Traveling to a cool place this winter? Why wouldn't you? Winter is a great time to avoid the crowds and get discounts on travel. Sounds like fun fun fun until you find yourself having to pack for the trip! Did you know that packing for vacation is most people's LEAST FAVORITE THING TO DO? That's right, it ranks as high as public speaking and going to the dentist on people's hate-to-do-list. And winter travel can be even more challenging with weighty fabrics.  So is it possible to pack everything you need to be warm without packing a jumbo suitcase or multiple jumbo suitcases?  It’s easy to pack small when you’re taking swimsuits and flip-flops, but jackets? No way. What if I told you it’s possible to have over 20 different cool weather looks in a carry-on? Impossible you say? Prepare to learn my method for the impossibly possible. (Check out the shopping links and video at the end.)

2.    Plan the clothes. What does your itinerary look like? Plan 10-15 simple basic pieces that mix and match to accommodate all of the fun included in your agenda. (With a few extra looks for whatever else might come up.) I will usually include 2-3 jackets in this mix - one more dressy, and one more casual. 8 tops and 5 bottoms. Wear the most bulky pieces on the flight to maximize the clothing space in your carry-on. Layering is key! With each item you add, ask yourself these two questions: does it work with 2-3 other things & can I layer it? If the answer is no, chances are it doesn't add value to your carry-on.  See all of the looks I created with the pieces above, with shoppable links, HERE. 
Pro stylist tip:  Cool weather game changers include tights or stockings (that you could layer under everything if needed), gloves, a warm hat, a stuffable windbreaker, and a blanket scarf. If you need a heavy coat, take one that compresses down. The first 4 take up minimal space but can make a huge difference in cooler weather. Wear the blanket scarf on the flight to double as a blanket when you’re cold.

3.    Don’t forget a tote bag that slips over the rolling carry-on. This bag should include anything you might need to have overnight and the next day.  It’s not uncommon for you to get to the gate with your rolling carry-on and tote bag only to be asked to check the rolling carry-on.  Once in a while these little bags get lost and you find yourself on vacation waiting 2-3 days for your bag to show up.  Yes, you may be able to track it but being able to see where it’s at almost makes the waiting-for-it-to-get-to-you game all the more painful.  Pack the essentials for at least the first day in the tote just in case this worst-case scenario happens to you.

How to pack warm clothes in an itty bitty bag and still have enough pieces for a variety of occasions is the classic conundrum.  A strategy that includes lots of layers, wearing bulkier items on travel days, and smart footwear will have you traveling light AND prepared for the little emergencies life may throw at you. Speaking of which, you will love this post on how to be ready for any and everything while traveling here. 

PACKING FOR WINTER VACATION IN A CARRY-ON WITH GOOD THINGS UTAH

There’s that word I’m hearing everywhere. Vulnerable, lately it's used in a positive way such as, “I appreciate your vulnerability.” And,  “if I can be vulnerable, I can start the process of healing.” It’s generally used as a term for a weakness, one you have the courage to admit to having, when in a safe environment. Or used as a way to show you are human, and somehow relatable, approachable with a degree of humility, because like everyone else, you have flaws.  Where there are appropriate times to be vulnerable, there are also times when we need to be strong and resilient. Because what you wear affects your mindset and therefore your actions, choose the colors you wear strategically. Turns out, you may need both this February! If you're vulnerable to seasonal depression, like me, one surefire way to become more resilient is to wear the right colors. Here's how: 

​Soft and muted colors like pastel tones, pinks light blues, or gentle greens are often associated with vulnerability, conveying a sense of openness and sensitivity.

The same principle applies to clothing colors. A bold strong red is more dominant - wear when you need to feel and appear more reliant.   The subordinate and more vulnerable soft pink - is a great way to show your more sensitive side. 

A darker, more saturated green is infinitely more strong than a softer pastel green - despite the expression on "soft green guy's" face.  (Is that an I'm annoyed expression or smolder? Not sure...)

Still wondering which colors appear more sensitive and vulnerable vs. bold and resilient? Maybe the blues below will help. 

Vulnerable is good at times, but prepare to be bold as well if you're going to conquer the world! In the end, it pays to have a variety of clothes in your wardrobe that represent you well for the different occasions you find yourself in.  Finding the right color for you is not only about skin tone and hair color. It's also about how the colors you put on make you feel. For a comprehensive color analysis that includes the psychology of color AND your personal coloring (skin, hair, eye, lips, blush color) AND the colors that transition well into every season, contact me HERE.