I love traveling — it doesn’t matter whether I’m exploring a new city on the weekend or traveling halfway across the world; I’ve been bitten by the travel bug and don’t think I’m going to be cured any time soon! This week is especially exciting because I’m heading to one of the most romantic cities in the world — Paris!

And while I said I do love traveling, sometimes, these super-long flights are hard to handle. The flight from Paris to LA is a whopping 12-hours — and that’s not including the time it takes to get to the airport, the few hours you have to kill while you’re in the airport, the time it takes to get your luggage, etc. Basically, traveling anywhere overseas is long and exhausting, but over the years, I’ve perfected my carry-on and travel essentials to make going anywhere as smooth, easy, and convenient as possible.

One of the first things I make sure I pack is my Sonia Kashuk makeup kit. I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup (or any at all, really) to the airport, since I’ll be sitting on a plane for 12+ hours. Instead, right before landing, I’ll do a very minimal, natural look so I look and feel refreshed! Also, if there’s ONE thing you should remember to pack in your carry-on bag, it’s deodorant — this might be TMI, but it’s seriously a lifesaver!

And although it may seem like common sense, a lot of people don’t realize that sitting in jeans or a dress on a 12-hour flight is NOT comfortable, no matter how cute you may look. I always wear something comfy and practical for the flight, like leggings, flats or sneakers, and an oversized t-shirt or sweater, and pack a few things to change into when the plane lands. On this trip, I packed my Balenciaga booties so I could step off the plane in (comfortable) style and as I learned from being in a snowstorm during NYFW, a coat appropriate for the rainy Paris weather. I also packed two new pairs of shades, which I’m completely obsessed with!

Also, I’m not gonna lie; long flights are a pain in the butt! Although most international flights offer movies, TV, games, etc., sometimes you get bored of staring at a tiny little screen for hours on end, watching random episodes from shows you’re never gonna watch again. I usually skip the in-flight entertainment when possible and use the time to catch up on some reading. Because it is Paris Fashion Week, I packed my fashion bible — The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior, to get me really pumped up for the week! I also brought Deepak Chopra’s amazing book You Are The Universe — I actually JUST interviewed him for my show, so stay tuned for that in the upcoming weeks!

One of the most important travel tips I can give you guys though, is to take all of your expensive items and/or necessities with you on the plane — I can’t tell you how many times an airline has unexpectedly lost my luggage! We’ve all probably experienced that at one point or another and while it may not happen that often, you definitely don’t wanna take a chance, especially when you’re traveling to a different country!

I’m so excited to share my experience at PFW with you guys all week! What are some of your travel essentials you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments below!