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Packing for a trip is hard enough, but squeezing everything into just a single carry-on can seem nearly impossible.
Luckily, there’s a hack that’s useful for any packer — and it will help you avoid over- and under-packing, not to mention running out of space or paying for a checked bag.
The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method was first made popular by blogger Geneva Vanderzeil when she posted about it several years ago, and she recently brought it back to TikTok.
The method is simple (and geared toward traveling women): You should be packing five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two dresses and a set of accessories.
If you do the math for the original formula — which Glamour magazine did — five tops, four bottoms and three pairs of shoes allow for 60 different combinations. So, technically, if you were especially determined, this trick would even work for a two-month trip.
In her string of videos, she enthusiastically demonstrated that the method can be adjusted in numerous ways. An accessory set could consist of jewelry, sunglasses and a hat, and, of course, the layout can be tweaked depending on location, occasion and weather.
For example, if you’re going on a beach trip, you’ll have to add a bathing suit, or if you’re going somewhere cold, you might opt for two jackets rather than two dresses. For one recent jaunt, she subbed in a pair of overalls instead of accessories, as she demonstrated with aplomb in one clip, showing off the stylish alternative.
The point of the method is to keep things minimalist with a capsule wardrobe, so it’s vital to make sure the different articles of clothing can be mixed and matched.
One content creator showed how she used this method to style 19 different summer vacation outfits.
Sticking to the basics will allow you a nearly endless number of possibilities with what’s in your suitcase.
