So many people struggle with packing, myself included. But I'm here to help you condense your clothing into as small a space as possible. Just last night, I got all this:

  into this:

  With room to spare, I might add. This is everything that's with me on my current 10-day excursion to Ireland. Inside this bag is everything I should need for the trip, but the important part is the fact that the clothing only takes up half of the bigger bag. 

  Let's get to the basics. First off, you usually don't need as many clothes as you'd think, so consolidate where possible. Second, pack small clothes and layers. And third, help yourself from a style perspective by packing clothes that don't wrinkle easily.   

Jeans

Jeans are usually your bulkier items, apart from shoes. The secret to condensing your jeans is to fold them properly, to begin with. 

• Start by folding your jeans along the seams

• Next, double them over at the knee

• Fold in the seat of your jeans so you have a uniform width to work with

• Starting from the knee, roll tightly towards the top

Tip: Smooth your clothes as you roll to keep wrinkles out. Not only can wrinkles dampen your style, but they add volume to your roll.  

T-Shirts

You may think you know how to fold a t-shirt, but doing it this way will get it even smaller. 

• Lay the shirt flat

• Fold in the sleeves for a uniform size

• Fold the shirt over halfway, lengthwise

• Fold it again, lengthwise

• Starting at the neck, roll towards the bottom

Tip: The closer to the same width you can get all of your clothing when rolling it, the better your packing will be.

Button-Down Shirts 

These are basically the same as t-shirts, but you have sleeves and a collar to contend with.  

• Lay the shirt flat and align the buttons

• Fold in the sleeves to make a rectangle

• Fold in half lengthwise

• Fold again, lengthwise

• Roll from the collar down

Tip: Another benefit of rolling is that you can layer your clothes in your bag with the spiral part of the roll facing up and then it's easier to grab the item you want!

Tank Tops

Tank tops are great because they're already small. Rolling them just makes them easier to stuff in any dead space in your luggage you can find. 

• Lay the shirt flat

• Fold in half lengthwise

• Fold in half again, lengthwise

• Fold the straps down slightly

• Starting at the crease you just made with the straps, roll down

The Army has taught me many useful skills in my life, but the packing techniques are EXTREMELY helpful with my hobbies. 

Undergarments

Depending on your style and preference, the type of undergarments you have will be different. But the principle is the same. Fold it into a smooth uniform shape and roll from there.

Bras are difficult depending on size because they can create wasted space. Though it's not good for the bra itself, I recommend flipping one cup inside the other and making a little bowl of sorts. Then you can shove other things in the vacant space. 

My personal preference for socks and underwear is actually a makeup bag. I roll everything and put socks on one side and underwear in the other. It makes it easy on the trip, too because you don't have to dig around.  

I hope that these tricks have been helpful and that your next packing event is riddled with fun trying them out!  Please consider picking up a copy of my book, Don’t Pack That written to help you figure out how to pack and where to travel. It is available on iUniverse, Amazon, and anywhere eBooks are sold.

Thanks, y'all!