A personal wardrobe stylist has shared her top tips for packing if you only take carry-on on holiday – and may never look at a suitcase the same way again.
Based in Los Angeles, Alexa Pontello is a wardrobe stylist and image consultant who once worked in luxury retail at Chanel and Moda Operandi and now shares her own tips, tricks and expertise on her social media pages.
In a video posted to her TikTok account last week, Pontello shared her best methods for packing carry-on luggage. She started with the basics: Make sure you have good quality carry-on luggage in your collection.
“The first tip is to have a really good tote bag,” Pontello said. “I like Away’s stuff.”
Alexa Pontello is a personal wardrobe stylist based in Los Angeles
Pontello recently shared her top carry-on packing tips in a TikTok video posted to her account
In the video, Pontello demonstrated these tips using the brand’s larger tote bag, which she likes for its “compression compartments” and spaciousness.
The next tip Pontello gave was to roll up the clothes and put them in the bag at the same time to save space, and he showed how to do it.
“You take a pair of shorts or something, fold it in half and then roll it all the way down,” she said.
“That makes it pretty small,” the expert continued.
“You can line it up with all the other stuff that’s rolled up like that, or you can put it in the very small spaces in your suitcase and use all the surface area here.”
However, sometimes rolling clothes can cause them to wrinkle a bit, which brings up Pontello’s next point.
“I always travel on a liner,” she said, pulling out a small one to show viewers.
“I really don’t go anywhere without this thing and I highly recommend you get a really good one.”
The first tip Pontello gave was to make sure you have really good carry-on luggage, and he also recommended rolling your clothes when packing
In the video, she also suggested that travelers should carry a portable steamer in their hand luggage, as rolled up clothes can sometimes wrinkle
Pontello has worked for both Chanel and online luxury retailer Moda Operandi
Then the professional wardrobe stylist shared a rule that might force you to make some extremely difficult decisions when it comes to choosing your shoes.
“If you’re only traveling with carry-on luggage, take a maximum of three pairs of shoes,” she said.
Pontello insisted that it’s actually a “really good way to travel” as she explained how to decide which three pairs of shoes to take with you.
“Bring three pairs of different shoes, all in neutral colors,” she said.
“I’m going to Hawaii, so I’m bringing a pair of white sandals for the beach, a pair of comfortable slip-on kitten heels for dinner, a pair of shoes for walking, and so on.”
“If you pack more than three pairs, it will take up unnecessary space and your bag can also become very heavy. So I think three pairs is the best solution.”
Last but not least, Pontello shared a tip that applies to people traveling to warmer climates.
“When you’re traveling somewhere hot, you’re in the ocean and you’ve got wet clothes, I hate packing something wet back into my bag and putting it back, so I like to take an emergency bag like this with me where I anyway I can put my wet clothes in it,” she said, holding up a clear, reusable plastic bag.
Pontello points out that you only need to travel with three pairs of neutral shoes
If you’re traveling somewhere warm, the stylist recommends bringing a plastic bag to store your wet clothes
“If you pack more than three pairs, it takes up a lot of unnecessary space and the bag can become very heavy. That’s why I think three pairs is the best solution,” Pontello said of shoes in the video
“Then I know it can be separated and not touch anything else,” she concluded.
Pontello also spoke with DailyMail.com and shared three additional tips to keep in mind during the packing process.
“Before you start packing, make sure you try on all the outfits you’re planning on your trip,” she advised.
“That way, you’ll be happy with every outfit and avoid packing too much.”
To keep the rest of your carry-on clean, she recommended using shoe bags to protect your shoes and opting for travel-sized products or reusable containers for toiletries.
However, it looks like the stylist isn’t the only one sharing some super space-saving packing tips.
Over the summer, Jenna Carr, who goes by “The Travel Mum” on TikTok, revealed exactly how she packed a week’s worth of clothes into a backpack to avoid “exorbitant” airline baggage fees.
Carr, who lives in the UK, explained that she put all her belongings in a plastic bag and then sealed it with a vacuum cleaner shaped like her backpack.
She also wears her “bulkiest” pair of shoes on the plane and wraps the rest of her shoes in plastic wrap so that nothing gets dirty in her backpack.
She also recommended using small plastic grocery bags to keep miscellaneous items like jewelry and her non-liquid makeup organized.
Source link
James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
