Holiday travel time is here – a time for packing, which most avoid till the final hour.
You don’t want to be unprepared, and some of us want choices – without needing to spend time shopping for them in between family dinners, and parties.
Which of your favorite pieces do you bring? How can you keep them from becoming a hot mess more ugly than a knotted pile of half-burnt Christmas tree lights in an overstuffed suitcase?
Answers to these burning questions and more can be found among these holiday packing tips:
- Bring a bold sparkly piece of jewelry you love. Whether it’s a choker, necklace, ring or earrings you can let it do most of the talking for your more festive holiday outfits. Wear it alone, or balance it out with another more subdued complementary piece of jewelry.
Suitcase space seems to be an issue? Or, are you worried your party outfit may be delayed en route? Consider this idea I discovered some years ago via Vogue or Elle magazine for ensuring your holiday attire makes it to the party. Layer your party dress over leggings, or skirt, and stack /pile your jewelry, while wearing your fancy shoes, too.
- Not sure how formal or informal an event may be? Pack a satin, metallic or sequined handbag, scarf, and or, shoes to instantly dress up more basic items.
- Here’s one way to keep your necklaces from getting tangled. Use a sheet of plastic wrap big enough to place your necklaces with about a half-inch space in between each. Lay another piece of plastic wrap on top of them. Press the sheets firmly around each necklace and then roll the sheets up. Your necklaces should be tangle-free on arrival and wearable for toasts, dancing and gift exchanges. See this how-to video for details.
- Consider using some of your small neckerchiefs and or scarves, as makeshift bags for your rings and small earring sets. Place them in the center of the scarf, then bring opposite corners together and knot them together to make a ‘bag’ of it.
- Another way to keep necklaces tangle-free is to pull one necklace chain through a straw and then the other through another straw. This will keep your delicate necklaces from knotting together.
- Some of you like to collect all things small – like tiny mint containers after the mints are long gone because they’re cute. Put them to good use and stow a few rings, cuff links or earring studs in them.
- Store a watch, a few bracelets, or earrings inside extra eyeglass cases.
- Those extra buttons that come sown inside our clothes are handy for more than a back up to your lost original fastener. Medium to larger buttons are a fun way to secure smaller earrings and keep them from getting scattered in your luggage or carry-on.
- You may have some pairs of socks you’re bringing. They make secure and reliable storage for rings, watches and or, bracelets.
- Are you traveling for pleasure and business? Your business cards are another way to secure jewelry like earrings, or broaches. Punch the card with the post and secure the back/hook on the reverse side of the card.
- When it comes to deciding which jewelry or accessory pieces to bring, lighter pieces are easier and obviously take less space. However, if you can’t live without your larger statement pieces, narrow it down one or two.
- Do your party wears have beautiful sequin embellishments? Wrap these in tissue wrapping paper to keep them from getting snagged by other items in your suitcase.
- If you have multiple delicate embellished and or, sequin-covered garments, then secure them in a garment bag separate of your everyday clothing, and place wrapping tissue around/between them inside the garment bag.
- Or, if you recycle shopping bags, use the larger ones as a protector between each garment. Punch a hole through the top of the shopping bag and pull the hanging item through it.
I hope these tips make your holiday packing easier! If you still need help choosing what clothing and accessories to bring on your holiday travels, let’s talk.
Happy Holidays!
