Packing As Curation
Packing—it’s not a question of what fits in the bag, but, instead, what earns its place. It is the subtle art of subtraction—the ruthlessness of “no.”
Executed with an exacting eye, your suitcase should carry an edited, restrained, and well-considered curation—a microcosm of your daily wardrobe.
Thrown together at the last minute, you risk a cosmic disaster instead. A little bit of planning will save you from the woes of The Missing Shoe Dilemma and will have you turned out in the perfect short set and matching flip flops—be they suede or The Row coded…
• Every good pre-pack starts with a weather check. Cooler temps at night mean a light jacket or a versatile cardigan—think Toteme’s shawl lapel sweater. Perfect over a tank and shorts for cooler days, it layers beautifully over a turtleneck and kick flare for evening.
• Paint with an edited palette and choose a color theme. Black, cream, and grey are grounding and mix and match easily. Interchangeable shoes, cardigans, and jackets equal less real estate, i.e. more room in your bag.
• Define your uniform. Vacations, when you are far from home and your closet, are not the time to try out a new persona. Determine your bottom line first—in other words, what bottom layer do you rely on? A denim girl? Pack several pairs of jeans. White and classic blue denim anchor your daytime wardrobe—black denim will, likewise, carry evening. Identify the silhouettes and styles that flatter your body and make you feel most confident. They are your uniform. The same can be said for pants or skirts—curate the style and the colors that make you feel most like you. These are the bottom pieces that make the cut.
• Now that you have your foundation, build the scaffolding. White and black shirts (think Petit Bateau or Rag & Bone), light sweaters, or tank tops (Nili Lotan’s May cashmere or Veronica Beard’s Mazy)—weather dependent—are easy basics that transition from morning to night. Bring multiples. Heavier cardigans or blazers in complementary colorways make the perfect toppers and reduce bulk.
• Accessories are the last piece of the puzzle. Low-profile sneakers, flip-flops, ballet flats, or slides are perfect for daytime. Elevate them for evening with a kitten heel or a strappy sandal. Bring a larger bag for day and pack a clutch for evening. Jewelry, a hat, and sunnies will round out your accessory game.
• It’s always good to have an option, so pack at least one additional outfit. Break the color palette—rules are meant to be broken—and pack pieces that bring a bit of tension to the story—brown, for instance, to contrast the blacks, whites, and greys.
Pack with intent.
Build on a strong foundation.
Edit ruthlessly.
Your packing game?
It will be unbeatable.
The Edit
Nili Lotan May Cashmere Sweater Vest
Prada Printed Cotton Canvas Midi Skirt
Manolo Blahnik Jada Leather Mule
Selima Optique Aldo Sunglasses
Sloan Crepe Scarf Top
The Row Callum Jean
Aeyde Anna Sandal
The Row Large Estelle Two Raffia Bag
Fendi FF Squared Oval Sunglasses
Juju Vera Fiona Silver Onyx Cuff
Sloan Reversible Twisted Georgette Top
Sloan Exclusive Georgette Mini Pareo Skirt
Amina Muaddi Juliette Snake-Effect Leather Sandals
Toteme Shawl Lapel Cardigan
Still Here Toggle Cotton Tank Top
Agolde Parker Short
Tkees Suede Lily Flip-Flop
Ralph Lauren Cotton Chino Bucket Hat
