How to Pack for Extended Travels 🧳🛫
How to Pack for Extended Travels 🧳🛫
Packing tips and outfit formulas for really long trips
As I mentioned in my previous letter, I travel between Copenhagen and New York City multiple times a year. Whenever I fly out to New York, I usually stay as long as possible to make it feel a little less like I’m living life on the road. That means I frequently have to pack for months at a time which I still find challenging at times. I have, however, learned a few packing trips along the way that make the process of packing easier for me. So, today, I’ll be taking you through my three part process of curating a travel wardrobe that works for trips months on end.
Emma xx
Step #1: Mapping out what you want to wear
Create a mood board: When I pack for my longer trips, I usually start by creating a good ol’ mood board that taps into the vibe of my upcoming trip. Based on the time of year, the location, and other things that currently preoccupy my brain, I gather images and photos in a Canva board and arrange them into a mood board. I then use that mood board as a reference point for when I’m packing and for when I’m getting dressed on my trip. I recommend reading
’s letter on framing your travel intentions and using the intentions you come up with to guide your image sourcing process.
Use a wardrobe app to plan outfits: While creating a mood board helps me sketch out a visual story of my upcoming trip, I use a wardrobe app for the practical aspect of packing to sketch out what my travel wardrobe actually can include. I know I’ve mentioned Indyx on this newsletter before, but this really helped me sort through my clothes and formulate a packing list. So far, it’s also been a pretty good way to keep track of the clothes I brought with me on this trip.
Step #2: Organizing your travel wardrobe
Create “outfit packages” of 2-4 items: I start packing by grouping 2-4 wardrobe items together that act as little “outfit packages.” I then try to visualize how many different outfit combinations these outfit packages can sustain. If I can map out at least three different outfit combinations, all those items are going in my suitcase. To give an example, I’ve been wearing three different outfit based on a combination of a vintage fringe suede jacket, cowboy boots, and a checkerboard scarf on this trip:
Outfit #1: The jacket, boots, and scarf in question paired with vintage Levi’s 505 jeans, a classic white t-shirt (similar here), and a vintage 1970s sisal bag (similar here). Mix and match basics and statement pieces: A good rule of thumb is to focus on basics and add some fun little accessories when you’re linking up your clothes in the aforementioned outfit packages. I tend to gravitate towards all-black outfits, so, to add some visual interest, I try to incorporate different textures, silhouettes, as well as pops of color here and there.
Step #3: Packing an easy and accessible travel wardrobe
Pack multiple feel-good outfits (!!!): Getting dressed while traveling feels like you’re constantly compromising on what you want to wear. After a few weeks on the road, I usually end up wearing whatever clean clothes I have left in my suitcase. This is probably my least favorite aspect about traveling. But, I’ve found that when I pack as many “feel-good outfits“ as I can fit in my suitcase, it significantly diminishes the amount of awkward laundry-day-outfits. To me, a feel-good outfit is not necessarily my best look, but it’s an outfit that fits well, looks great, and is comfortable enough to wear all day.
My feel-good outfit (same as outfit #3) based on the suede jacket, cowboy boots, and checkerboard scarf that I put minimal effort into and that still looks semi put-together.
Leave stuff behind at your destination: If you’re traveling between the same two destinations regularly, leave some items behind for your next trip. Last time I was in New York, I left behind a few basic tops and skirts, loafers, and tote bags that I knew I wouldn’t be needing until I flew out again. That gave me room to pack more feel-good outfits in my checked bag. :)
Pack underwear and socks in your carry-on: This is my last, but arguably most important tip. The amount of times I’ve been stuck in a random airport overnight because of flight disruptions is honestly criminal!! Because of that, I never pack socks and underwear in my checked bags. The same goes for chargers and any medication needed.
Same here. I learned to pack underwear and a few basic outfits into my hand luggage, after my checked in luggage was lost for 2 days.
I keep hearing good things about the Indyx app lately!!