim jacket $25 // A breezy white button-down $39 // Camis for layering (get one in every color) $5 // An open-weave sweater $50 // A fancy embroidered top for evening $60 // A short-sleeved cardigan $20