The Cultured Girl

I take great pride in being a light packer—so much so that I’m probably starting to alienate my friends and family. My secret — aside from being a petite person whose clothes don’t take up much space — is good planning. Before each trip I make a very anal packing list, where I determine what I will wear each day and how I will reuse each clothing item. Deciding what to wear before you leave means no need to overpack. This method requires a heavy reliance on layering: A nice blazer, for instance, can double as a daytime jacket and a going-out essential when paired with a dressy camisole and some costume jewelry.

If you don’t believe me, listen to the experts at OneBag.com, a web site devoted to helping you fit everything you need into one piece of carry-on luggage. (If you need encouragement, keep in mind that this feat will have male travel companions fawning in admiration.) Though the site is slightly skewed toward adventure travelers in less mainstream locales, many of the tips are universal: laundering clothes as you go, toting paperback books you can ditch or trade along the way, and using accessories to stretch your wardrobe. OneBag also features a downloadable packing list, which includes such essentials as an inflatable travel pillow, a universal sink stopper and rubber clothesline (for laundry), and earplugs. After all, proclaims OneBag, “The consistent use of such a checklist is the single most important step you can take to lighten your packing load.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.