Shoe designer Libby Edelman is a woman on the move, regularly ping-ponging for business and pleasure between her horse farms in Wellington and Connecticut, the fashion capitals of London, Paris and Milan, not to mention Spain, Turkey and St. Barth’s.

If there’s a travel dream, Edelman has probably checked it off her list. But this one eludes her: "I would love to travel once in my life without a suitcase."

A beach vacation would be ideal, she says. "One dress, one sarong, one bathing suit, one wrap to stay warm."

Or she’d settle for simply flying with a single carry-on – which would be easy, "except for the cosmetics."

Oh, the baggage that comes with baggage these days.

The fees, the size restrictions, the fight for the overhead bins, the sheer mental, physical and now financial weight of carrying your world on your shoulders for a few days.

But packing light – or at least lighter – is possible, and it’s "the best way to avoid travel drama," says Brad Isbell, editor of 1bag1world.com, who recently traveled for 13 days in Europe with a single 13-pound bag.

Most travelers overdo it because of "just in case" packing, says Isbell.

"You’ll never pack light if you try to cover every possible situation or crisis you might encounter. Of course it might be colder or hotter than you expect, you might have time to do some hiking, you might need dressier clothing," he says, "but if you pack to prepare for every last eventuality, you’ll always be overloaded."

And, many travelers also take too much, says Doug Dyment, author of OneBag.com, because "they make all their packing decisions at the worst possible time: just prior to leaving."

A better approach, Dyment says, is to learn – well in advance of your trip – how to leave things behind. "It’s difficult to imagine anything that will have a similarly profound effect on one’s travel experiences," he says.

Both Dyment’s and Isbell’s websites are crammed with helpful advice on lightening your load. But for a crash course – no pun intended – we asked them, and some frequent travelers, for a few road-tested tips.

Model approach: "I don’t bring the usual toiletries like razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo because you can request these items from most hotels," says Rachel Clark, globe-trotting model and former Palm Beach Gardens resident. "Rolling clothing into tight balls or tubes saves a lot more space than folding them. Hanging your wrinkled items in the bathroom with the shower turned on hot will steam all the wrinkles out."

Wash and wear: Packing light "requires a commitment to laundering as you go (often in the hotel room sink) and you must choose your clothing and fabrics carefully," says Isbell. "Quick-dry clothing is a must. Good travel underwear for men and women is available from ExOfficio, Tilley and number of outdoor companies."

< ‘Give-N-Go’ quick-drying underwear, which comes in five styles, is treated with Aegis Microbe Shield to control odor-causing bacteria. Starting at $16 at ExOfficio.com.

Dresses for success: "My favorite way to pack light is to wear only dresses. Easy to pack and every day is an easy choice – one dress, one sweater and a great pair of shoes," says shoe designer Libby Edelman. "I have one dress that wraps different ways, so you can wrap it dressier for evening and wrap it in a casual way for day."

< Donna Morgan matte jersey dress, $118 at Nordstrom.com .

Lose the water weight: "Stop hauling excess water around with you. Liquids and gels are heavy, bulky, prone to leakage and a security concern," says OneBag.com author Doug Dyment. "You can eliminate all these drawbacks by replacing such products with their solid counterparts. Shampoo, sunblock, tooth cleaner, moisturizer, foundation, perfume, insect repellent and more – all are available in non-liquid form, which can have a dramatic effect on your travel happiness."

LUSH’s Full of Grace facial serum is ideal for skin that’s sensitive to dryness after prolonged air travel. $13.95 at the LUSH counter in Macy’s at The Gardens Mall

One multi-tasking outfit: "I pack my favorite second-skin silk black leggings and matching trapeze top, and I can wear them alone with great jewelry, with a blazer, a cardigan or a really colorful scarf," says Carol Brodie, designer of the Rarities jewelry collection sold on HSN, former global director of communications for Harry Winston and a part-time Palm Beacher. "When I fly, I wear them with slip-on Converses and a cashmere throw."

< Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star Seasonal Slip, comes in vivid blue, neon pink and port royale, $50 at Zappos.com

How much can a well-dressed man keep in his carry-on? More than you might think

A certain class of traveler — men flying on business — have adopted a uniform over the past few months, says menswear expert and professional trend spotter Tom Julian.

‘I was observing men of all ages in the same looks in airports — blazers, dress shirts, jeans, dress shoes, winter coat or trench coat, and sometimes the blazer is actually the suit jacket.’

What that tells Julian, author of Nordstrom Guide to Men’s Everyday Dressing (Chronicle Books), is the men have packed suit pants, dress shirts and ties into their carry-ons.

In this way, men do have it easier than female travelers: ‘They can use the base of their wardrobe — a suit — for multiple scenarios,’ says Julian.

And how does the always dapper Julian fly? In jeans, a casual shirt, a lightweight v-neck sweater, brown suede shoes, a textured belt and a blazer, he says.

Inside a 22-inch roll-aboard case, he packs:

A pair of corduroys

A pair of trousers

A pair of dark dressy jeans

Three shirts: one white, one checked, one striped

A lightweight crewneck sweater

V-neck T-shirts

A casual lightweight leather jacket

Gym shorts and a gym shirt (and a jump rope — no excuses for not exercising)

A pair of sneakers

Socks and underwear

He stows toiletries in a small zip-bag and carries them separately through security.

And if Julian is traveling for a longer period of time to a colder climate, he’ll ship heavier garments, such as turtlenecks, to his hotel.