Each month Nashville #1 Men’s Personal Stylist, Bentley Caldwell will weigh in on the latest trends and answer men’s styling questions. His partner in crime, Carson Love will share her style tips for women.
AUGUST 2023 ISSUE
His Style: Unpacking Packing
Hi. My name is Bentley, and I am a recovering over-packer. Gents … it was bad. Weekend trip to Chattanooga? Two weeks in Europe? Same amount of clothes. I laughed in the face of baggage weight limits, and honestly, I regret nothing. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten better. Here are a few packing tips to consider as you set out on your last gasp summer excursion. Please grant me …
The Serenity to Plan Ahead…
It’s 11 p.m. Your flight leaves at 9 a.m. the next morning. You’re bingeing the last little bit of Ted Lassoand haven’t even thought about packing. Next thing you know, you’re scrambling to figure out what to pack and are throwing in anything and everything to get you out the door.
Last-minute packing correlates to overpacking, but there’s a trick: Planning. Before pulling out the suitcase, create a list of outfits for each day you’ll be away — considering the weather and activities you have planned. Map it out ahead of time, and you’ll save yourself the headache. Packing list templates are available online to help you start — thank a Type A personality for those.
The Courage to Pack What I Need…
We’ve all been there when heading on a vacation for some much-needed rest and relaxation. You grab a book that’s been gathering dust on the shelf for months and never crack it open. The same concept applies to clothes: If you haven’t worn that article of clothing in the past 3 months, you’re not likely to wear it on vacation. Leave it in the closet!
Pro-tip: Toss a bunch of clothes you love wearing into your suitcase and edit the pile down to absolute necessities. This ensures that you have exactly what you need — and want — to wear and nothing you don’t.
And the Wisdom to Know Before I Go.
This is a bit of a no-brainer but research the climate you’re traveling to and pack accordingly. For example, if you’re traveling to Mexico in the summer, opt for lighter fabrics and lighter colors. If you’re taking an autumn trip to the UK in the fall, opt for heavier fabrics that are more weather-resistant. This strategy will keep you from packing unnecessary garments. Trust me, you’re not going to need hiking boots for the beaches of Tulum. You might not even need clothes…
Remember, pack what you need. Leave what you don’t. Oftentimes, you’ll find you didn’t need all that much anyway — except underwear. You always need more underwear than you think. Safe travels, my friends!
