This post is largely targeted at girls/women who want to efficiently straddle being put together but still rugged enough. I just don't think it's necessary to always look scrubby/touristy just because you are traveling. So this is not for you rugged backpackers. On the other hand this post is not meant for travelers who are going first-class all the way and have no limit to their packing needs.
When I travel for long periods of time, I often need to pack for both nice occasions as well as outdoorsy excursions. Sometimes during the same trip I can be staying at 4 or 5 star hotels as well as grubby hostels. Generally I like to blend in wherever I am, appearance wise. Since I also do everything I can to be able to carry-on my luggage, this becomes a semi challenging game of packing.
Always pack earplugs. Why depend on neighbors/construction/traffic/babies etc to be quiet when you can depend on yourself to bring earplugs? They have saved my sanity and sleep many times :)
Carry-on tactic: One roller suitcase, one medium duffle bag that will hold your purse. Being an efficient packer means everything in your luggage is pretty crucial. I don't trust airlines and try to carry-on as much as possible. Most airlines will permit you one carry on and one "personal item," ie a purse. Since a Personal Item is open to interpretation, I always count a medium sized duffle bag as mine. The duffle bag must be able to fit your purse as you walk through the gate, which is why I recommend a small-medium purse (below).
Liquids tip: If you are traveling for a long time and must bring liquids over 3 oz, pack all such liquids into a small yet durable bag and check-in ONLY this bag.
Suitcases with four wheels that turn 360 degrees. This is almost like going from a regular phone to an iPhone. It's that good. So much easier to push around, especially for us girls. (I know there's an LV suitcase pictured above, but I do NOT recommend that. It's like hello please rob me! Plus its wheels do not spin.)
1 Cross-body [p]leather purse + 1 clutch wallet. I think a small-medium cross body purse (approx 8x10 in) is the most practical travel purse that still looks good (compared to a backpack)... even better if the strap is adjustable. Your hands are free, and you can wear it on one shoulder for a nicer look. You should always keep it in front of you or at least on your side to deter pick-pocketers. I like nice-looking fake leather because I don't have to worry about scruffing it up, but it still looks relatively nice and is easy to clean.
A nice clutch wallet is ideal for double duty: daily practicality + going out/formal occasions. When you are going to a grubbier places, take a small, light, cheap wallet for your money. I use a cloth coin pouch that is about 3x5 inches and fits into an interior zippered compartment of my purse.Pack in one family/tone of colors. If I am traveling for 10 days or less, I pack my outfits for each of those days (planning to wear pants at least twice, and having some flexibility with eg cardigans). If I am traveling for more than 10 days, I'll have to mix and match and so I try to have everything I pack match each other. This means packing neutral colors in warm or cool tones. Pick whichever matches your skin color better. I generally end up with mostly blacks, whites, greys, and taupes in warm tones. If you are someone who demands color, bring it in your jewelry since it takes up less room.
Don't bring expensive jewelry. I can't remember a time it was worth it to bring expensive jewelry but I can remember times where it was not worth it (ie I lost it). There are plenty of cheap expensive-looking jewelry that will do. E.g., CZ studs are good. Again plan them to match your clothes. Black tees can go from casual to formal with jewelry and a scarf.
Scarves/shawls are your friend. A black or taupe scarf is almost invaluable as a pair of crocs (see below). Inevitably you will be boarding a plane, which is cold. The place you are going might get cold at night. Scarves provide a lot of warmth for the amount of space it takes up, and if you bring one that is big enough it can double as a shawl for a more formal night out (thus making it unnecessary to bring nice cardigan/jacket). I think black and taupe are the easiest colors to pass off as cheap or expensive depending on what the occasion calls for.
Crocs. Packing shoes is a big issue for girls. I used to really hate Crocs. The classic ones are truly ugly looking things, unless they are on kids under 8 years old. But they actually have some cuter styles for girls, and I've found them to be invaluable when traveling for several reasons.
Crocs Prima (above) and Crocs Malindi (below)
Since they are rubber, they are easy to clean/wipe off everyday. Furthermore, they are pretty grippy so they can be used for casual hiking, walking in wet places, going to the pool, etc. Unless you have special shoe needs, they are comfortable enough to replace sneakers. Finally, the black ones are inconspicuous enough to wear to semi-nice places. Thus with one pair of shoes you can use it for casual, semi-formal, and active wear. And they are so malleable that they can squeeze into any overstuffed suitcase.
One pair of strappy heels. Unless you are certain that you won't be going anywhere nice, one pair of heels will be needed (more than one will not be practical). Strappy heels take up the least amount of space. Pick a color that will match the most of your nice clothes. Besides the go-to black, I think a light gold will go with the most things.
Skirts and dresses instead of shorts. I feel that in most places outside of the US, shorts look a bit weird on women. Skirts and dresses will keep you just as cool, but will be a much safer bet regardless of whether you are traveling to Europe, Asia, etc. They take relatively little space. In fact I love soft cotton dresses for traveling because they can be rolled up, dressed up or down, and is one whole minimal-effort outfit. Obviously bring a pair of shorts if some activity calls for it.
Double-duty clothing. As a related matter, look for clothes that can be dressed up or down. For example, dark wash jeans can be very versatile for casual or nighttime activities. Soft cottons tops, especially with some detail, can be casual and semi-formal. Same for cardigans compared to, say, a zip up hoodie. It's best to have only a few items that are purely casual (sporty T's) or purely dressy (silk tops), if at all.
Simplify your makeup and beauty regimen. There are plenty of all-in-one facial wash + toner + makeup remover + moisturizer products. I recently used these MD skincare travel wipes that were very easy. I am also in love with this compact Sephora makeup palette that has a mirror, eyeshadows and liners, lipgloss, and a blush. If warm tones work for you, ALL of the colors in this palette are usable, which I find is really rare. But note that you do need your own brushes.
Pack your liquids baggie on top. For easy access at those horrible airport security checkpoints.
Pack in some semblance of the order in which you will wear it. If you try to plan ahead you will avoid ruffling through your suitcase every night and having to repack the whole thing each time.
Pack your essentials in the duffle. Sometimes you might have to check in your carry-on (e.g. on low budget airlines) or otherwise be separated from it (e.g. on a train). It makes obvious sense to pack your essentials in your duffle, so might as well do it from the get-go to avoid repacking. For me this usually means: a couple underwear, a pair of socks, one outfit (usually my most valuable one haha), toiletries bag, important papers and electronics. Yes this means all your eggs are in one basket, but it's difficult to avoid when travel compactly and is just more reason to be extra careful with your duffle (and actually somewhat advantageous because you can focus on one thing instead of several).
Pack only as much as you can personally carry. For obvious reasons. But not something people always keep in mind. Some places only have stairs and no nice gentlemen to help you out.
Pack plastic baggies for dirty garments. Or use bags you get from shopping. Either way it's to keep things separate and not stink up your clean clothes. I repack the dirty clothes on the bottom and try to separate the clean and dirty with something like a pair of jeans.
Pack to-go Febreeze and Downy wrinkle release. Okay not really necessary but really helpful. Wrinkles can also be taken out by sticking them in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. As a general obvious matter, don't pack things that will wrinkle easily. A Tide to-go marker is a good idea as well (see my past post on it here).
Laundry. So far I have not advised buying any dry-fit clothing. Besides dry-fit underwear, which I think is a great idea since you can wash them easily, I don't really like them. I think they're purely sporty looking. For laundry, bring a little bottle of liquid detergent for cleaning. Thin tops, esp those soft synthetic blends, can be nice and still dry overnight. Otherwise, I would recommend just taking any clothes you can't wash yourself to a local launderer (or your hotel if it's reasonably priced). Ask around for recommendations, or do some internet research. If you have packed ~10 outfits, this shouldn't get too pricey since you'll only have to do laundry every other week.
Err on the side of underpacking. Remember that most of the places you will likely be going will have almost anything you need available. If you are leaving with an already-stuffed suitcase, you won't have room for new purchases. Besides specific beauty products that you can't live without, don't worry about bringing everything you might possibly need.
I'll add more as I think of them. This turned out to be much longer than I expected.
Happy travels~~
