She’s the queen of all things homey, but Martha Stewart must also travel often. The domestic diva shared her packing regimen at Wednesday's “American Made” event, which brought together artisans from all corners of the country to promote local business and highlight Hyatt House, Hyatt’s extended-stay hotel brand.
For those of us who were raised solely on the meal options featured in “Martha Stewart’s Quick Cook,” Martha in the flesh is a sight to behold. She’s sassy but silly, feisty but fun, and she forces innocent bystanders to hold her microphone but then gives them a hug. She's pretty much as perfectly balanced as her paprika rubbed chicken with roasted garlic.
With only a couple breaks for giddily starstruck “I can’t believe this is MARTHA STEWART!!!!” freakouts, we took close notes as Martha preached her most awesome travel habits.
Martha packs her clothes in plastic bags.
Martha only does the normal “fold-and-place-in-suitcase” for her sweaters. Everything else, like blouses and pants, gets hung on lightweight wire hangers like the ones you find at the dry cleaner’s. After hanging, Martha covers her clothes in a clear plastic garment bag (also from the dry cleaner’s). As Martha told her audience, “Something about the plastic stops wrinkling. A physicist could probably tell me exactly what the deal is, but it works.”
Martha does not roll.
The debate is age-old: does one get more space in one's suitcase from folding or rolling one's clothes? Martha folds, which means you should too.
Martha puts her shoes in shoe bags.
To pack slip-on footwear like ballet flats, Martha wedges the toe of one shoe into the heel of the other to make a flat little package. Then she puts them in a shoe bag and lays them in the bottom of her suitcase so they don’t weigh down on her clothes and wrinkle them.
Martha believes in wheelie suitcases.
“They save your shoulders,” she says. Martha’s wheelie is exactly the size that fits in the “stupid little box at the airport.” She recommends balancing a tote bag atop your wheelie for the smoothest transport.
Martha always packs a swimsuit.
“Even if I’m going to Alaska. Just in case I have time to swim in the pool.”
Martha labels her toiletries.
Because if you’re resourceful like Martha and pack your items in re-usable travel containers, you might forget what’s what once you arrive. Martha says that one time, she drank her detergent instead of her Vitamin C powder.
Martha ties her suitcase shut with “linen twine.”
Martha knots her zippers together with linen, which is a slightly offbeat habit. But if she does it, we’re doing it.
Martha always brings a jacket and shawl in her carry-on.
“Some airlines aren’t giving you blankets anymore. Always take a shawl to wrap yourself in.”
Martha stores her electronics chargers in a soft pencil bag.
It keeps them organized and untangled.
