Guest Author: Ally, Marketing Team

When I go on a trip, I tend to overplan. Like, activities scheduled every day, every hour, every moment written out with hard stops and travel itineraries. At a certain point, I realized this actually makes things much more stressful than any vacation had a right to be and that leaving things up to a more laissez faire attitude could be not just easier, but more fun. As it turns out, if I leave my planning to just the essentials, I have a much better time – and some may say I end up becoming a better travel companion because of it.

Now that I have the planning settled, we can move on to more important things…

What on earth should I pack?

In my opinion, the most important thing for any traveler to have is a wristlet or a zip wallet. Ideally, you’d have both, so you can switch it up depending on your destination!

My go-to is the Zip Around Wristlet because it not only holds a TON (cards, cash, loyalty cards from every coffee shop I come across, etc.) but it also can easily fit inside another bag or be used on its own. I love how I can just throw the strap on my wrist and go – it’s so easy, which is why I will DEFINITELY be bringing it to London.

Wallets are a great way to add a little personality to a look, so I try to have a little fun with it. Our Art Deco wristlet is my favorite, but I also adore the Gingham II, especially for spring.

This trip involves a long flight and I am not a ‘go-with-the-flow’ kind of flyer, so my choice of carry-on is extremely important. My bag needs to be sturdy enough to hold multiple books, a neck pillow, various snacks, and a whole bunch of other essentials. (Pro travel tip: always pack gum for takeoff and landing. Your ears will thank you.) However, I also want it to be stylish.

The perfect solution?

Our Nylon Collection. I can’t get enough of the collection – both in my everyday life, and for traveling. I use my Nylon satchel ALL the time for various woodworking workshops and classes, but when it comes to travel, there’s just nothing like it. If I’m going on a short trip, I pack everything inside – from clothes to shoes. If I’m going on a longer trip, it makes the perfect carry on, with pockets for everything.

The last thing I think is essential for every trip? A hands-free crossbody bag. In my case specifically, I always pack a camera bag. I love how they look, and they keep everything secure at my side while my hands are free for exploring. My recent fave has been the Pebble Grain Camera Crossbody in this beautiful Coral color, because it’s so durable and such a unique look. It literally goes with everything!

I’ll be back with more travel essentials soon, but for now, I’m off to the Tower of London…spooky!