ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

Trunk Show

Streamline your suitcase with these simple packing tips.

Photos by Photo by Melissa Kaseman

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Print a copy of your itinerary (include the dates of your trip and the address where you’ll be staying) and leave it inside your checked baggage. If your suitcase gets lost, there’s a better chance it will follow you to your destination, instead of beating you home.

LIGHT READING
The next time you go on vacation, leave the guidebooks and day planner at home. Instead, fill a folder with only the information you’ll need: copies of pages from books, pre-written address labels for lucky postcard recipients, and confirmation numbers. Alternatively, if you’re traveling with a laptop, transfer pertinent data onto a portable flash drive.

THE LAST STRAW
Prevent necklaces from tangling during your journey by threading them through plastic drinking straws (you can also trim down the straws to accommodate short chokers and
thin bracelets).

BOTTLE SERVICE
If you’re checking a bag, store your toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries in a wide-mouthed water bottle—it will be sturdier and more waterproof than a traditional Dopp kit. And, once you arrive, you can use it to stay hydrated during your sojourn.

ALL BUNDLED UP
Rather than folding each article of clothing individually, lay your duds out flat, one on top of another, and roll them into a bundle, with socks and underwear in the middle. In addition to saving space, your clothes will arrive wrinkle-free.

PILLOW TALK
Pack an empty pillowcase to separate clean and dirty clothes on your return trip. (Download the template for our “Dirty” label at readymademag.com/pillowcaselabel) Bonus: The case can double as a cover for questionably clean hotel pillows during your stay.

TIE ONE ON
Attach a brightly hued luggage tag, piece of ribbon, or other unusual identifier to the outside of your bag to make sure no one else picks it up at baggage claim.