| When you're a fashionista, packing for a vacation can | | | | use an 8 ½ x 11-inch piece of cardboard as a |
| be a challenge. You've simply got to take all your | | | | template to fold your clothes around, just like they |
| favorite clothes with you, no matter what | | | | do in the stores. |
| professional organizers might say about what you | | | | 4. No hills or valleys. Place the folded garments in |
| should or shouldn't bring. Our fashion school experts | | | | your suitcase into even layers. As you're packing, the |
| feel your pain. That's why they've got some practical | | | | clothes should lie relatively flat, without stacks that |
| tips on packing your clothes efficiently, so you can | | | | are higher than others. This also means that you |
| take as much as you can with a minimum of wrinkles. | | | | should avoid having empty pockets of space. Fill up |
| You're going to overpack, so you might as well do it | | | | gaps with rolled socks, t-shirts, underwear, even |
| right. | | | | extra sweaters so items don't shift during travel. |
| 1. Heavy articles on the bottom. As you're filling your | | | | That's right, you have a fashion school endorsed |
| suitcase, put the heavier items at the bottom, so | | | | excuse to pack more clothes! |
| they do not flatten and crease the lighter items. | | | | 5. Leave clothes on hangers. If you have items on |
| Heavier items might be shoes, toiletry bags and | | | | hangers, go ahead and leave them on, as long as the |
| books. And the "bottom" of the suitcase refers not | | | | hangers are flat and don't take up too much space. |
| to the bottom as it's laid flat while you're packing, but | | | | Just fold two to three garments together, using the |
| the bottom after it's closed and upright. | | | | hangers as an internal framework to keep the |
| 2. Stretch out those pants. Folded pants and dresses | | | | clothes from shifting and wrinkling. |
| take up too much room. Instead of folding them, | | | | 6. Place items in your shoes. The space inside your |
| stretch them out across the bottom of your suitcase | | | | shoes is valuable packing real estate, so don't waste |
| so the waist and the bottoms extend over the edge. | | | | it. You can fill your shoes with socks, underwear, |
| After you've finished packing your other clothes in, | | | | cameras, and medications. Also, if your shoe is the |
| you can then fold the waist and bottoms over the | | | | right style, you can slip one shoe inside the other to |
| top. Also, remember that your trousers and dresses | | | | save space. |
| should be zipped and buttoned before they're placed | | | | 7. Ship items ahead of time. With the cost of |
| in the suitcase. | | | | checking baggage at $25 or more per suitcase, |
| 3. Pretend you work at the Gap. Anyone who's | | | | consider shipping some clothes to wherever you're |
| worked in retail or a fashion design house knows that | | | | staying so they'll be there when you arrive. The cost |
| properly folded clothes don't wrinkle, even when | | | | of two-day shipping can be about the same as an |
| they're stacked to the ceiling. First, button shirts and | | | | extra piece of luggage. |
| cardigan sweaters, if necessary. Place the garment | | | | Overpacking for a trip is just part of the fun of being |
| face down flat. Fold each sleeve toward the center | | | | a fashionista, so embrace it. The key is to do it right, |
| of the garment so you create a rectangle, and then | | | | so all your clothes make the long trip looking as |
| fold the garment in thirds, with the collar and upper | | | | fabulous as you. |
| section facing out. To help you pack, you can also | | | | |