Whether it’s for business or pleasure, when it’s time to pack your bags ladies, plan ahead to look your best. All it takes is a little know how, a dash of creative organization and some stylish intent. Read on …

What will you be doing while you’re away?

Keep the purpose of your trip in mind as you go about picking and choosing separates. Make sure to pack at least one formal outfit to wear for a special dinner or the like. It’s always a good rule of thumb to dress up as opposed to dress down. When in doubt, always dress fancier. Go easy on casual attire- tee shirts and cutoffs are better left at home.

Natural colors such as black, white and beige make for easy mixing and matching and solids are preferable to patterns and more vibrant colors. Do you have a signature? Do you like to wear a certain kind of hat, scarf, pin, pair of earrings or necklace? If so then by all means bring it with you. The familiar is always welcome and bringing your special, unique “fashion statement or identifier” with you is comforting and stylish.

What to bring?

When in doubt go with these well-chosen pieces- four bottoms (pants and skirts are the most versatile choices); six tops (make sure they match with at least three of your bottoms); three warm layers (such as a blazer or cardigan), one dress (make sure it matches with the blazer), four pairs of shoes- dressy pumps or sling backs for nighttime glamour, flatties, such as ballet flats or mules, that dress you up or down easily; sandals or flip-flops for casual daytime wear if you’re venturing to a warm location and a good walking shoe that breathes (fold-up sneakers, canvas shoes or even a comfortable pair of moccasins) and two bags/ purses, a bigger purse or tote bag for days and a smaller more elegant clutch for nights.

What else?

Don’t despair if you forget to pack your travel iron. There is a secret weapon to getting wrinkles out of clothes- steam them in the shower. Here’s what you do: hang your clothing in the bathroom, turn on the hot water in the shower and close the door. The water needs to get really hot (borderline scalding so beware!) and give out a lot of steam to get rid of the creases. The worse the creases, the longer you should leave it in the bathroom. Afterwards hang the item outside of the bathroom in order for it to air-dry for approximately ten minutes.

What about toiletries?

Toiletry bag

It all begins with the perfect toiletries bag. Look for a case that is open and has plenty of clear pouches so your items are easily visible (and therefore simpler to find when the time comes). Buy a case that wipes off easily (inside and out) if something should get spilled. Avoid bags with fabric lining if at all possible and make sure you purchase one that is water-resistant.

Like with like

Keep like items together (in other words, keep your tube of toothpaste in a separate pouch/slot from your mascara and lipstick). Buy a good-sized bag that can hold extras such as a bathing suit, underwear, a pair of pantyhose, etc. Bags that come with handles are the most convenient for traveling but double check to make sure that the zippers work properly because unzipped toiletries equal one big mess!

Little hints

Pack trial size bottles where possible as they take up less space. Another idea is to use the small plastic containers that 35 mm film comes in. They are handy for so many things including hand lotion, hydrogen peroxide, earrings, sunscreen, and so on. Leave flip top containers and aerosol cans at home. If you decide to invest in small, clear plastic bottles (for items such as shampoo and conditioner) don’t fill them anymore than two-thirds full to avoid overflow. This is especially important if you are flying. For an added precaution, wrap each bottle in a plastic grocery bag before packing. Hair gel travels better than mousse (as mousse is under pressure). If you can switch just for the duration of your trip it would be a wise idea to leave the mousse at home. If you can go without a blow dryer, do so. Many hotels provide them for guests.

Don’t neglect your skin

Pre-moistened cloths are excellent for trips and can double as makeup remover and cleanser. Equally as good are baby wipes. If they are gentle enough to use on a baby then they are definitely gentle enough for your face. For moisturizer buy one with at least an SPF 15 (SPF 30 is even better) for daytime wear. Pack it in your carry on if you’re flying. And remember to bring an atomizer for your face and neck. This is extremely important as different altitudes can be rough on skin and adequate hydration is the name of the game. Evian is my brand of choice but there are a number of different ones on the market and some have a light scent to them. If you’re not going to be away from home for long, use your atomizer in place of night moisturizer or consider buying a lotion that can be used on your face, day or night.

Makeup choices

One day and one night lipstick is the way to go for the beauty conscious traveler. For day choose something light and dewy and for night go with a matte shade that is darker and more dramatic! Coordinate blush with lipstick shades for daytime AND nighttime pizzazz. Remember that lip and eye pencils are perfect for travel excursions. They are both small and very compact. Pack a few Q-tips to help blend eye shadows, which should help cut down on the amount of makeup brushes you need to bring along.

Nail polish

Don’t forget your fingernails (and toenails if they’ll be showing) while you’re away. Sheer or light colors are easier to touch up than darker colors. Make sure to wrap nail polish bottles in a plastic bag or even better, a resealable lunch bag.

Fragrance

Don’t want to be without fragrance during your trip? I understand completely as I feel the same way. But don’t make the mistake of packing bulky (and breakable!) glass bottles of perfume or cologne. You’re only asking for trouble if you do this! Instead inquire at the perfume counter about obtaining small samples of your favorite fragrance or purchasing perfume in a lotion form. Or consider buying a small sized plastic bottle of an all over body mist with a light fragrance (such as Calgon or Herbal Garden) that is perfect for traveling.

A few more points worth mentioning …

Don’t forget to pack your eyebrow tweezers for those stray hairs that might crop up over the duration of your trip. As far as razors are concerned, if you’re flying wait until you get to your destination to purchase cheap disposable ones and leave your shaving gel at home; use mild soap or body wash for lather instead. If you are prone to flaw ups, pack a pimple medication such as Clearasil or use a simple trick learned from the models- before going to bed dab a tiny bit of toothpaste on the pimple. While it might not be completely gone by the morning, it will be well on its way!

Bon voyage!