Louis Vuitton started out as a trunkmaker to the European elite, so who would know more about packing the perfect suitcase? At last night's event to celebrate the new personalization atelier in the brand's SoHo store (you can get everything from a luggage tag to a purse to a trunk hand-painted or hot-stamped), we witnessed an incredible demonstration by expert packer Lamar of how exactly to fit a week's worth of wardrobe into one suitcase petite enough to go in an overhead compartment. While we didn't walk away with a Damier print bag, we did pick up some tips that we're definitely using for our next getaway.
- Do put your toiletries underneath your shoes. Your makeup bag or dopp kit will be a more structured item that will keep your gorgeous shoes from getting smushed.
- Do start by laying out everything you plan on packing in outfits. That way, if you are missing an accessory or packing one piece that goes with absolutely nothing else, you can fix it before you start putting things in your bag.
- Do use your jacket as a garment bag! Since you almost always pack some kind of outerwear, whether it's a trench, a leather jacket, or a blazer, you can use it to protect your most delicate items. Put the piece or pieces most likely to snag inside the jacket and close it up. Now, nothing can grab!
- Do put your shoes in a V formation, with the heels against the side structure of the bag so they can't be snapped. Flats go on the inside since they can bear a little more weight and pressure. Put each shoe in an individual shoe bag to not only protect, but to also provide padding that keeps them from sliding around. For extra support and space-saving, roll belts into the toes of your flats or boots.
- Do roll up your soft knits and denim as an underlayer that you can layer flat-packed items on top of. Rolling actually helps protect against wrinkles and takes up far less space.