Outfit Details:
Matteau Dress, Ann Mashburn Mules (old, similar here), La Coqueta Dresses on the Girls

Living so near the beach, and with a couple tropical trips on the horizon, I recently began adding more maxis to my ever growing collection of dresses. Styles I know will keep me cool and comfortable in the warmer months ahead. This green cotton tiered maxi is one of my favorites to wear with both flats and heels. I also love the laid-back elegance of this maxi dress that feels right at home whether here in Charleston, or at a beautiful tropical location. One of the beauties of a maxi dress is wearability, with a longer silhouette perfect for a variety of occasions. See below for an assortment of maxi dress styles to choose from for your springtime adventures.

The post Maxi Dresses appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.

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In February 2020, Nadya* accepted a job that would have them relocating to Washington, D.C. once their child’s school year ended in June. She couldn’t have foreseen the pandemic that was to come just a month later but when it did, she asked her new company to prolong her move, citing COVID-19, the global racial reckoning, and a tragic personal loss as the reasons. Despite the fact that none of us were about to return to an office any time soon (including Nadya’s new team members), her company refused, and eventually forced her to move that September.

“I’ve been pretty pissed at them,” they tell Refinery29. “I was rushed and pushed into moving. Then after about six months, my job made the announcement that we were all going remote indefinitely and not returning to the office. And there was just no remorse for the fact that I uprooted myself and my child in a global pandemic.” And while many of us are experiencing circumstances that may be different from Nadya’s, we’ve all been feeling the same emotion towards our work situations — anger.

Of course, that’s those of us who were lucky enough to keep their jobs. In the first three-quarters of 2020, 9.6 million workers in America lost their jobs with the biggest victims being women of color. Of the people left in the working world, many were furloughed or asked to handle more responsibilities without a corresponding pay raise. This happened all while billionaires got richer — and the world around us crumbled, the economy faltered, and millions of people were dying.

We began hearing a lot about employee burnout, with experts speculating that exhaustion and overwork is at least one participating factor of The Great Resignation. But what people are shying away from discussing outright is the anger that workers are feeling over how they’ve been treated by their companies over the past two years: For being asked to work through traumatizing events, particularly people of color who had to show up and work every day after the murder of George Floyd and constant onslaught of anti-Black racism. For being asked to do more without fair pay.

We began hearing a lot about employee burnout, with experts speculating that exhaustion and overwork is at least one participating factor of The Great Resignation. But what people are shying away from discussing outright is the anger that workers are feeling.

People who have been working remotely for the past two years may feel angry about being asked to return to the office even while new COVID-19 variants are spreading, and we’ve proven that working from home doesn’t negatively affect productivity. Essential workers who have never been able to work from home may feel angry that they were never given adequate safety resources, hazard compensation, and, in many cases, baseline respect from their employers.

Today is one of those days where, as much as I love and am grateful for my job, I’m angry about having to work through a pandemic for a full year like nothing’s wrong and I’m just so tired. Sigh.

— Sophia Jimenez (hee-MEN-ez) (@SophiaJay42) February 10, 2021

“There’s a sense of inequity that I think is happening, where you’ve given more, but your employer isn’t meeting you with that more,” explains Tammy Allen, PhD, organizational psychologist and professor at the University of South Florida. “You’re spending more to work from home but wages aren’t increasing while your [living] costs are also going up. [It’s] so important within the workplace that you feel that things are fair, that things are just, and when there is this sense of inequity, then people are going to engage in behaviors to try and restore equity. And that may mean leaving a company.”

In fact, research has shown that a key contributor to workplace strain is when employees feel as though their employers are being unjust or unfair, says Xinyu (Judy) Hu, PhD, assistant professor of industrial and organizational psychology from Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Two other factors that cause workplace anger: when workers’ goals are interfered with, and when they’re faced with interpersonal conflicts at work. Over the past two years, many workers’ career paths have been thrown off course with little clarity; increased stress and communication issues caused by changing work conditions have made tensions run high.

All of this happened while we were still, well, expected to work. “The workload is still there,” Dr. Hu explains, “it’s just that the transition into a different working arrangement actually makes the consequence of high workload even worse. With the same amount of work and then adding additional layers of the stress and uncertainty from COVID or the uncertainty from the news consumption, all of these things become a huge impact that collectively influences our emotions and our well-being.”

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ana was a telecommunications operator. Her job required her to answer phone calls being made to five hospitals in her state, including two major trauma hospitals. The pandemic made her already overwhelming job unbearable. In addition to the increase in call volume, she was also fielding questions about COVID-19 that she simply didn’t have the answers to — no one did. “It was getting very stressful because we were super understaffed,” she tells Refinery29. “I was the only person that spoke Spanish and at times it was just way too chaotic.”

Ana’s employers never hired adequate support staff; nor did they increase Ana’s pay to reflect the additional work she was doing. And while the managers worked safely from home, they continued to require phone operators like Ana to show up and work in person at the hospital every day — even if it was a direct risk to their health. “I have cancer, but I’m in stage zero,” she says. “Maybe a week or so into the pandemic I told my boss, ‘Hey, I have cancer, and this is why I’m scared.’ Just telling her that I have cancer was a lot for me because I didn’t want anyone to know about that. And then when she replied back by saying, ‘We really can’t do anything,’ it felt like she brushed it off,” Ana says.

Kimberley* was hired as an intern in fall 2019. When COVID-19 first hit the U.S., she asked her bosses — who had already been talking about bringing her on as a full-time employee — to promote her to give her access to the company’s health insurance, a benefit not usually afforded to interns at this company. “I have really bad asthma and that’s something that can be very costly very quickly just for just a cold, so obviously the pandemic for me was terrifying,” she says. But her bosses said there was nothing they could do. “It’s just insane that a company does not see you as a human being,” Kimberley says.

Her company didn’t begin to have more serious conversations about hiring her on as a full-time employee until June 2020, after the news around the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor shone a harsh spotlight on the mistreatment of Black Americans. “It wasn’t like, ‘She’s a human, she needs health insurance, we’re in a pandemic,’ it was, ‘Oh, she’s a Black employee, it looks really bad that her white boss and her white coworkers have benefits and she doesn’t,’” Kimberley says. “I specifically remember multiple conversations where it was like, it’s more of a PR move than actually giving me what I’ve deserved and have deserved for months.”

Finally, in December 2021, Kimberley was granted full-time status with benefits. “It felt like no matter how much I produced or how many ideas I came up with, it was never enough,” she says. “It’s hard to want to continue to work for a company that does not see you.”

It’s hard to want to continue to work for a company that does not see you.

Kimberley

Nadya, meanwhile, is no longer required to go into their new office. Their company made being remote a permanent option for workers in late 2021, more than a year after Nadya moved to D.C. and started spending $1,800 more a month on rent than at their previous home. “Not only was the move expensive, but living in D.C. during COVID [is] very expensive,” she says. “It’s not like I had a Wal-Mart around the corner like I did in the south. I had to have things delivered… everything got more expensive. And the pay definitely didn’t even cover the cost of living, let alone the cost of living in COVID.”

“I uprooted my life to relocate for this job and moved my daughter to a state where I had no support,” she says. “I could’ve stayed home and saved a lot of money.”

Ultimately, Nadya, Ana, and Kimberley all have something in common: a feeling of powerlessness. Like Kimberley, Ana felt scared to leave her job during the pandemic, or to push back too much and risk getting fired, because of her health insurance benefits. “I was like, if I do get COVID, this is one of the best insurance plans that they have,” she says. “I was terrified to lose that.”

Nadya, too, “didn’t feel the autonomy to push back,” against their forced move. Since then, they haven’t been able to deal with or even process the anger they’ve experienced at work. “I’ve been a single, Black, queer mother for over half of my life,” they say. “It’s unfortunate that capitalism and white supremacy has gotten me used to [this]. If I’m going to work in this capitalistic ass world, I’m going to have to suck it up sometimes — which is what I’ve been doing — which is unfortunate and goes against everything that I’m trying to dismantle. But it’s my truth right now. I just do the job and pay the bills I can pay.”

All three ended up looking for new jobs. While Nadya says that a raise would go a long way in making them feel less anger toward their employer, Kimberley doesn’t know that anything could make up for the stress her company caused her over the past two years. “I’ve now taken off the rose-colored glasses and I see this company for what it is,” she says.

Ana, meanwhile, took three months of Family and Medical Leave in April, and during that time found a new remote position. “I feel stress-free, and I kind of felt guilty because I had left my old coworkers over there,” Ana says. “I feel like I want to go and save them from that place.”

These are just three experiences among many. Thousands of workers have quit their jobs in the past year, due at least in part to inequalities and mistreatment in the workplace, causing a current shortage in labor. It’s pretty clear: The system we’ve been working under is no longer working.

While anger isn’t always seen as a healthy emotion, it does have the power to push people to assert themselves and create meaningful change, says Dr. Allen. Anger can inspire people to fight against injustice in the workplace (and outside of it).

We’re seeing it happen. Workers at every level are speaking out against unfair work conditions: Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations documented 370 labor strikes across the country from January 2021 to January 2022. New York Magazine’s union won monthly work-from-home stipends for remote workers, while employees at a Starbucks in Buffalo, NY won their union election on December 9, creating the coffee giant’s first-ever unionized corporate store. Employees working at the outdoor retailer, REI, in Manhattan filed for their very first union election in January 2022. None of these labor fights could have been pursued — or won — without the use of workers’ anger.

I don’t think there’s any way to put the genie back in the bottle. There is going to be a revolution, so to speak.

Tammy Allen, PhD, Organizational Psychologist

Unions work by allowing workers to create a dialogue with management and advocate for better work conditions. But, of course, the productivity of those conversations hinges on whether or not the employer is actually listening and being responsive. So, what can employers do? “They have to start by trying to understand the employee’s point of view and work with [them] to find solutions, and determine if there is a larger underlying problem,” Dr. Allen says. “And in some cases, we probably need to try and hit the reset button, reassess the situation overall, and again, work toward a solution that’s reasonable for both that employee and the company.”

Right now, employees are actually at an advantage. Dr. Allen says that because of the current labor shortage, workers may be in a better position to try and negotiate for change. “Employers are not really in a good position to lose good employees right now,” she says. Of course, as the Great Resignation showed us, many people who are able to may simply opt to move to a new job rather than try to push for change. 

Although it’s possible to look at this moment through a positive framework, the fact is that unionized workplaces are still the minority. For every labor win, there are many, many other incidents of exploited workers who don’t have the means to fight back. The fact that we even got to a place where workers have to try to convince their bosses that they’re deserving of fair pay, safety in the workplace, and basic respect is a clear sign that the system is crumbling around us. But maybe that’s a good thing.

The pandemic has helped to uncover what we’ve always known to be true — that people don’t want to live to work, but work to live. “I don’t think there’s any way to put the genie back in the bottle. There is going to be a revolution, so to speak,” Dr. Allen says. “Some employers will be at the front end of that revolution, others will lag behind. And those who lag behind will be left behind.”

*Names have been changed.

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What’s worse than packing? Looking bad.

Unfortunately, a lot of guys mess up when it comes to packing for a trip and end up looking terrible with a poorly packed suitcase.

Chances are, they haven’t created an effective travel packing list which would stop them wasting time and luggage space.

What’s a travel packing list? It’s an essential checklist that outlines what you need to pack, when you should pack it and how to make the most of your luggage space.

Thanks to today’s article, you don’t need to spend hours on hundreds of different travel websites to find this information. We’ve got everything you need to know right here.

In this article, you’ll discover how to pack perfectly for every possible occasion.

We’ll covering:

1. How To Pack For A Short Business Trip
2. How To Pack For A Weekend Trip
3. How To Pack For A Week-Long Trip
4. How To Pack For A Longer Trip (2 Weeks+)
5. Travel Packing Top Tips

#1. How To Pack For A Short Business Trip

For a short business trip, it’s essential to pack light.

What’s the best way to do this? Simple: stick to carry-on luggage.

If you have the luxury of checking a bag, things change a little. We’ll cover this later on.

But if you want to get it all into one bag, you’re going to have to choose carefully.

Choose The Correct Luggage Size

Go as large as possible without risking airline limits. Not all airlines have the same policies, a bag advertised as “carry-on acceptable” by a luggage company could work for some airlines but not others.

Currently, a bag that is 22″ x 13″ x 9″ should meet most major airline’s carry-on limits. This is subject to change! Always look up major airlines’ current standards before buying new luggage.

Some airlines are slightly more generous; many American companies will allow 24″ x 16′ by 10″. However, it’s best to have one bag that works for all purposes, so buy one that meets the slightly smaller European standards as well.

Find The Perfect Bag Design For Your Trip

The most common carry-on style is a small rolling suitcase with stiff rectangular sides. It’s essentially a scaled-down suitcase, and it works just fine.

The biggest disadvantage of the rectangular case is that it’s not very forgiving of men’s jackets. They are usually broader and longer than the case, making them hard to fit in.

Other options that may work include:

• Military-style duffels (cylindrical, top-opening, soft-sided bags)
• Small hanger bags (flat, soft-sided bags with built-in hanger loops)
• Athletic-style bags (horizontally-oriented duffels with a shoulder strap)
• Large messenger bag (flat rectangular bag with a shoulder strap)

Each style has advantages and disadvantages. Hanger bags are great for suits but leave little room for anything else, while duffels and athletic bags are easy to pack but look sloppy and tend to crumple the clothes in them.

When in doubt, a rectangular rolling case that’s just under the allowed dimensions is usually the best option. If nothing else, it’s easy to calculate its exact size if you end up in an argument about baggage limits.

Does Your Bag Suit Your Outfit?

The size and style of the bag determine how you pack it. However, remember you’re getting it for business travel, so pay a little attention to the way it looks.

You don’t want to get off the airplane and in a well-tailored suit while carrying a bright-colored nylon bag. It sets the wrong tone.

A good business bag should be dark, classic, and simple. Avoid unnecessary hardware and bright colors. An elegant monogram is acceptable.

Remember:

• Leather is dressier than canvas.
• Canvas is more formal than nylon.
• Nylon is dressier than synthetic felts or furs.
• Black, charcoal gray, and navy blue are always safe bets.
• You don’t have to match your travel bag to other leathers like belts and shoes.
• Leather trim is always better-looking than nylon.
• Shoulder straps are more comfortable than leather handles (but less professional).
• Rollers and handles are fine on the go, but collapse the long handle and pick the bag up by the small one when you meet someone. It’s just good manners.

There’s a certain amount of give here. For example, a deep hunter-green canvas bag with light chestnut leather trim is fine. Just remember to avoid making a bold statement.

Buy something that looks practical, elegant, and minimal – it’s an essential step in your travel packing list.

Bring the Right Items

So you’ve got the right bag with the maximum possible dimensions in your preferred style.

What’s missing?

The luggage itself, of course!

Remember that our goal here is to pack light for business. That means packing a few versatile pieces rather than an entire wardrobe for every occasion.

A weekend will only require one jacket, two pairs of pants, two shirts, and sundries. That gives you enough variety to wear several outfits across your trip while still saving space in your luggage.

Is your trip longer than two days? Then a second jacket may be necessary, along with a few more shirts.

What Should You Wear On The Plane?

• Comfortable slacks or dark, stylish jeans
• Casual blazer or sports jacket
• Lightly-patterned or light-colored dress shirt
• Brown leather shoes (business-appropriate)
• Socks, underwear, undershirt, etc.
• Colored pocket square
• Dress watch

What Should You Pack In Your Carry-On?

• One dark wool suit
• One pair of medium-gray wool trousers or khaki slacks
• One pair of black Oxford dress shoes
• One leather dress-belt with a small metal buckle
• One white cotton dress-shirt (point or spread collar, not button-down)
• One light-colored or white dress shirt (any collar style)
• Three pairs of socks (match to trouser colors)
• Three pairs of underwear
• Three undershirts
• Two neckties, conservative colors with light patterning
• One white cotton or linen pocket square
• One colored cotton square (can complement, but not match, your neckties)
• Cufflinks and tie clips/chains/pins if needed
• Toiletries (preferably in a travel kit)

#2. How To Pack For A Weekend Trip

Most men do not enjoy packing – it’s the destination that excites them, not the preparation.

However, you should still pay close attention to this next point on my travel packing list.

For a casual weekend trip, many of the same rules apply from the short business trip guidelines. Pack light and only bring what you need.

However, you can certainly get away with a less formal carry-on bag with brighter colors if you wish.

To make packing for the weekend easy for you gents, I’ve compiled a list of essential items that will carry you through any occasion over a weekend trip without taking up too much space.

Pro Tip – Choose ONE versatile neutral-colored sports jacket that will go with everything. Good color choices for outfit coordination are navy, brown, or gray.

When packing for a short trip, it’s important to think about what you’re packing and stick to a strict travel packing list of garments.

Dark Men's Jeans Are A Travel Packing List Essential

Men’s dark, straight-leg jeans will go with absolutely any outfit you can throw together.

You can dress them up with a sports jacket and brown oxfords or pair them with a sweater and some simple sneakers for a great casual look.

White Sneakers

A pair of these can be foregone if you don’t deem them necessary, but I find a pair of clean white sneakers really adds a great visual pop at the bottom of an otherwise run-of-the-mill outfit.

Gray Flannel Trousers

The gray flannel trouser can be worn as part of a suit or with jeans in more formal settings.

You can afford to pack two pairs if you use the space-saving roll technique. More on this later.

Brown Men's Oxford Brogues

Polish and shine a pair of brown oxfords before you leave, they can coordinate beautifully with everything in your bag.

Save on bag weight and space by wearing them on the plane.

Men's Dress Shirts

Bring two clean dress shirts – one in white and one in your favorite color.

Paired with 2 ties, you potentially have 4 different shirt/tie combinations for very minimal packing space.

Don’t forget collar stays; you don't want the weight of your luggage to cause your shirts to have floppy collars.

Men's Undershirts, Underwear, and Socks

Whether it be an unanticipated thunderstorm soaking your socks or a particularly sweaty summer day, you always want to have a clean set of underwear and socks.

Undershirts are also important – they can either keep you warm or help to manage sweat stains. It’s always important to assess climate, environment and formality before packing your travel bag.

Travel Items a Man Should Never Leave Home Without

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to bring your toiletries in a solid Dopp kit and pack all necessary chargers. A dead cell phone in an unfamiliar city is never a good thing.

What Should You Wear On The Plane?

• Business suit or blazer/sports jacket with a pocket square
• Dress slacks (when not wearing a suit)
• Cotton dress shirt (avoid synthetics, which can get sweaty on long trips)
• High-quality undershirt (again, sweat management can be an issue)
• Leather dress shoes (loafers preferred – easier to slip off at security)
• Belt to match shoes
• Socks to match the trousers
• Your underwear of choice

If a necktie is needed, you can slip one into the jacket pocket. That way, you’re not wearing it in transit, but you can access it in an emergency.

What Should You Pack In Your Carry-On For A Weekend Trip?

• 2-3 cotton dress shirts
• One pair of slacks/chinos/khakis/dark jeans
• Socks to match trousers – one pair per day
• One pair of underwear per day (including return travel days)
• Undershirts as desired
• Pocket squares for each jacket/suit
• Neckties as needed
• Toiletries in a zippered travel kit or Ziploc bag

It’s never over-packing if you choose interchangeable clothes that complement each other well.

For example, a navy suit can become a navy blazer and khakis by swapping the pants out, assuming you’ve got the right shirt, pocket squares, and ties to make it look natural.

Alternatively, more casual packers can remove the suit from their travel packing list entirely, wear a sports jacket on the plane, and pack a sweater as an alternate top layer.

#3. How To Pack For A Week-Long Trip

A week-long trip requires more of a varied wardrobe, especially if you’re attending multiple events at differing levels of formality. A suitcase may be necessary here.

Again, the goal is to minimize luggage weight by packing items that can mix and match freely. The same blazer or sports jacket can look like a radically different piece of clothing when you change the pants, shirt, pocket square, and shoes worn with it.

I’d advise using a max-size carry-on (if multiple jackets aren't needed) or a small suitcase.

What Should You Wear On The Plane?

• Business suit or blazer/sports jacket with a pocket square
• Dress slacks (when not wearing a suit)
• Cotton dress shirt (avoid polyester/rayon, which can get sweaty on long trips)
• High-quality undershirt
• Leather dress shoes
• Belt to match shoes
• Socks to match the trousers
• Your underwear of choice

What Should You Pack In Your Luggage Case For A Week-Long Trip?

• One blazer, sports jacket, or dressy sweater (depending on formality)
• An extra business suit (if required)
• One pair of wool or cotton dress slacks
• One pair of dark, fitted jeans
• 4-6 dress shirts (include at least one plain white dress shirt)
• Casual or dress leather shoes (visibly different from the ones worn in transit)
• Socks to match trousers – one pair per day
• One pair of underwear per day (including return travel days)
• Undershirts as desired
• Pocket squares for each jacket/suit
• Neckties as needed
• Toiletries in a zippered travel kit or Ziploc bag

The goal is to have the ingredients for several different looks as needed: the crisp business suit, the casual business slacks and jacket, the relaxed blue jeans and open-collared shirt, and so on.

According to the formality of your trip, you can adjust some of these items for your travel packing list.

For example, a man attending a high-powered business summit will need two suits and no blue jeans, whereas a vacationing man isn’t likely to need a suit at all.

Just stick to the basic principle of interchangeability no matter your formality needs. Simply adjust for climate, events, and length of stay.

#4. How To Pack For A Longer Trip (2 Weeks +)

When taking a long trip, you should have access to some washing facilities.

Depending on how often you’ll be able to do laundry, you may not need much more than the packing list for a week-long trip.

However, assuming you’ll only be able to do a quick wash of your shirts and undergarments, here is an example travel packing list containing essential items for a longer trip:

What To Wear In Transit

Note: Long trips often include multiple travel days, unlike shorter trips. At that point, it’s worth wearing an outfit specifically for travel rather than wearing some of your bulkier dress items.

• Lightweight sports jacket, sweater, or performance fleece
• Casual collared shirt (breathable safari or “expedition” shirts work well)
• Slacks, jeans, or light-colored cargo pants
• Leather dress belt (one that pairs with your luggage items as well)
• Comfortable slip-on shoes
• Socks to match the trousers
• High-quality undershirt
• Your underwear of choice

What To Pack In Your Luggage Case For A Long Trip

• 1-2 business suits if needed 
• 1-2 blazers/sports jackets
• 4-6 collared dress shirts (both white and patterned)
• 2 pairs of cotton or wool dress slacks
• 1 pair of dark, fitted jeans
• 1-2 lightweight sweaters or indoor/outdoor jackets
• 2 fitted T-shirts or other casual, non-collared shirts
• 1-2 pairs of leather dress shoes
• Socks to match trousers – one pair per day
• One pair of underwear per day (including return travel days)
• Undershirts as desired
• Pocket squares for each jacket/suit day
• Neckties as needed
• Toiletries in a zippered travel kit or Ziploc bag

Choose your jackets and trousers very wisely for a trip of this length. You don’t want a single unworkable jacket/trouser combination.

Every upper-body piece should go reasonably well with every lower-body piece and vice-versa. The shirts should be a neutral meeting place between the two.

Finally, if you’re going to be living out of a suitcase for a prolonged period but you'll have access to electrical power, put some serious thought into including an iron as part of your travel packing list.

A reliable iron, combined with hotel sinks and a small bottle of detergent (easily slipped into your shaving kit), gives you everything you need to keep a wardrobe of dress shirts and cotton slacks refreshed without ever visiting a laundromat.

#5.Travel Packing Top Tips:

Create A Packing Checklist

I got this tip from my favorite book, Essentialism. In it, Greg McKeown discusses the the late packer scenario.

He advises that you begin packing several weeks in advance, starting with a checklist of everything you want to take along. It’s also important to divide everything into essential and nonessential items.

Everything you DO NOT need is a luxury, plain and simple.

Need an example? Easy – you need one pair of shoes to wear, but two are unnecessary. Even if you've intelligently included a pair of browns and blacks, it’s not something you need.

When you have extra space, you can start to consider peppering in the luxuries.

Wear Your Bulkiest Items To The Airport

If you’ve got hefty garments you want to take with you, just wear them on the plane!

What falls into this category? Thick sweaters, heavy jackets, boots – all of these can be worn together. There’s no need to have them take up valuable luggage space!

Get Informed: Carry On Vs. Personal Bags

You’ll be able to take one carry-on and one personal bag on most flights. Let’s do a quick rundown of the two:

• Carry ons: Bags that can fit in the aircraft’s overhead bins. 
• Personal Bags: Items like backpacks and laptop cases that can be held on your lap or under the seat in front of you.

Airlines like Delta and Southwest have clear regulations when it comes to baggage. If it fits under the seat, they'll simply count it as a personal item. Others (like United and American Airlines) have more specific restrictions on bag size.

If your personal bag has pockets, use them to store portable chargers, charging cables, pens, and books. Don’t let any space go to waste.

Get Creative When Packing

Creativity stems from using all the available space as best as you can.

Are you wearing a coat? Use the pockets. Stuff them with jewelry and accessories. Hell, wear MULTIPLE watches if you’re serious about bringing your A-game on the trip.

The more creative you get, the more you can include on your pre-travel packing list

Pack Your Bag Efficiently

The physical act of packing a bag has two goals: fit as much stuff in one bag as possible and get it all from place to place without damaging anything.

Every man has a slightly different school of packing, but in general, you should follow use common-sense guidelines for what goes where:

• Shoes on the bottom to start the packing process.
• Fill shoes with small items like belts, ties, or socks.
• Store valuable items (shoes, jewelry, etc.) in a dust bag.
• Keep toiletries together in a small case.
• Wear a sharp outfit with a jacket on the plane.
• Wear a jacket with good-sized pockets so you can carry a book and some snacks.
• Leave a little room in the suitcase for souvenirs. You never know.

Most of these are common-sense guidelines, and that's because packing light for a business trip is precisely that. Eliminate the things you don't need, pack the things you do need, and you won't have any problems.

Pro Tip – Tightly roll thin garments such as t-shirts and stow them in smaller bags. It’s a great way to open up space for heftier items. Rolling them also lessens the probability of creasing!

Harness The Interchangeable Wardrobe

Gents, I’ve spoken about this already, but let me mention it again.

The interchangeable wardrobe is one of the most important concepts a stylish man must know.

It’s all about carefully selecting clothes to create multiple different combinations of outfits.

Prioritize the foundation pieces above everything else – the white and light blue dress shirts, the navy sports jacket, the grey suit.

Bold colors and patterns are great but impractical when packing smart. If you want a genuinely versatile travel packing list, opt for simple but effective clothes that you can mix and match.

Better Small Than Sorry

Make sure you know baggage limits ahead of time- that means weight as well as dimensions. Make sure your bags fall within the assigned limits, or you could run into problems.

There are some strict airlines out there! A 2019 article from Sky Scanner determined that Aer Lingus has the crown for the most stringent regulations on bag dimensions (21 inches x 15 inches x 9.4 inches). 

Go as lightweight as possible – the lighter it is, the more you can take with you. Look for bags with specialty pouches that allow for even more storage space.

Avoid Too Many Luggage Pouches

I know I’ve only just told you to fill up those pockets. However, it’s essential to consider whether you NEED the pockets in the first place!

Even empty pockets take up space that could end up sending you over the limit.

Look at your luggage and think about the teachings of Essentialism. Anything you don’t categorically need is a luxury, so be mindful and only take the extras you’re going to make use of.

Fold And Roll Like A Pro

If you’re looking to save space in smaller bags, the fold and roll method is a lifesaver.

Rolling a suit jacket sounds tricky. However, it can be a great way of packing multiple items in one go. Check out this handy guide on how to fold and roll a suit jacket to save space:

It’s not complicated: place your garments over each other and make sure each layer is flat. Following that, roll them all up nice and tight.

It’s that simple.

Force Yourself To Save Space

This is why the guy who invented packing cubes deserves a promotion AND a raise.

What are packing cubes? You guessed it – cubes that function as smaller bags. The idea is that they force you to stick to the essentials and make your bags all the more organized.

Cubes are handy for keeping clothing clean since they stay segregated from other items like toiletries. They come in various colors, which means you can color code everything!

There you have it, gents – the RMRS ultimate travel packing list.

Packing is as hard as you make it. Stick to the uncomplicated basics and think methodically about your requirements, and it’ll be a breeze.

But if you’re still looking for some inspiration, check out my guide on creating a completely interchangeable wardrobe.

Click below to watch the video – The Most EFFICIENT Way To Pack A Bag & Save Space

The post How To Pack For Any Occasion (Ultimate Travel Packing List For Men) appeared first on Real Men Real Style.

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Antonio, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,

Yawn! Welcome to Sleep Week, a seven-day stretch where we source you the best buys in the Zzz-catching business—from editor-vetted bedtime rituals to exclusive mattress deals and more of the internet’s most slumber-worthy scores. Go ahead, hit snooze with us.

Duvet covers weirdly cater to all ages. 7-year-old me could care less about the best side sleeper pillow or how firm a mattress is, but a Lightning McQueen themed duvet cover? A necessity. Cut to me a week ago, a young professional decorating my NYC apartment, scouring the web for an adult upgrade to my Etsy daisy-print bed spread. This scavenger hunt, while exhilarating, came with a major downside: high price points. That is, until I stumbled across the high-quality lifestyle brand Quince and its $170 European Linen Duvet Cover Set.

The key word here is “linen.” On average, a light, airy, and all-natural flax duvet cover by itself goes for $100 to $200; throw in the pillowcases and you’re jumping into the $200 to $400 range. A queen size linen set from the home goods powerhouse, Parachute, retails for $374. Why? Per the brand’s informative blog post, harvesting the flax is quite laborious, the finished product is stronger than cotton, feels boho-luxe, and is “ideal for year round use.” So you can understand the Shopping team’s excitement at the discovery of Quince’s under-$200, 4.9-star, 100% woven European flax bedding. Read on to hear about my night with the internet’s most affordable linen duvet cover set, and find out if it reflected that cheap price tag, or felt like a million bucks, below.

Quince Linen Duvet Cover Set, Sand (Queen), $409.90 $179.90

What is Quince?

We are equal parts impressed and utterly confused by this retailer’s vast, category-spanning inventory. All it takes is a few clicks on the seriously sophisticated site and boom, your cart is filled to the brim with chic washable silk tees, classy 14K gold hoops, a moisturizer or two, and of course, a lovely duvet cover set. The biggest surprise, however, is Quince’s commitment to producing, “[items] of equal or greater quality than the leading luxury brands at a much lower price.” In fact, the retailer first piqued the Shopping team’s interest because of its $50 — sorry, let us spell that out for emphasis — f-i-f-t-y dollar Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater. Then came the under-$200 duvet cover set, and we were sold.

So, why are Quince’s products so affordable?

Ever heard of cutting out the middle man? That’s the main culprit. When you place your order, instead of going from sourcing agents to warehouses and taking other cost-enhancing detours, Quince’s products go directly from manufacturers to consumers. (In other words, it’s a DTC brand.) For example, the mystifyingly cheap cashmere is crafted with $30 wool, costs $10 to produce, fifty cents to package, and $6 to ship — which leaves us with a grand total of $46.50.

The brand’s sustainability commitments and ethical manufacturing check out as well. According to its site, the majority of Quince’s factories are “mid-sized family-run operations” and the remaining “larger operations” enforce “rigorous ethical standards.” The brand recently nixed all virgin plastic packaging and vows it will be 100% compostable by the end of the year. A selection of Quince’s cotton, linen, and percale products are also 100% organic. We will say, in comparison to other retailers, Quince uses less specifics and less metrics when describing its eco-conscious and ethical-labor efforts. However, the extremely transparent and thorough on-site explanation of its production costs brings a boatload of ethos to the table.

What is Quince’s European Linen Duvet Cover Set?

This easy, breezy, beautiful set could book a Cover Girl commercial if need be. For $170, you get a queen-sized woven 100% European flax, 150-gsm (relatively mid-weight) duvet cover and two standard shams. The set comes in eight earthy, muted colorways and is pre-washed to ensure coziness — Quince mentions that its linen only gets softer over time. (Updates on this are pending.) The cover also features cute bottom buttons for closure and has corner ties to keep finicky comforters in place. Plus, although we hope this isn’t necessary, the retailer offers free returns for up to an entire year. 

“Luxurious,” “soft-yet-sturdy,” and “superb” are just a few of the words customers used to describe their sets. On-site reviewer Kevin H., raves how “nice, weighted, [and] cool,” his new covers are and enjoys the “linen on both sides,” aspect. Another happy customer, Brandi W., makes a case for the ever-evolving plushness claim: “I bought the sheet set first and fell in love. The linen gets softer and softer after each wash.” In terms of appearance, reviewer Lisa D. Lives for the “farmhouse vibe,” and “[loves] the color and texture,” of her terracotta-hued duvet. And, after taking a peak at the pictures she provided, we can attest to Lisa’s good taste. 

Quince European Linen Sheet Set, White (Queen), $279 $159.90

What does Quince’s European Linen Duvet Cover Set feel like?

To me, this bedding is in no way your traditional cozy teddy bear, fuzzy blanket soft. But, I think that’s why I’m infatuated with it. It’s crisp, smooth, and authentic. Plus, upon opening, it smells like when you step into into one of my favorite safe spaces: Cost Plus World Market. If you’ve robbed yourself of experiencing the comforting, earthy, organic, newly-lit candle scent of a World Market, then just know the duvet has a lovely, natural, and fresh laundry-like aroma.

Hence, why I immediately slid it over my comforter, got under the covers, and buried my face in the cushy linen pillowcase like one of those Downy commercials. I blame it on the breathability. Confession: I’m laying beneath it right now and the fabric just somehow doesn’t get hot like my old cotton duvet. This isn’t to say it is not cozy — in fact, I’m a somewhat rare, heated-blanket-on-high, always-cold kind of sleeper and I slept like a perfectly temperate baby these past two nights. Final answer: fresh out of the bag, it’s not “soft” per se — it’s smooth, comforting, and I have to repeat the most accurate word, crisp.

So, what’s the verdict?

The Quince European Linen Duvet Cover Set gets my and my dear plushie Cheesecake’s stamp of approval. My bed looks dressed to the nines and finally got the mature upgrade it deserves (keeping my stuffed animals ’til I die) — and my face is obsessed with those infinitely chill linen pillowcases. Funny enough, many of the on-site reviews came from parents who purchased sets for their teen and college-aged kids, so perhaps its the ultimate introduction to fancier bedding for up and coming youth. But, just like we said in the beginning, duvet covers appeal to all ages — so, whether you’re navigating your (insanely expensive) mid-twenties like myself, going to university, or are an affordable linen bedding buff of any age, Quince’s linen duvet cover set is the way to go.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Alexandra Polk, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,

As a longtime acne-haver and professional beauty person, I’ve been around the block when it comes to sussing out what actually works to clear my skin from what doesn’t do much of anything — and one tried-and-true pimple product that I personally swear by is Hero Cosmetics’ Mighty Patch Original, a clear hydrocolloid dot that draws out gunk from your pores for quick healing. In short, the stuff works — and insanely effing well, might I add. However, this is far from an under-the-radar secret find: In fact, the product has racked up over 86,000 reviews on Amazon, skyrocketing it to bestseller status on Amazon’s Beauty & Personal Care landing page.

“This saves me several days of walking around with a bloody crater in my face because my previous method of dealing with unsightly blemishes was to pick pick pick.”

amazon reviewer

For the uninitiated, acne stickers like Mighty Patch work by adhering to clean, dry skin and working over time to slowly draw out the contents of your pimple (ew but also yes), plus dirt and excess oil from the surface to collect onto the patch. The patches are made with just one ingredient — medical-grade hydrocolloid, a plant-based gel that gently draws out impurities and encourages healing. “The most important thing to understand about hydrocolloid acne patches [like these] is that they are for use on mature acne blemishes that have ‘come to a head’, so to speak,” explained a highly informed Amazon reviewer who went into microscopic detail about the patches’ function in their 2018 review. “The patches are coated on one side with some mixture of pectin, carboxy-methylcellulose, and polymers that absorb fluid, plus an adhesive. Hydrocolloid pulls the fluid out of a wound, encasing it in a white gel. In the case of acne, the patches will pull the mixture of white cells, bacteria, dead skin, etc. that forms the white head of an infected pore.” The telltale sign of success is the sticker’s display of gross-yet-satisfying cloud of mystery goo that has been successfully extracted from your blemish.

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original, $12.99

“I do not claim to understand the science behind these tiny miracles, but they have changed my life,” begins one convert Amazon reviewer. “I spend my workday looking forward to going home and putting one of these bad boys on my newly erupted Mt. Zit because the overnight results are shocking. Not only is it grossly satisfying, but it saved me several days of walking around with a bloody crater in my face because my previous method of dealing with unsightly blemishes was to pick pick pick.” At $12 for 36 patches, Hero Cosmetics’ patches are also among the most affordable on the market. Another plus: They’ve got patches for every stage of your pimple journey, from micropoint dots for emerging zits to ones that help fade post-breakout hyperpigmentation. (Another fave of mine: The extra-thin “invisible” ones that I routinely wear during the day.)

The chorus of reviewers who sing the praises of these minute 12mm stickers is vocal and unrelenting, with pages upon pages of testimony to their quick-acting, skin-saving potential. “These little patches are amazing — I’m convinced they were made by wizards to make spots disappear because that’s what they do,” shares one reviewer from across the pond. “I ordered these a week before my wedding. THANK GOD,” wrote another reviewer. “My blemish went down in 24 hours. And this is coming from someone who has been on Accutane twice and tried every topical cream/gel/patch imaginable.” In another instance of Mighty Patch coming through for love, one reviewer shared this story: “I had a date coming up at the end of the week when I started to get the most giant zit I’ve ever had in my life right in the middle of my forehead. I considered cutting bangs to cover it it was so embarrassing. After using these for only two days, the zit was almost completely gone and I was able to cover it with a little makeup for my date.”

It seems that for chronic zit-poppers — you know who you are — the patches are a kinder alternative to a fingernail, satisfying the urge to extract in a way that’s much less scarring (physically and emotionally). “I’m … guilty of that cardinal sin in zitcare — constantly poking at the blemish,” remarked one reviewer. “[These patches] keep me from myself. I’ve already gone through one sheet!” The dots even reduced a stubborn spot that one reviewer had tried unsuccessfully to remove: “The skin had gotten torn up when I tried to pop it myself, so I was scared it would do something gross.” Happily, after leaving the patch on overnight, the reviewer “woke up and [the pimple] was GONE.” Another wrote: “I suffer from oil clogged pores so I will routinely get huge volcanoes on my face that will produce massive amounts of oil when picked. I know I should not pick at them but I just can’t help myself, dang it.” The Mighty Patch, they explained, “[works] great.” Convincing before-and-after photos from fellow reviewers proudly portray the fruits of the patches’ labor (FYI, maybe skip those if you’re not great with icky stuff) and are about as convincing as it gets when it comes to inspiring you to hit “add to cart.”

“I wish I could give it 10 stars.”

amazon reviewer

Below, shop the OG Mighty Patch alongside several of its pimple-obliterating buddies.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

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Karina Hoshikawa, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,