Nowadays, you don’t really have to do anything yourself because there’s a good address for everything. Plucking eyebrows, manicure, pedicure, fake lashes, colouring hair, tailor, cobbler, dry cleaners — you get the picture. But there are things most people really have to do themselves, namely: packing your suitcases. It’s key to be good at it because otherwise you’ll look terrible during your stay, and we don’t want that. With trips to New York, London, and Paris in the prospect, we’re about to pack a lot of suitcases, and the question is HOW to best do this. Besides, a great deal is to be gained from correctly packed suitcases, and so we could all use tips and tricks.

The harshest thing about packing are the female-unfriendly rules such as a baggage limit and maximum number of kilos. Such obstacles are of course insurmountable if we ever hope to strut the streets of NY in style, but since a PJ (Private Jet) is as of yet still somewhat out of reach, we’ll just have to make do. Packing your suitcases already starts with thinking about what you’d like to wear at your destination. It’s a classic mistake to stand in front of your closet and put everything you like in your suitcases because this will lead to hysterical panic situations of WHAT TO WEAR, and trust me, that isn’t fun for anyone. Start timely with thinking about outfits, and keep in mind the weather forecast of your destination, oh and don’t forget to try things on in front of the mirror. It might sound rather overdone, but it will save you half the trouble. Besides, this way you can easily think of how to translate those pieces into another look – a skirt with boots for during the day, and the same skirt with pumps for at night. Also useful to see which must-haves you’ve still got to buy, or prepare yourself for a shop session for that item. I still don’t have The Perfect Jeans, and I’d really like to buy The Perfect Leather Jacket in New York.

Are you heading towards tropical places with lots of lying on beaches (read: wearing bikinis) then you don’t have to do much preparatory work, but city trips require a more thorough approach. Prepare an outfit for every day, and 1 extra just to be sure, and don’t forget about evening looks. Make sure you’ll use several items in different outfits, otherwise you won’t be able to close your suitcase. My former ELLE colleague Ilonka Leenheer is a staunchly believes that 10 items is all you need to be able to go everywhere you’d like. Think: jeans, LBD, white shirt, something new (nothing beats the feeling of wearing something you haven’t before), a big patch of fabric that might serve as a shawl/pareu/belt/headscarf, etc. Between us, I must admit that I’ve never succeeded at taking only those 10 items. A while back I did discover the pleasures of lightweight suitcases that make sure you don’t have to waste valuable kilos on something as silly as a suitcase. Therefore, I’ve prepared to travel to New York in a suitcase that’s so big it could easily hide a Shetland pony + some bales of hay even though it won’t surpass the 2 kilos.

So step 1: make time free to think of some outfits and try them on in front of the mirror. For those who can’t decide; take photos of potential looks.

Step 2: the actual packing. The aim is to bring with as much clothing as possible (sorry Ilonka) though keep in mind the limited amount of space at hand. You do this by rolling everything instead of folding. Rolling increases your chances of crinkle free clothing. Add your knickers, socks, and stockings as last, and put these in small nooks and crannies, and, tiptiptip, in your shoes. Especially pumps and boots should be stuffed with clothing because otherwise they might dent.

Toiletries are always the most treacherous. Just when you think you’ve finished, you discover an entire river of creams, powder shampoos or whatever. Perhaps it’s wisest to just go there and buy everything on the spot, but that’s only an option if you don’t use very expensive products. For those who are very particular when it comes their expensive shampoos and creams, you could also pour it in useful travel bottles (which I do myself). Expensive creams always come in sachets, which are terribly travel friendly. I like to use Estée Lauder creams so I take a few sachets at de Bijenkorf before going on a trip. It would be even handier to ask for some of those sachets when I buy the expensive bottle.

Right. Your rolled up outfits have been thought through with military precision, so the hardest part is over with. You’ve got to hang the most crinkle sensitive pieces when you arrive at you your hotel room. Still found some serious crinkles, and you don’t have a flat-iron nearby? Hang the clothing on a coat hanger in the bathroom, let the shower run at its hottest, close the bathroom door, and let it steam for a couple of minutes et voilà not a crinkle in sight. Easy peasy. By the way, Louis Vuitton, master of suitcases, made some delightful clips with practical tips. Those who type in “The Art of Packing” on Google will find lots of hits. So ladies and gentlemen, you know what to do. Thank you for flying with us.