Our friend Erin Reitz is a designer based in Charleston, South Carolina. We love her collection of elevated yet approachable shirts made to be worn, loved and lived in. After two decades of designing for brands like Anne Taylor and Anne Klein, she launched her own label E.M. Reitz to make wardrobe (and suitcase) staples that take you from the plane to the playground and beyond. —C.S.
What’s your go-to luggage and why?
We have a strict no checked bags rule in our family. It is so important to us that I think I can actually call it a family tenant. It really hit home after a recent trip—I had to check a bag for a trunk show and when I got home I waited 30 minutes for it to arrive when all I wanted to do was get home to see my son. I vowed to only carry-on from that point…and if it’s a work trip I will ship whatever else I need to its destination. I use an Away carry-on and I like it. While I am forever jealous of my husband’s Rimowa because of how timeless cool it is…I actually think I can fit more in mine.
How do you approach the basics?
This is my packing superpower. The edit. The focus. I recently went on a 5-week trip. This trip included warm weather and cold. It included playgrounds, and fancy dinners. This is what I packed:
Shirts
This is going to sound like a plug for my brand. (It is.) But it is also the truth! I strictly only pack E.M.Reitz shirts. That is not only because I love them and truly believe they are the softest, most luxurious, highest quality shirts. But also it helps me to figure out what I need to add to the line next. If I ever feel like I am missing something, then I can design into that.
The Baker’s Apprentice x3 : The everyday warrior, ride or die, loose fitting, button down. I wear it with the sleeves rolled up for my everyday short sleeve warm weather shirt, then unroll the sleeves and button to layer under a blazer or sweater for warmer or fancier occasions. I pack one solid color, one chambray and one patterned.
The Tailor’s Tunic x1: This is my butt-covering, coverall of a shirt. Looks so chic with a wide trouser and slip on shoes, or makes a great swim coverup.
Lunch at Quo Vadis x1: This is my most ladylike shirt; I like to wear it to fancy lunches as the name suggests. I tuck in the blouse and pop a blazer on to feel polished, or unbutton one too many buttons to reveal a little too much as I sip on a Negroni in a dimly lit bar.
Pants
I pack 1 pair of black or raw denim, 1 pair of casual cotton or linen trousers, and a silk trouser.
Layering pieces
Cashmere Sweater X 1 (My favorite is a Rubato Mens V-Neck or my Atelier Bomba, both in Navy). I’ll bring one linen or cashmere blazer—I love the linen Massimo Alba blazers; and my cashmere is a Brooks Brothers black fleece that I bought on sale 15 years ago and still cherish and wear regularly.
Accessories
Cotton scarf with pop of color ( 45Rpm) and a silk Hermès Twilly scarf with pop of color
Shoes
Belgian Shoes X 1 (black velvet or brown leather)
Brooks Hyperion Running Shoes X 1 I love this sneaker because it is a very light to pack, yet very supportive running shoe. They change the colors seasonally and honestly most are hideous. But if you can find a simple color combo they actually look really cute as a walk around town shoe in addition to being a travel work out shoe.
Other essentials
One bathing suit, two workout outfits, two sleep t-shirts (always Alabama Chanin organic boxy tee), 5 pairs of day underwear and 5 night underwear, 2 black bras.
Are you a roller or a folder?
Always a flat fold. I had many years of working in retail, so flat stacking is a passion.
What’s always in your Dopp kit/toiletry bag?
Dr. Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk and Rose Day Cream. These come in travel size tubes and I have been a devoted user for 20+ years. An old friend of mine said this line is a perfect combination of nature and science! I find that to be true—it’s natural but effective.
Old Spice Deodorant- I have been using this deodorant for 20+ years. I tried every natural deodorant I could find, and they always made me smell worse. I scoured the women’s deodorant aisle for aluminum-free and couldn’t find one. This deodorant is aluminum free, smells like a man when you put it on, but within minutes you smell like nothing! It works so well. Bonus, when I started dating my husband 10 years ago I discovered he wears the same one…so we only have to pack one for the trip!
Dr. Tungs Smart Floss – finally a floss that doesn’t use that plastic container, and it has an addictive grippy texture. Also Q-Tips, tweezers, nail clippers, and my trusty metal tongue scraper.
For make up: SkinCeuticals tinted moisturizer (spf 50), Jones Road Miracle Balm, Eyebrow gel for my willy, ever-curling eyebrows and Olio E Osso Lip Balm.
On a plane, what essentials does your carry-on bag always contain?
I always have a roll on bag and a shoulder tote—a big LL Bean Boat and Tote. In my tote I have:
a stupid heavy laptop (need to work on this), one book, glasses/sunglasses, Muji Notebook and pens to record inspiration or sketch along the way, a journal, my charger zip bag—we reuse the little bags you get from business class flights (I saved these bags from my many overseas trips while working in corporate clothing design)
“Flight stuff” zip bag containing: Hearos Ear Plugs, an eye mask, Goē Oil, and a tiny travel bottle of Aquaphor.
The Goē oil was given to me right after I gave birth to my son. The smell will forever remind me of that time, so therefore it is very special to me. It doesn’t come in travel size. So I keep my tubes that are almost done and fold them into this zip bag. I put on my hands and neck before I travel to combat the dry plane air, but also to smell something that makes me feel calm and happy for the flight.
The Aquaphor is kind of funny. About 20 years ago before I took my first overseas work trip my boss at the time told me to put Vaseline in my nose before a trip. She swore it would keep me from getting sick. So I have done it EVER SINCE for long flights! Who knows if it works…but what I love is that it keeps your nostrils moist! There is nothing worse than trying to sleep on a plane and having your nostrils burn from being so dry! I prefer Aquaphor over vaseline now, because it’s a little less goopy. I slather it with no shame up my nose, around my nose, and on my lips before a flight. I look so glossy it’s hilarious, but I bet I get better sleep than people who don’t do it!
What’s your pharmacy kit?
I always bring a few Advil pills, a few NyQuil pills, and a few Imodium. Just in case you’re feeling sick right before bed and you don’t have time/energy to head to a pharmacy. Besides my prescriptions I love to rely on local pharmacies. Especially for overseas trips it is thrilling to try new products. I have a “grass is always greener” mentality when it comes to European pharmacies. I am convinced all products and OTC meds are better than in the states. Sunscreen is something I NEVER pack so I can treat myself to a new exciting bottle that smells good and makes me feel sexy. Those smells stick with me. I can still remember what my sunscreen smelled like in 2007 when I was on a trip to Portugal. Orange Blossom, mmmmm — that was the best tan of my life.
Any wisdom on traveling with electronics?
My husband found fantastic, simple cord labels on Amazon. As a couple we bring one set of chargers. If several wires fit into one charging dock we just bring one dock, and put all coordinating wires labeled in a small zip bag (our favorite is a Tumi bag from a fore-mentioned previous flight). This bag goes into my shoulder tote for easy access.
Do you have a travel uniform?
I love to travel in head to toe denim, the Texas tuxedo, is that what it’s called? Let’s call it the travel tuxedo. The reason for this I find chambray to be the most forgiving travel shirt in that it’s soft, breathable, if I get sweaty it is thick enough it doesn’t show it. Also denim doesn’t wrinkle and it barely shows stains, even the inevitable spilled coffee stains blend in.
I wear a chambray shirt and jeans with whatever blazer I have brought on the trip. I always wear my sneakers in the airport for comfort and nice to have my less bulky shoes in my carryon.
I top this off with a gauzy cotton scarf wrapped around my neck bandana style. I like to cover my neck in the plane to guard from the aggressive onslaught of filtered air…and if I feel the need for more protection I’ll just slip the scarf over my face for full coverage. It’s sort of a safety blanket for me. My favorite are the lightweight 45Rpm square bandanas.
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