I pride myself on being a light packer, but there's really no great mystery behind traveling light. The secret is simply good planning: If you decide what to wear before you leave, you'll have no reason to overpack. By employing a few smart strategies, you should be able to fit everything you need in one small piece of luggage—such as this Roxy Van Karmen 22-inch Roller, available for $135 here—whether you're going away for two days or two weeks. Here are some tips to help you become a super packer.

• Before each trip, make a very detailed packing list where you plan what outfit you will wear each day and how you will reuse each clothing item. The web site OneBag has lots of great tips, as well as a downloadable packing checklist.
• Get lots of mileage out of each clothing item. A nice blazer, for instance, can double as a daytime jacket and a going-out essential when paired with a dressy camisole. And though you'll probably want to switch out your t-shirts and camis daily, you can wear the same two sweaters for a number of days.

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