love note 004 — i have an entire room dedicated to clothes. i still have nothing to wear.

the three-suitcase problem: how I'm finally figuring out my personal style (and why I packed like this for Paris in the first place)

hiiiii lovers <3

Let’s talk about my toxic relationship with packing.

I always overpack. Like, notoriously overpack. My friend back in Australia says I pack like an American—I guess it’s just the big-luggage energy? Not to mention, when we travel as a couple, my partner always brings carry-on only, because his luggage is my luggage.

I needed an intervention.

I’m that girl showing up with three suitcases for a two-week trip, freaking out that I won’t have what I need, only to realise I’m wearing the same three outfits on rotation the entire time.

Picture me trying to get three massive suitcases into a Parisian taxi or a hotel room that’s way too small for even ONE suitcase, asking myself why I packed so much - knowing FULL WELL I’m going to go shopping and be gifted things while I’m there.

I used to overconsume before every work trip. I’d scour the internet for sales, do a massive RealReal and Net-a-Porter haul, then miss the return window because I’d already left for my trip. Those things would sit in my apartment, tags still on, judging me.

Currently sorting through my clothing room—yes, I have an entire bedroom dedicated to my closet— to do a massive purge because I’m hopefully moving soon. Still, the excuse has always been that I work in fashion and need all these things.

But if I have an entire room full of clothes and I’m STILL buying new things each Fashion Week? Something’s wrong. Either I have a shopping addiction, or I have no personal style. It was a little bit of both.

The personal style awakening

So I went on a mission to figure out my actual personal style through Pinterest moodboards and what genuinely makes me feel most like myself. That last part is the most important.

For so long, I’ve been chasing trends and what the “cool kids” were wearing, and it didn’t feel like me. I wasn’t comfortable in the clothes or comfortable with myself.

This time was different.

I came PREPARED. Spreadsheets of every event and runway I was invited to, timing, whether I had time to change between shows, if I even WANTED to change, outfits I was being gifted, plus a couple of “in case of emergency and you’re invited to something super sick” backup options.

This is what I packed:

The lesson?

Unpacking from a trip and realising you never wore half the stuff you packed? That’s the universe telling you something.

Maybe we don’t need three suitcases. Perhaps we need to know who we are and dress like her.

(But let’s be real, I’ll probably still bring two suitcases next time. Growth is a journey. At least it’s not three!)

With love (and slightly less luggage) xx

PS - look out for my article with Who What Wear to see what I actually ended up wearing. Or you can find my socials!