Packing stresses me out so much it stresses out everyone I love even more. It’s not that they’re empathetic. It’s actually that they’re annoyed. Packing stresses me out so much I often put it off until the last possible minute, then spend hours destroying my closet and apartment only to overpack a checked bag that’s bound to be overweight. My family and my boyfriend know this. They see it coming from miles away, and there’s nothing they can do but brace for impact.
I travel a lot for work and for fun and quickly realized this just wasn’t sustainable. It also wasn’t fun to constantly be stressed hours before leaving on a trip that should be exciting and then be stressed on the return journey knowing that piles of things awaited me in my home. And so in the last year or so, I’ve completely revamped my packing routine.
Naturally, as a fashion editor, I decided this required investing in some better luggage and travel accessories. But it’s been a game changer. I actually look forward to packing now instead of procrastinating because I have the tools to make it far more seamless. Not to mention I’m actually obsessed with everything from my checked luggage to my packing cubes, which also adds to the fun. Now when I see them, I feel a sense of giddy delight and not dread.
Below, the eight items that have completely changed the game for me—so much so that I can’t imagine traveling without them.
The Checked Luggage
I know I was destined to work in fashion when I realized one of my core memories from traveling to Spain every summer as a child to visit my family was admiring the luggage and carry-on bags of chic passengers on the flight there. I promised myself than that when I was old enough to travel on my own, I’d have the greatest luggage and personal items anyone had seen. Of course, adult me quickly realized that was expensive, and I just carried around the standard.
Then came along the Tumi Extended Trip Packing Case in the most gorgeous shade of light-pink aluminum. It is the most stunning suitcase I’ve ever seen. I even have mine monogrammed at the top and am planning on covering it in stickers I pick up on my travels.
Since I still go to Spain every year with my family for around a month or so, it’s important to have a checked bag that can sustain upward of 20 outfits. This suitcase is roomy enough to do so while also featuring great zip pockets and zipped dividers for easy organization. And of course, it’s beyond easy on the eyes.
