About Packing Savvy

Mimi and Suneel getting married in a redwood forest in Mill Valley, California

Welcome to Packing Savvy, a website dedicated to showing you how to pack like a pro and embrace your personal style no matter how small your suitcase is.

Our articles span a variety of packing-related topics, from general packing tips to our favorite packing guides for international trips and activities like that hiking trip you’ve been wanting to take.

Our goal is to give you the tools and resources to easily plan and pack for any trip, no matter how varied the weather, activities, or dress code might be.

It can be overwhelming to know where to start when you see your empty suitcase lying on the floor, which is where Packing Savvy comes in.

We’re so happy to have you as part of the Packing Savvy community! 🙂

Meet Mimi McFadden

A photo of Mimi in front of Glacier point in Yosemite National Park, California.
A photo of Mimi eating a huge donut at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles.
A photo of Mimi standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on a clear day.

From left to right: Mimi at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park after an 18-mile hike, eating a huge donut at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, and standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Hi, I’m Mimi! I’m the co-founder of Packing Savvy and lead stylist for the brand.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, I developed a deep appreciation for travel from a young age. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of experiencing new cultures through travel and planning my next trip.

I lived abroad for most of my 20s in places like Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Thailand, and Greece, and I’ve traveled to over 40 countries and almost half the US states.

Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband Suneel (and our baby boy coming in February 2025), I continue to explore California and other parts of the US and the world, usually taking 1-2 international trips per year.

I personally curate our women’s packing lists (and some of our men’s), using tips and tricks and first-hand knowledge from over 16 years of travel.

I’ve learned a lot about packing for a variety of trips over the years, which is why I wanted to create this site in the first place–to share that knowledge with you!

My hope is to inspire others to get out and find their next adventure with our go-to packing lists that will help you become a savvy packer, no matter where you’re going.


Fun Facts About Mimi
– I quickly became a mostly carry-on only traveler after my first longer stint abroad in Europe. I grossly overpacked and brought a massive suitcase that I struggled with while traveling for three weeks through the continent. I swore I’d never lug an oversized suitcase up eight flights of stairs in the cramped, stuffy stairwell of an old European hotel again.

– I love, love, love walking everywhere I go when I get to a new city. This is why I’m obsessed with quality and comfortable footwear (that’s still stylish!).

-It’s hard for me to choose favorites, but if I had to pick my top three favorite countries, it would have to be Greece, Morocco, and India (with Brazil and Italy trailing close behind).

-My food weaknesses are dumplings, any dish with paneer, and burritos from San Diego.

-I do a girls’ trip with my best friend Kelsey every year (you’ll probably see her around the website in photos). So far, we’ve traveled together in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Paris, Palm Springs, Puerto Rico, Croatia, Italy, and Las Vegas, and this year we’re going to Kansas City.

-I got really into Survivor and The Amazing Race during the pandemic, and we now do Survivor drafts with friends each season.

-I’ve played basketball since I was seven, and I beat Suneel at three-point contests 95% of the time we shoot around, which is probably his favorite part of our marriage.

-I also run a California travel website called The Atlas Heart, which I started in 2013.

Meet Suneel Jain

A photo of Mimi in front of Glacier point in Yosemite National Park, California.
A photo of Mimi eating a huge donut at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles.
A photo of Mimi standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on a clear day.

From left to right: Mimi at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park after an 18-mile hike, eating a huge donut at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, and standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Hi, I’m Suneel!

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Contact Us

Questions, concerns, or comments about Packing Savvy? You can contact us below by email or by giving us a call.

Business email: [email protected]
Business phone number: (415) 800-3765