Breeders' Cup Packing Essentials

I love to travel, and I’m incredibly fortunate in that I get to do it a lot for work. Over the years, I’ve managed to whittle down my luggage to a simple carry-on bag for any horse racing-related trip that’s under seven days, and I’m here to pass on some tips I’ve learned to you so that you can plan for a trip to Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup without having to take out a second mortgage to cover your excess baggage fees.
While the majority of my tips will probably apply more to women than men (sorry, gentlemen– I write what I know!) there will definitely be a few tidbits that will help everyone out when it comes to savvy packing. If you're interested in buying any of the items featured in the collages below, simply click on the image to find out the ordering information!
1. Quilted vests are your best friends 

15BCPackingList_01 by penelopemiller featuring a tartan vest
A quilted vest is essential for fall in Kentucky. It provides a layer of warmth, but you won’t feel stifled under a heavy coat if the afternoon gets a little warm. Even though they’re quilted, they don’t take up the volume of a full-sized jacket in your suitcase; and if you’re planning on heading to Keeneland to watch Breeders’ Cup contenders train in the mornings, you’ll be grateful for the extra layer in the chilly autumn air. 
2. Jewel-bright jeans

15BCPackingList_02 by penelopemiller featuring skinny jeans
These are another must-have for Breeders’ Cup week. A pop of color is always a great idea for any outfit, and jewel tone jeans are perfect for fall. Add a pair of sneakers or boots, and you have a great daytime look; with some heels and a pretty top, you can take them out to dinner and beyond. Anything you can repurpose with ease goes in your travel bag; aside from event-specific outfits, you want to stay away from clothes you can only wear once. Here’s an example of how to take colored jeans from day to night:

15BCPackingList_02a by penelopemiller featuring band rings
Change your top and shoes, throw on a leather jacket and some cocktail rings, and you and your purple jeans are ready for a night on the town!
3. Flowy sweaters 

15BCPackingList_03 by penelopemiller featuring long sleeve shirts
Another fall staple, a loose sweater in a neutral hue can be sensational with jeans as a casual daytime look, or they can be layered over black cigarette pants or a pencil skirt for a nighttime look. Plus, a comfortable, flowy sweater is a must on a long plane trip, so you’ll be grateful to have one with you on the actual travel portion of your Breeders’ Cup trip.
4. The ultimate goes-with-everything handbag 

15BCPackingList_04 by penelopemiller featuring clutches
When you’re packing, pick a base color palette and stick with it. Love brown? Me, too! Pack your favorite brown bag and a few pairs of shoes*, then plan every outfit around a few key brown accessories. Same goes for gray and black; your life will be made so much easier if everything revolves around a few key timeless classics. You can make it through a week with one handbag if you pick one that will take you from day to evening in a classic brown or black. The ones I chose above are stylish and will be equally at home at the racetrack in the morning as they would be at a stylish downtown cocktail bar in the evenings. 
*Pro tip: when packing for the races in the fall, I like to bring a pair of sneakers/day shoes, a pair of evening-appropriate shoes, and whatever kicks I’m wearing to the races. Boots go on my feet for the plane trip so they don’t take up a ton of room in the suitcase. There’s one more pair that I recommend you bring, and those get their own entry below!
5. Foldable flats

15BCPackingList_05 by penelopemiller featuring flat shoes
Trust me: even the most die-hard heels fan will succumb to the pain unique to sky-high footwear. So why not do yourself a favor a snag a pair of foldable flats? You can throw them right in your purse and save yourself a little unnecessary agony – or the indignity (and possibly unsanitary repercussions) of walking away from the racetrack in bare feet. When I was putting this collage together, I fell in love with Yosi Samra’s line. They are seriously cute and definitely wouldn’t look out of place at the races! I’m planning on ordering myself a pair or two of his creations. 
6. Packable rain coat 

15BCPackingList_06 by penelopemiller featuring a rain coat
Kentucky in the fall can be a damp place; and since you’re traveling to admire some racehorses, umbrellas are out. (Racing-fit Thoroughbreds and flapping, colorful umbrellas tend to be a bad combination. Raincoats > umbrellas every time.) Invest in a good packable raincoat: it’ll serve you well both over the Breeders’ Cup as well as on many, many other trips. Plus, designers have really stepped up their game when it comes to these coats, and you can be both waterproof and stylish if you have to brave a little bad weather. 
7. Travel-sized makeup 

15BCPackingList_07 by penelopemiller featuring an eye shadow
Sephora has a whole section of their website dedicated to travel-sized makeup, skin care products and more, which is crazy convenient. You’d be surprised at how much room standard sizes of makeup, shampoo, and moisturizer take up in a suitcase. Plus, you may want to just go ahead and always buy the travel-sized versions of your favorite mascaras and eyeliners since they expire after 3 months. You definitely don’t want to be putting old, bacteria-ridden products near your eyes because ew, so why would you pay for a huge vat of expensive mascara when you’ll just end up throwing most of it out anyway? My favorite mascara is Benefit’s They’re Real!, which retails at $24 for the big tube but only $12 for the travel size. Ka-ching! By the way, Lifehacker has a great piece on makeup and skin care expiration dates if you want to make sure that all of your products are still good. 

8. The you’ll-be-a-hero-to-friends-and-family-for-having-this-stuff stuff

15BC_Fan_07 by penelopemiller featuring cat eye glasses
When you travel, things don’t always go to plan. Seams on dresses rip, blisters happen, phones run out of batteries. Here are some things I’ve learned to have with me, and just a few others that I’m coveting at the moment.
-Bring a travel-sized sewing kit. You’re going to be eating a lot of burgoo and bread pudding; buttons are always the first casualty in the War of the Waistline.
-Remote phone charger. They are cheap, and you will be so grateful to have one if you see the dreaded 10% battery notification pop up.
-Pill box/bandage dispenser duo. Pop it in your purse so you always have a Band-Aid and a Tylenol on hand. It’s always best to combat a headache or blisters early!
-A sleep mask. This will be great for the airplane as well as for getting some high-quality shut-eye in a hotel. I will be honest here: I’m not a great sleeper, and even the glare of an alarm clock can bother me when I’m trying to drift off. A mask can be a sanity saver in these situations.
-Uber. Lexington has Uber, and it’s a great idea to set up an account on the app if you’re planning on going out at night in town. Getting lost is never fun; and if you want to sample Kentucky’s finest bourbon over the Breeders’ Cup, it’s good to know that a designated driver is just the push of a button away.
-Cheap and chic sunglasses. Fabulous sunglasses are great, except when they get left behind at airport security or in the rental car. A pair of inexpensive but stylish sunglasses is perfect for travel, and you won’t beat yourself up if they get lost in the airport shuffle.
-A travel safe. If you have your passport, nice jewelry, or other valuables with you, a travel safe can be essential. If you’re planning on being out of your hotel from dawn to (way past) dusk, one of these can provide you with peace of mind so you can focus on having nothing but fun during Breeders’ Cup week.
-Nail polish removing wipes. I tend to favor dark and bold nail colors, and nothing annoys me more than a chip in the lacquer. Slip a few of these wipes in your bag so you can quickly take off any errant polish instead of frowning at your fingers until you can get to a drug store!
-A travel humidifier. I don’t have this, but now that I know it exists I want it! This travel humidifier will battle back a dry hotel room for ten hours, which can be essential if it’s chilly enough to warrant turning on the heater. I will be purchasing this for Breeders’ Cup, and my allergies will thank me for it!
-A telephoto lens for your phone. There’s nothing as beautiful as a Thoroughbred in full flight, and you’ll want to capture the big moments of the World Championships.  But unless you’re a serious shutterbug, hauling a camera to Kentucky may not be a reasonable option. That’s when these zoom lenses for your phone come into play. You’ll be surprised at how great your photos will turn out, and you’ll be even happier with the space saved in your suitcase.
-Travel-sized Advil. Hangovers are terrible but bourbon is wonderful. Plan accordingly.
What are your travel essentials for the Breeders’ Cup? Have I missed anything major? Let me know in the comments!