kathleen barnes packing tips

Photo: Courtesy of Kathleen Barnes

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They Find More Space
Fitting all your travel essentials into one suitcase can be less of a struggle if the bag does some of the work for you. For Kathleen Barnes, the woman behind the style blog Carrie Bradshaw Lied, investing in a smarter suitcase—one that comes equipped with compression straps, which condense clothes to create extra room—makes the packing and travel experience a breeze. She's partial to her Hartmann expandable spinner (you can find a similar option here).

If you're in the market for a new bag, look for ones that feature compression technology, one of the top luggage trends of 2016. Some styles, like the Briggs & Riley carry-on, expand up to 25 percent to fit more items, and then compress back down to original size.

And, within your suitcase, another great way to gain incremental space is with compression pouches, which squeeze out excess air without requiring a vacuum. (However, you'll still want to keep an eye on the weight, and it's best to avoid using them with delicate fabrics, which may wrinkle.)