Alright ladies, we’re less than a week out from Essence!  Whether it’s your first trip, or your fifth- I’m sure the excitement is building.  There are very few spaces in the world that are created specifically for and in celebration of black women, so Essence Festival is special.  A pilgrimage of sorts for women of all ages, with a little something for everyone.  Add New Orleans as the backdrop for this annual celebration- complete with three nights of concerts, day parties and free events at the Convention Center and you have all the ingredients for an epic weekend.  Heading into my fifth (or sixth) Essence weekend, I’m pulling together some essential Essence Festival packing tips for you, so you’ll be selfie, IG story and Snapchat ready.  Now, let’s get you there with your things, shall we?

Carry On, Ladies

I’m here to tell you it is totally possible to pack for Essence Festival with just a carry-on and a backpack.  I’ve done it and so has my crew for the past couple of years.  With the right bag and travel accessories, you will still have plenty of room for multiple costume changes daily (I promise!).  For this trip, I’ll be pulling out my carry on, my backpack, packing cubes and a packing sleeve for shirts and dresses.   This Lipault carry on is my favorite- I call it my Mary Poppins bag cause it’s small but you can get so much in it!  I got mine a few years ago.  Then TK got hers and I got KT one for her birthday, so now our whole crew is #teamcarryon.  Join us as we roll out of the airport, breezing past a 30+ minute wait at baggage claim and straight into festival weekend!

Did It Shrink?

Before you start packing, take a few minutes to try things on.  Even if you have worn something before, or tried it on when you bought it- make sure it fits you now.  There’s nothing worse than getting someplace and realizing your dress doesn’t fit, or the zipper doesn’t work.  Same goes for shoes.  Walk around the house in them while you’re packing.   If you need to sit down after two minutes, leave them at home.  Even sandals can hurt if they don’t fit right.  Put at least one pair of comfortable flip flops in your bag.  You will absolutely need them this weekend.

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin

Packing cubes are a great way to stay organized and save space.  Also, they can function like drawers.  A small cube for undergarments, a medium cube for jeans.  I even use a small cube to keep my electronics and jewelry organized.  To take things up a notch and save even more space, roll your smaller items (t-shirts, leggings) before putting them in the cubes.  The packing sleeve is great for dresses and blouses.  Use the folding board that comes with the sleeve, if you fold things properly you can easily get 6-8 dresses in the sleeve.

Find the Walgreens

My friend LaLa has a ritual every time she goes on the trip.  As soon as we’d touch down and make it to our hotel, she’d go “find the Walgreens”.  I think it’s her way of getting oriented in a new place; it always makes me laugh but I guess it makes sense.  Knowing where there is a pharmacy and you can get deodorant and flip flops is smart.  If you have a tendency to overpack toiletries, there are several Walgreens within walking distance of the festival.  Prioritize your make-up, perfume and any special conditioners or moisturizers.   If you run out of packing space, make a quick trip to Walgreens for the basics when you get to the festival.

How Did This Close??

It’s inevitable.  By the end of the weekend, your neatly packed bag has devolved into a hot mess of clothes all over the room.  Who wants to roll everything again?  Not this one.  And it’s a scientific fact that dirty clothes take up twice as much space.  Add to the challenge the beignet mix, pralines and new dresses you picked up from Essence vendors and you’re in trouble.   If you’ve ever sat on your bag willing it to close as you tugged on the zipper, I’m sure you feel me.  Give yourself a fighting chance and toss an empty compression bag in the pocket of your carry on.  Use it for your dirty clothes.  Once you roll the air out and zip it up, you’ll save a lot of space (and your sanity!)

Okay, But What Do I Bring?

Now that we’ve talked about packing tools and tricks, you may be wondering, “What should I bring to Essence??”  Not to worry, I’ve got you covered!  You can download a free packing list here.  If you have more questions about Essence Festival, be sure to check out Essence Music Festival 101.

Alright ladies, you should be all set for your Girls Trip experience.  Happy packing, see you in NOLA!