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The Savvy consumer: How to Travel Wrinkle-Free

A very great vacation starts with the perfect jacket; and what can be more classic than denim? Whether you're headed for Paris, France, or Paris, Texas, it's the ultimate chic cover-up.

By Anne Garber

Dyed indigo blue, stonewashed, faded or sun-bleached, the jean jacket is versatility personified. Choose one that's shrunken, cropped or in a classic shape, such as a blazer.

For our fall-into-winter trip, we try to bring as much in solid black as possible -- even pillowcases, a thirsty towel apiece and underwear. This strategy makes doing a one-load laundry more practical, and besides -- everything matches.

Remember, pack light and you'll pack right.

To avoid looking wrinkled and crinkled while you're on the road, buy and pack clothes in fabrics that resist crumpling -- or that at least look good even when they're a bit mussed.

Packing smart starts with good planning and the right luggage. For wrinkle-proof travelling, choose a bag that can be firmly packed, but not over-packed.

Here are some easy but worthwhile tips:

• Button, zip and fasten all garments before packing them.

• To prevent shifting of the contents, distribute the weight of packed items evenly. This also will make your bag easier to carry.

• Slip plastic dry-cleaner bags over clothing before folding to reduce wrinkles. Reuse the plastic bags to keep wet or soiled items separate during travel.

• Roll socks, undergarments and belts and place inside shoes. Use shoe bags whenever possible, placing shoes in a heel-to-toe position.

• For toiletries, carry small amounts in plastic bottles. Make sure tops are on securely.

• Pack tightly, using soft clothing you can roll up to fill in gaps and corners.

Hints to guide your choices:
1. Buy fabrics in wool or silk. These natural fibres have some elasticity, which keeps them from crinkling.

2. Buy synthetic fabrics or clothes that contain blends of synthetic and natural fibres. These fibres make clothing less wrinkle-prone, more durable and easier to care for.

3. Opt for linen, which creases easily but "falls out" nicely and carries off the crumpled-casual look well.

4. Choose knits instead of weaves. Knitwear -- which includes cable, ribbed, tricot and jersey knits -- wrinkles less than woven fabrics.

5. Pack intelligently. Make use of flat suitcase pockets and special packing accessories that hold clothes in place, and don't overstuff your bags.

6. Consider rolling knits, denims and linens to avoid harsh fold lines.

7. Unpack your bags upon arrival.

Note:

• Synthetics include nylon, polyester, micro-fibres, spandex, acrylic and acetate.

• Cotton, like linen, is a natural fibre that creases easily (although the crumpled cotton look isn't generally in vogue). If you arrive at your destination with a few creases, hang up the clothes in the hotel bathroom while you run a steamy shower; harsh wrinkles will fall out.

Non-clothing essentials:

• Various sizes of freezer-quality zippered bags

• A pre-loaded mini pepper-grinder

• a pouch of fleur de sel or salt crystals

• vitamins and supplements

• first-aid supplies, pain-killers, something like Vick's Vapo-rub or Mentholatum

• travel candles to counteract nearby smoking rooms

• Eye-shades for airplane and in-room

• Travel sickness and jet-lag remedies

• Pepto-Bismol and/or antacids

• converter and adaptor kit for differing voltage

• Power-bar so you only need to convert and adapt once

I like to pack small items in their own pouches, to make it easier to find things at my destination. My pouches will usually hold the following: Dental stuff; hair stuff; First-aid; Small electricals (including walkie-talkies we always take so we can find each other at outdoor markets, and batteries); on-board travel necessities (ear-plugs, eye-shades, AirBourne, No Jet Lag, inflatable neck pillow, drinking water, water spritzer, gum or lozenges). Remember not to carry-on your favourite nail scissors, as you will still lose them to security at the departure gate. You are permitted to bring a cardboard emery board, if you must repair a chipped nail en route.

Among handy items to pack, you'll find that Ziploc bags are very useful -- good for wet items, medication, shampoo bottles, soap and dirty laundry. Stowing some of your personal belongings in clear, plastic bags also reduces the chance that airport screeners will have to handle them. Consider wrapping a couple feet of duct tape around a pen or marker. This works great to fix broken sandal straps, luggage handles or for any other unexpected repairs. Avoid camera calamities and pack extra batteries in addition to extra film. Pick up some wet wipes for washing your face, wiping hands, and cleaning sand or dirt off of personal belongings. If you have a device that seals the edge of plastic pouches, charge several with a one-load quantity of liquid laundry soap. None of these items will add much weight or take up a lot of space in your baggage.

Some other items every traveller should carry: Photocopies of your credit cards and passport (carry copies separately from your cards), photocopies of prescriptions for necessary medicines or eyeglasses, Imodium (for diarrhea), a pocket flashlight, and your address book. I also like to take blank labels so I can use those ubiquitous free-postcards available more and more widely.

Security check-point tips:
While waiting in the airport security line, pack a small zippered bag with your watch, jewellery, keys, change, cell phone, and belt. This will keep your valuables together and enable you to reassemble in peace -- not in public. Have your boarding pass and driver's license ready for security personnel. Wear metal-free shoes. Label any larger, important valuables with your name, phone number and email address.

Food on the Fly:
Since many airlines stopped serving meals on domestic flights and decided a turkey sandwich was worth EIGHT BUCKS, packing food for plane or car trips has become essential. Carbs, particularly refined ones, such as sugar or white flour, give you quick energy and then a crash, so you crave more. Start with a good breakfast and carry snacks, such as nuts, dried fruit, and cheese cubes. The fruit gives you a quick energy boost and the nuts provide protein to sustain you.

Leave Jet-lag behind:
Jet lag happens when the body's inner clock falls out of sync with daily cycles of light, meals and rest. Minimize the effects by getting several nights of good sleep before your trip. During the flight, do isometric exercises, eat light meals, and keep hydrated, but avoid sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks. If you have crossed several time zones, you may want to consider a taking a supplement that eases transitions to new time zones. One homeopathic supplement that does just this is called "No-Jet-Lag" as well as in many homeopathic and herbal remedy stores.

Anne Garber
Managing Director, www.evalu8.org

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