I’VE NEVER PACKED A SUITCASE SO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY IN MY LIFE

Last week, I traveled from Chicago to New Jersey for my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. This sounds like a simple three-day trip until you add a few days in New York City for work and the possibility of staying longer, which is how a weekend getaway almost becomes a relocation.

The old me would have spiraled over what the hell to pack. I would have prepared for every possible scenario, including weather emergencies, surprise galas, and the sudden need to become a completely different woman. Naturally, this would have required a stupid number of suitcases.

But not this time.

This time, I managed a special occasion and several days of running around the city with one carry-on and my everything bag (It’s an investment, but it’s worth it. HERE.) That’s it. For me, that’s basically a miracle.

Before learning how to pack quickly and efficiently, I had two very different methods.

The first was what I like to call the messy method. I would think about the main event of the trip, like a gala or a special dinner, and choose my favorite outfit for it. Then I would fill the rest of the suitcase with whatever I felt I might need, which was basically everything I had ever loved in my closet.

The problem with this method is that I always overpacked. If I wanted to buy anything during the trip, there wasn’t room in my suitcase for even a needle. Then I would spend the flight home worrying about overweight baggage fees, which is not how I enjoy spending my money. So, not great.

My mom went through a phase when she would pack only one or two outfits because she planned to buy everything else once she arrived. Also a bad idea. Then you’re shopping out of desperation instead of making thoughtful purchases. Nothing good happens when you suddenly need a dress by 6 p.m.

My second method, which I used for many years, was the editorial method. This one is fantastic for creating content. You pack by complete outfit and organize everything as if you were preparing for a photoshoot: the dress, the shoes, the accessories, everything planned, labeled, and ready to go.

This is how Kylie Jenner packs, but it’s also how most people in the entertainment industry do it. When you have several events and will be photographed at every one of them, each look needs to be approved and carefully thought out in advance.

It’s a great system, but it’s incredibly time-consuming. It feels more like preparing for work than packing for a vacation, and once again, there’s no room to buy anything unless you’re willing to leave a shoe behind.

But things have changed.

I still want to wear a different outfit in every photo, but I no longer have to create each one from scratch. I can mix and match the same pieces in smarter ways. My style is more minimalistic now, but minimalistic does not have to mean boring.

So I started testing different popular packing methods, and I finally found one that took the anxiety out of packing. It gave me a formula to follow, plenty of outfit combinations, and enough flexibility in case I decided to stay a little longer. Best of all, it left room in my suitcase for a new purchase, because personal growth should never interfere with shopping.

My parameters were simple: I needed to feel pretty, comfortable, and most importantly, confident, especially because I was mixing business and pleasure on this trip.

And it worked.

Here I am with my super-talented artist friend in the city, dressed appropriately for the important business of getting messy with some pizza.

This method is simple and very straightforward. It works whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist because, even though it follows a formula, there’s still plenty of room for self-expression.