Trell Thomas’s Packing Guide For New Orleans

In “Pack With Me,” influencers and editors give us a rundown of their travel must-haves and a few travel hacks to go along with them. For this installment, Black Excellence Brunch founder Trell Thomas shares the essentials he packs for a trip to New Orleans.

“Legacy, Legacy, Legacy, Legacy. Black excellency, baby, let 'em see,” famed rapper Jay-Z notably said on his album, “4:44.” And no one embodies this lyric quite like media CEO Trell Thomas. He is the brainchild and driving force behind the Black Excellence Brunch, a family-style gathering created as an ode to his mother's weekly Sunday dinners in South Carolina. “I started Black Excellence Brunch to build community among Black people and as a way to celebrate us in a world that sometimes tries to treat us as less than,” he tells PS. “I wanted to create an intentional and safe space that celebrated our individual and collective excellence.”

Through this tradition, he's been able to commemorate some of the richest moments in modern Black culture from “The Color Purple” remake to the Year of the Return in 2019, which saw Black people across the diaspora journey to Ghana to mark the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in the US. This year, Thomas partnered with L'Oreal for the Black Excellence Brunch to honor Black beauty, hair, and equity — and together, they welcomed A-list guests like honoree Marsai Martin.

As a history-making entrepreneur, it's no surprise Thomas is also a master traveler. The former journalist and public relations executive recently trekked to New Orleans to showcase the brunch during Essence Festival's 30th anniversary weekend and he tells us the festival feels like home. “It's a big family reunion where people are more like cousins, uncles, and aunts as opposed to strangers.”

Given the busy event schedule at Essence Festival and all the work that goes into coordinating his brunch, Thomas likes to keep his travel style cool and comfortable. “When traveling to New Orleans, my main goal is to stay cool and moisturized,” he says. “I make sure to pack things that help with that, including breathable clothing, lots of sunglasses, and T-shirt options.” For his airport outfit, Thomas often sports his favorite set from Savage X Fenty that includes an oversize hoodie and joggers along with the classic Concrete Jordan 1s for a fresh take on athleisure. And of course, no travel day is complete without luggage or in Thomas's case, the Cise “Protect Black People” duffle bag. “I love it because it's fashionable and meaningful,” he says.

If you're heading to Nola soon or already planning a trip to next year's Essence Fest, keep scrolling to find out what to pack for New Orleans, according to Thomas.