I Travel for a Living—This Easy Packing List Has Never Once Failed Me
Traveling is designed to bring about excitement as opposed to stress. Sure, you have to pay an alarming amount for a taxi to the airport, get through security without your belt or a 4 oz. bottle of perfume setting off the alarms, and sit in a tube for an annoyingly long period of time (no matter how far you're traveling). But once you actually make it to your destination, the good times should roll. There's only one problem: If you don't pack well, they won't—period.
Fortunately for anyone heading out of town in the near future, there are experts for that. "If I am an expert in anything, I swear it’s packing," says Monica Mendal, a writer, editor, and consultant who traded in fashion for travel about five years ago. "Growing up, my dad never let us check bags so I learned how to travel light from an early age," she explains. "Believe it or not, it is possible to go one month with just a carry-on—and I’m a fashion girl. I love fashion!" She'd know. She's done it plenty of times. According to Mendal, she travels for more than half of the year. "I think an easier question to answer would be how often am I home?"
To find out from the best about what to always pack for a successful travel experience, Mendal shared her tried-and-true packing list.
How to pack everything: "Shoes go in first and roll your clothes (don’t fold!)—that’s number one. I realize I always pack more than I end up wearing, even with a carry-on. One to two pairs of shoes, one bag, and a bunch of easy layering pieces that I can wear multiple ways always do the trick. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane. For longer trips, I try to book a combination of hotels and Airbnbs with washing machines so I can do some laundry halfway through the trip. Just remember to pack less than you think you need and leave space for souvenir shopping. You’ll thank me later!"
Shop Monica's easy packing list:
"I simply cannot travel without one. I need it to keep my phone alive as I’m constantly using it for GPS/navigation/google maps, etc. It’s so unnerving to stress about your phone battery when you’re traveling especially as I often travel solo."
"I’ve had Kallmeyer’s opera trench for a couple of years now and it’s always the first thing in my suitcase. It’s super lightweight, easy to layer over any outfit, and a piece that’ll keep you looking chic on rainy days. It’s also a big showstopper; I get tons of compliments when I wear it!"
Kallmeyer's opera trench is currently sold out. Shop a similar style from Everlane.
"I travel frequently to Europe and I always like to have coins on hand for bus and metro tickets, my morning coffee, and service tips. That said, I can’t live without my leather coin case from Pettinaroli (my favorite shop in Milan!)"
What to pack it all in:
"Rimowa luggage is chic but pretty heavy, and frankly, doesn't fit as much as Away suitcases. Though, I did recently get the Essential Cabin S for my small plane Euro trips and it’s been great. It’s lightweight and fits more than other Rimowa suitcases I’ve had in the past."
More editor-approved travel essentials:
The secret to packing light is bringing along items that can be worn in multiple ways, thus tricking people into thinking you brought a lot with none of the hassle and worry of checking a big bag of luggage. A simple poplin button-down can be layered over a turtleneck, under a crewneck, or worn solo—and those are just the highlights.
If you're traveling alone, this tote will be your most useful and dedicated companion. It has the most comfortable shoulder strap for long journeys through airport terminals and contains so many pockets and storage compartments so you'll never again have to rifle through your bag for hours to find something just to find out it was in your checked luggage (or is that just me?).
Next: I Just Got Back From Aspen—9 Trends I Packed to Get the Après-Ski Look
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
I Went to Seoul, Miami, and Chicago This Month—Here's Everything I Wore Along the Way
An editor's guide to packing for multiple trips.
-
From Prada to Zara—30 Spring Items I Packed for 12 Days in Tokyo
I'm a Tokyo packing pro.
-
13 Things to Always Pack If Looking Like a Tourist Is Your Worst Nightmare
I'm right there with you.
-
Suddenly, Every Cool Person I Know Is Geotagging This Small Beach Town—Here's My Guide
Pinterest-viral hotels, intimate mezcal bars, world-class surfing, and so much more.
-
I Just Got Back From Paris—These Were the 7 Things I Wish I Hadn't Packed
News flash: Air France weighs your carry-on.
-
I'm Going to Capri Next Week—Here Are the Exact Items I'm Considering Buying for My Trip
In an ideal world, I'd pack them all.
-
Milan Is Peak Luxury—Here's Everything I Packed to Look Like a Local
Buon viaggio.
-
I'm Traveling a Ton This Summer—10 Items I'm Buying Now to Make Packing Easy
From linen pants to easy dresses.