pollensa
Founder
Following on from our discussion about Cabin Baggage, I attended a fascinating workshop last night on holiday packing (very sad!). It was run by our local CMB (Colour Me Beautiful) lady - if you've never 'had your colours done' ladies, it's a must! Fortunately she & I have the same colours (Warm Spring) so I regularly just buy what she does.
Anyway, this how it went.
She had with her what was supposedly all she needed for 2 weeks in the sun. Her 'hold' luggage consisted of a small carpet bag (very Mary Poppins) & much smaller than the dimensions for Cabin bags plus an even smaller carry-on bag.
Into both of these she managed to 'pack' (more on technique later) the following:
Everything was co-ordinated in 'her' colours which consisted of neutrals (white, brown, stone/beige) plus aqua (a light turquoise), coral pink & light yellow & green (so nothing boring here!)
2 pairs of linen trousers & 2 pairs of shorts/cropped trousers in neutral colours,
2-3 dresses,
2 skirts,
7 t-shirts/vest tops in all the colours,
5-6 evening tops - light-weight floaty tops, some plain, some patterned in all her colours
2 cardigans (yellow & aqua)
mac - see this brilliant one at New Look in brown or black http://www.newlook.co.uk/1396166/139616633/ProductDetails.aspx
swimwear,
sarong/shawl,
pashmina,
sandals/flip flops, evening shoes
evening bag containing jewellery (5-6 sparkly & bead necklaces in all her colours)
underwear & nightwear
travel hairdryer
Various (but only essential) Cosmetics in mini/sample sizes
Makeup consisted of:
One CMB large palette with 8 eye shadows (to mix & match) & bronzer
3 eye pencils
mascara
1 lip pencil, 2 lipsticks & 2 lip gloss (can use on cheeks too!)
set of mini-brushes
mini-pots foundation & tinted moisturiser
For travelling, she recommended wearing layers, your heaviest shoes e.g. trainers & taking one of the cardigans & the mac
In the Carry-on bag were the pashmina, some underwear & bikini, evening bag containing the jewellery, the toiletries (in clear plastic bag), the makeup, camera, mobile phone, sunglasses, purse, passports, tickets etc.
& then the packing technique:
First put heavy items at the bottom & put heeled shoes in a shoe bag.
Then put the groups of clothes (as listed above) into piles.
For each pile e.g. the trousers/shorts, roll them up starting at one of the short sides so that you have a shortish, fat sausage shape (hope this makes sense) & squash into the bag. Do this with all the sausages. If anything gets really creasy, you can separate the layers with tissue paper. When you arrive hang up everything & hang anything creased in the bathroom, turn on the hot taps/shower & fill the room with steam - creases should fall out.
So whether I really stick to these rules is another matter - but it was fascinating!
Anyway, this how it went.
She had with her what was supposedly all she needed for 2 weeks in the sun. Her 'hold' luggage consisted of a small carpet bag (very Mary Poppins) & much smaller than the dimensions for Cabin bags plus an even smaller carry-on bag.
Into both of these she managed to 'pack' (more on technique later) the following:
Everything was co-ordinated in 'her' colours which consisted of neutrals (white, brown, stone/beige) plus aqua (a light turquoise), coral pink & light yellow & green (so nothing boring here!)
2 pairs of linen trousers & 2 pairs of shorts/cropped trousers in neutral colours,
2-3 dresses,
2 skirts,
7 t-shirts/vest tops in all the colours,
5-6 evening tops - light-weight floaty tops, some plain, some patterned in all her colours
2 cardigans (yellow & aqua)
mac - see this brilliant one at New Look in brown or black http://www.newlook.co.uk/1396166/139616633/ProductDetails.aspx
swimwear,
sarong/shawl,
pashmina,
sandals/flip flops, evening shoes
evening bag containing jewellery (5-6 sparkly & bead necklaces in all her colours)
underwear & nightwear
travel hairdryer
Various (but only essential) Cosmetics in mini/sample sizes
Makeup consisted of:
One CMB large palette with 8 eye shadows (to mix & match) & bronzer
3 eye pencils
mascara
1 lip pencil, 2 lipsticks & 2 lip gloss (can use on cheeks too!)
set of mini-brushes
mini-pots foundation & tinted moisturiser
For travelling, she recommended wearing layers, your heaviest shoes e.g. trainers & taking one of the cardigans & the mac
In the Carry-on bag were the pashmina, some underwear & bikini, evening bag containing the jewellery, the toiletries (in clear plastic bag), the makeup, camera, mobile phone, sunglasses, purse, passports, tickets etc.
& then the packing technique:
First put heavy items at the bottom & put heeled shoes in a shoe bag.
Then put the groups of clothes (as listed above) into piles.
For each pile e.g. the trousers/shorts, roll them up starting at one of the short sides so that you have a shortish, fat sausage shape (hope this makes sense) & squash into the bag. Do this with all the sausages. If anything gets really creasy, you can separate the layers with tissue paper. When you arrive hang up everything & hang anything creased in the bathroom, turn on the hot taps/shower & fill the room with steam - creases should fall out.
So whether I really stick to these rules is another matter - but it was fascinating!
I usually plan mix and match things with military precision too so that I don't take too much! 
