Over the years I’ve travelled enough to learn what I should and should not bring with me on a trip to the airport. While I like to be prepared for any scenario including inclement weather, hangry pangs (anger induced by hunger pains), dehydration, and poor circulation, for years I just loaded myself down with unnecessary extras. Here’s my quick-and-dirty guide to packing efficiently in your carry-on. First, you need a good travel bag. Preferably one that is durable and in a dark-enough color to hide bumps and bruises traveling brings. This (1) expandable travel bag from Longchamp’s famous Le Pliage line is my favorite. It can be unzipped and expanded to hold all the extra souvenirs you didn’t plan on buying and the crossbody strap makes transporting it a lot easier. I encourage everyone to choose just one color for all their travel bags and stick to it (I always buy bags in chocolate brown). It makes identifying your bags a snap and looks polished and coordinated, even in the middle of a chaotic airport.
Second, it’s important to pack some all-purpose necessities. I always pack my (2) iPod Shuffle or iPad and noise-canceling headphones to drown out unwanted noises and help me concentrate if I am trying to work while traveling. And to make sure I never run out of power, I like to bring along an external battery to charge all my devices on the go. The new (3) Trent iCarrier is pretty hard to beat and can be found here. I also travel with a watch, like this (4) Daniel Wellington one, to keep me on schedule and (5) a small notebook to jot down any good ideas or inspiration.
One of the most important things in my carry-on, or in my purse for that matter, is a collapsible umbrella for unexpected weather. This (6) navy-plaid version from Brooks Brothers looks far more beautiful and sophisticated than a basic black umbrella and fits easily in any carry-on (similar here). Another absolute necessity is (7) a simple pashmina to stave-off freezing airport temperatures and to use as a blanket during long flights. I always like to carry a pair of (8) collapsible sunglasses too since they are more compact than traditional sunnies. Ray-Ban makes my favorites. In terms of personal care, I always carry my (9) pocket-sized Mason Pearson brush to tame frizz and restore shine to dull hair after a long flight.
I also carry a dry shampoo or conditioner since my hair can get unruly and tangled onboard, especially for international flights. (10) Serge Normant and Oscar Blandi make my favorites. I never forget to carry (11) Jo Malone cologne to keep me smelling fresh (found here), a heavy-duty lip balm to protect my lips from parched cabin air (I haven’t found one I like more than (12) Dr.Lipps Nipple Balm, found here), and a basic body lotion to rehyrdrate my skin, like this one from (13) Gilchrist & Soames in addition to my make-up. I pack all my toiletries in another chocolate-brown bag, this (14) nylon dobb kit from Henri Bendel (on sale here – find similar here). And finally, I never go to the airport without a healthy snack and some water to keep me hydrated. When I can, I try to find (16) sparkling water after getting through security at the airport since the carbonation settles my stomach before a flight (I can be a nervous flyer). My current favorite healthy snack to travel with? These (15) Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Roasted Almonds which cure even the worst hangry pangs and come in a convenient grab-and-go container. And always remember to carry all your (17) travel documents and personal identification with you in your carry-on!
HAPPY SHOPPING and TRAVEL SAFE!
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