How to Pack Like a Travel Editor
YOLO Journal's Yolanda Edwards spills her suitcase.
If you travel at all, you should know Yolanda Edwards — and you’ve probably read something she wrote without even knowing it. The former longtime Creative Director of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, these days she’s running her own book; the beloved, ultra-chic cult travel mag YOLO Journal.
“I have to admit, I am not a good packer.” She quips. “In fact, that’s why I’m doing a packing hotline with my friend Ann Mashburn [November 11] on my Substack—since she is the Master Packer! I long to be the person who can just do a rolling suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment, but I’ve become that person that usually checks. If I’m going for a longer trip—like for the holidays, I’m heading to Hawaii, but possibly also squeezing in a trip to see my parents in Washington State (read: two climates), I will bring my Rimowa trunk. If I’m on a weekend trip (like right now I’m in South Carolina), I’ll bring the Tumi rollie, but the whole time I’m thinking about all the things I wished I had with me.”
YE: I either place my Parker Thatch tote on top of my rolling suitcase or carry it if I’m checking my luggage. An Ann Mashburn bucket tote sits inside this tote, which gives some structure to the lightweight tote, and makes it so I have a second purse with me on the trip.”
YE: Inside the bucket tote I have my favorite ever wallet from Valextra, which is big, but God forbid I don’t have that one frequent coffee card with me when I need it.
YE: Also in the tote are my sunglasses, always LGRxIssimo, a lip balm from Tatcha, and hand lotion from Susanne Kaufmann.
YE: I [also always carry] a leather Ghurka case that holds my laptop and two diaries from Smythson. One is the Soho diary which is my calendar (yes, I have an old school datebook as well as everything digitally, so I don’t forget anything!), and the other is my Yolo notebook where I write down all my ideas for the newsletter and the magazine.
YE: [Final essentials include] a navy sweater from Toast, a colorful scarf from Drake’s, and cashmere socks from Johnston Elgins.
P.S. — Also check out our Gift Guide for the Globetrotter.