How to Pack Like a Professional Traveler

Olivia Lopez is the visual journalist, writer, and creative consultant behind chic lifestyle blog Lust for Life. With a serious case of wanderlust, a keen eye for easy, chic ensembles, and a carefully curated shopping list, Lopez is just the person to influence your style and seek travel tips from. Find out her foolproof travel packing tips.

If there's one thing I've mastered after logging in thousands of flights (and scattered items across the world), it's the art of packing minimally, considerably by blogging standards, where rather than schlepping three suitcases across the continent for a four-day press trip, I've learned to travel light by only taking what's essential. By minimizing your baggage, you maximize your mobility, and mobility grants you the ultimate luxury of time to soak in new experiences.

Instead of stressing out and feeling unprepared before a big flight the night before, planning and streamlining your options ensures that you will be able to relax before your vacation even starts.

Prepare your suitcase a week or two before departure. Start by packing core pieces (like blue jeans, sneakers, and a swimsuit) along with a toiletry bag. As the week goes on, you'll gravitate toward adding or removing pieces from your suitcase, whether that's an evening dress reserved for a special occasion or a pair of high heels you probably won't be breaking in on the dusty roads of the Italian countryside. This also allows you to visualize what you'll need and are missing. Overall it helps avoid the tendency to overpack items we don't need when we feel unprepared.

Color-coordinating your wardrobe helps tremendously with seamlessly styling your pieces together. You'll be thanking yourself later by opting for day-to-night dresses or other pieces that are easy to dress up or down (like a swimsuit that can transition into a top when styled with a skirt, or lace-up sandals that pair well with everything).

Skincare is non-negotiable when traveling abroad, but a vacation is probably not the right time to try out three different serums. Since skincare products tend to be the heaviest items (and the first thing to reweigh on the scale) while checking-in, avoid losing a beloved, expensive night cream to the TSA by packing travel-size jars and avoid bringing multiples of each item. My core six products include cleanser, serum, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, and face oil.

Rolling your clothes affords you more space and reduces needing to steam your clothes later. I helped a friend squeeze three bags of clothes into an already packed carry-on by flat packing and rolling all her garments into a ball.

How do you pack for a big trip? Share your travel packing tips in the comments below.