Since Who What Wear is based in L.A., and I (along with my fellow East Coast editors) live in NYC, every now and then, an occasion comes along that warrants a

trip to the West Coast. One such occasion is our company holiday party, which is taking place this week and warrants a six-day escape from New York just in time to avoid a cold front. My dress options for the main event are, of course, packed and ready. Everything else I need to bring, however, wasn't quite so easy to decide on. 

In order to avoid costly baggage fees and the risk of losing my luggage during the year's busiest travel season, I challenged myself to fit everything in a carry-on, despite the fact that I'm notorious for overpacking. Luckily, since I'm going somewhere warm, all of the bulky pieces I've been frequenting in NYC this season can remain at home, with only my easily packable warm-weather favorites joining me on the flight. Even so, dialing down the long list of items in my mental suitcase wasn't easy. (It never is.) Keep scrolling to see how I persevered in the end, as well as what made the final cut.