Los Angeles Times fashion editor Booth Moore’s packing tips

Twice a year, the runway shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris keep me on the road for 38 consecutive days. I need to have packing down to a science. And I do: Give me an hour and 15 minutes and I’ll give you five weeks of chic. I’ve learned the hard way that any suitcase that doesn’t roll is useless. I know I’ll always need a tote for guidebooks and water. And nothing beats sneakers, which can be stylish enough to go from lunch to a museum to a business meeting.

FOR THE RECORD:
Stylist: A credit was missing from a June 1 Los Angeles Times Magazine story about what to pack on a trip. Melissa Magsaysay was the stylist for the photos that accompanied Booth Moore’s essay. —

Beyond those basics, I rely on a list, specifically the one from Pack This. It lets you check off more than 100 travel essentials, including phone charger and umbrella. The real work, though, happens on the back of the list, where I plan an outfit for each day of the trip, recycling as many pieces as I can. (The pink cardigan goes with a jersey dress on Monday, jeans on Saturday.) I highlight the items I need from my closet, pull them out, and voila--I’ve got a highly edited, multitasking wardrobe. I consult the list daily for dressing and use it to be sure I haven’t abandoned anything when I leave a hote. Then I can focus on the best part of the trip: what other people are wearing.