Packing Lessons I've Learned from 50+ Fashion Weeks
This fashion week, when you're scrolling through street style pic after street style pic, try and remember that those perfectly dressed people didn't just appear out of thin air. The influencers, bloggers, editors, writers, and beyond that tend to look so effortlessly cool likely have a practiced approach that just makes it look that easy.
For insider insight, we asked British blogger Peony Lim to explain how she approaches the season. From attending shows to meeting clients and working around a taping schedule for her new podcast, Three Dumplings, she's b-u-s-y. Below, see how she approaches packing and outfit planning.
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"Which cities I attend depends on the season and my jobs. Last September I did New York, London, and Paris," she tells ELLE.com. "I mostly have meetings and attend the shows—I normally only go to a couple of parties. Otherwise, the jet lag ruins me for the next day. When I first started [going to fashion week] nine or so years ago, it was all about street style for me. I would spend more time outside being photographed than at meetings or shows."
For flights from London, Lim always brings a cashmere scarf that doubles as a blanket ("I don't like putting the airline blankets near my face, in case I have a reaction to the detergent or fabric") and a silk eye mask. She also makes sure to bring LUMIFY™ Redness Reliever Eye Drops, doubling up with them in her carry-on and toiletry case. [Editor's note: product is only available in the U.S.]
"I love having eye drops when I travel. They're super useful [after a red-eye] when you're lagging and your eyes show it more than anything else," she says. "I also love them to freshen up before a shoot [when my eyes are red]. "
Luggage is definitely an accessory.
Before fashion week even starts, Lim knows what she's wearing.
"When you're traveling for fashion week, you have to be quite organized, because you’re on the road for a month and need a different look for day and night most of the time. I style everything on the floor before I leave and take photos so I know exactly which pieces I have chosen. Otherwise, I always end up with a random bracelet that I can't remember which look it was for," she explains. "Each day I just grab the photo and copy—much easier."
There's a method to how she puts everything in her monogrammed luggage too.
"I pack each look on metal dry-cleaning hangers with a plastic dry-cleaning bag over the top of each one. This helps to trap air and stop creasing, speeds up unpacking since you just hang them all up, and keeps everything organized [by outfits.]"
Being a light packer means you have less choices, but more room to shop.
Years (and fashion weeks) of experience have turned Lim into a pro at knowing what she will and won't wear. As such, she's able to edit down her suitcase to impressive standards.
"I normally only have one spare outfit. Having traveled so much, I'm a pretty professional packer. I've worked out what I need," she says.
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