The Things I Was Glad I Packed (And What Stayed in My Suitcase)

elevated travel

Oct 4

Every trip teaches me something.

Not just about the destination.

About myself.

I usually come home realizing there were one or two things I never touched...and a handful of things I ended up using far more than I ever expected.

Banff was no different.

Looking back, here's what quietly earned its place in my suitcase—and what reminded me that sometimes packing "just in case" is still the right decision, even if those pieces never leave the bag.

I'm Glad I Packed a Few Nice Outfits

One thing I'm especially glad I did was pack two or three outfits that felt a little nicer than I technically needed.

I packed grey and ivory cashmere sweater from Quince. Black ultra-stretch ponte wide-leg pants from Quince and Spanx. A sweater dress with tights.

It would have been easy to throw in nothing but leggings and a pair of jeans and call it good.

I'm really glad I didn't.

Dressing for dinner made dinner feel like an occasion.

When you're staying somewhere as beautiful as the Fairmonts, changing into something a little more polished somehow changes the entire evening.

Not because anyone else notices.

Because you do.

I've realized vacation isn't only about where you go.

It's also about allowing yourself to enjoy moments you probably wouldn't create at home.

For me, those dinner outfits became part of the experience—not just something I happened to wear.

I Packed My Entire Makeup Bag

I used about a third of it.

This one surprised me.

I packed everything.

Foundation.

Eyeliner.

The whole routine.

I love all of the products I use. But most mornings, I reached for my tinted SPF moisturizer, mascara, brows, and a little lip color.

That was about it.

For some reason—and maybe it really was the mountain air—my skin simply looked better than it usually does.

I never felt like I needed a full face of makeup.

Instead of trying to perfect everything, I just leaned into a more natural look.

Looking back, I wouldn't pack any differently.

But I also know now that I need far less makeup on vacation than I think I do.

I Packed Two Pairs of Ponte Pants

I only really wore one.

Before the trip, I packed two pairs of black ponte pants. My favorite Spanx SPANXsupersmooth® PerfectFit Ponte Wide Leg Pant and Quince’s Ultra-Stretch Ponte Wide Leg Pants.

On paper, it made perfect sense.

We were staying at three different hotels.

Seeing different people.

I figured I'd want a fresh pair.

Instead, I kept reaching for the same one - the Spanx.

After wearing them, I'd give them a quick spray with ReWear fabric refresher, hang them overnight, and they were ready to go again.

Because ponte holds its shape so well, they still looked polished every time I put them back on. And while these Spanx ponte pants aren’t necessarily the cheapest, they are well worth the money.

The second pair never left the suitcase.

That wasn't because packing it was a mistake.

It was because one really good pair turned out to be enough.

I've started noticing that the best travel wardrobe isn't necessarily the one with the most options.

It's the one where every piece is good enough that you're happy to wear it again.

I Was Glad I Packed an Extra Cashmere Sweater

This is where experience has changed the way I pack.

Did I wear the extra Quince cashmere sweater?

No.

Would I pack it again?

Absolutely.

The same goes for my lightweight Helly Hansen Belfast rain jacket.

Neither one left the suitcase.

But I also never spent a single day wondering,

"What if the weather changes?"

Sometimes the value of packing something isn't that you wear it.

It's that you never have to worry because it's there.

To me, that's worth a little extra suitcase space.

The Layering System Quietly Did Exactly What It Was Supposed To

One thing this trip reinforced is how much I prefer packing systems over individual outfits.

Instead of wondering what to wear every morning, I already knew.

The merino base layer.

The insulated mid-layer.

The parka.

The Sorels.

Everything worked together.

Instead of packing for a specific temperature, I packed for changing conditions.

That turned out to be one of the best decisions I made.

The less I had to think about getting dressed, the more I got to enjoy everything around me.

Every Trip Makes the Next Suitcase Smarter

I've stopped trying to pack perfectly.

I don't think that's actually possible.

Instead, every trip teaches me something for the next one.

Maybe I don't need as much makeup as I think I do.

Maybe dressing up for dinner is worth the suitcase space.

Maybe one really good pair of ponte pants is better than packing two.

Maybe an extra sweater earns its place simply because it lets me stop worrying about the forecast.

I've realized the smartest suitcase isn't the one that's packed the lightest.

It's the one that's packed with intention.

Every trip makes the next suitcase a little smarter.

And honestly...

I think that's one of my favorite souvenirs to bring home. -LME

*This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use, love, or genuinely believe are worth sharing.