Just because you’re on the road or in the air doesn’t mean you leave your stylish sensibilities behind. While we wouldn’t blame you for showing up to the airport looking like a disheveled Michelin man, you might want to look your best for the photos on the other end of your trip. Luckily, you don’t have to leave the jewelry behind if you know how to pack it properly.
Before Your Trip
If you tend to lean more towards overpacking, read on to discover some helpful tips.
Don’t Bring Too Much
This is a good rule for packing in general. It’s fine to bring more than the bare necessities, but you also want to avoid going overboard. Essential pieces like your wedding ring set or go-to necklaces are great, but you probably want to leave your strings of pearls at home. A handful of pieces is going to be plenty if you know how to mix and match them well.
Make a List
You know how sometimes things just creep into your bag? You thought you’d packed well, but suddenly your suitcase is trying to expand beyond its natural capacity. Well, that’s likely because a few extra outfits snuck their way in while you were avoiding making a packing list.
Packing lists are your friend in every scenario, but especially when you’re traveling with delicate items like jewelry. Before you put a single thing in your bag, make a list of what you want to bring and then edit it. Bring less than you think you need because nine times out of 10, it will be plenty, and you’ll be happy you did.
Not All Jewelry Travels Equally
Rings travel well, stud earrings travel well, layered necklaces do not travel well. Get the idea? The more complex an item, the harder of a time it has traveling. Can you bring intricate pieces of jewelry? Well, yes, it’s just going to take more work. If you’re willing to make that tradeoff, more power to you.
When deciding what to pack, you want to aim for simplicity and versatility. A couple of pieces of everyday jewelry that you can wear with anything is a way better choice than 10 different things that only go with certain outfits and occasions.
When Traveling
Already on your trip and need a quick solution? We share some everyday items that can help you organize your jewelry and keep it from tangling.
Pill Boxes
This is easily one of the most convenient and budget-friendly ways to travel with small pieces of jewelry. Now, you’re going to have a tougher time with larger necklaces and things of that nature, but rings and earrings? They’ll be right at home. Best of all, you can pick one of these up from any pharmacy or big box store for just a few bucks.
Ziplock Bags
Don’t sleep on the Ziplock bag. It might seem odd, but it really works! These are great for managing larger items like necklaces. Once you put the pieces in, you can wrap the bag around itself several times for some added protection.
Bubble Wrap
Not just for moving, bubble wrap is a utilitarian icon that’s useful anytime. If you’re efficient with it, you can put several pieces in the same strip of bubble wrap and save even more space. Now, bubble wrap will absolutely take up more square footage in your bag than most other options here. If you travel light otherwise (or just have a large suitcase), this isn’t a huge issue. For the minimalist traveler, other options are likely to be better.
Drinking Straws
This is a useful tip that’s just specific to necklaces. If you’ve traveled with a necklace and it ends up looking like when you’d leave your headphones in your pocket (back when headphones had wires), you know this pain. If you put your necklace through a drinking straw, it keeps everything nice and neat. Gotta use those proliferating plastic straws for something!
Travel Towel
Along the lines of bubble wrap but much more minimalist, a travel towel is a great way to keep your jewelry safe and organized. It’s probably best used in conjunction with another organizational technique because the towel is more for the safety of your jewelry than for packing neatness. Still, a travel towel (or any cloth that won’t scratch) is good to have in your bag.
Travel Jewelry Boxes
Sure, you can go the DIY route and get creative. However, if you want to be sure that your jewelry is organized and cut all your worries out, just get a travel jewelry box. They’re lighter and smaller than standard jewelry boxes, but they have all the same functions as their more permanent counterparts. While this option is best to have before you travel, check out some jewelry boutiques on your trip to see if they offer anything similar for the way home.
Most organizational techniques actually start before you even pack. You could use every travel hack in the world, but if you’re bringing 30 different pieces, it’ll still be chaotic. Stick to the basics and the everyday pieces you love, and leave your boldest statement pieces at home.
