Packing the Right Clothes for a Summer Vacation
Stress-free Travel with a Lightweight Suitcase of Versatile Outfits
Jul 11, 2008
It’s that time of year again – summer vacations or weekends away – which mean having to decide what to carry in your luggage and still be prepared for every fashion emergency. Nothing makes a woman weigh up her priorities like packing for a trip!
In this time of "credit crunch" and sky-high fuel prices, many airlines are charging extra for hold baggage, which also acts as a financial incentive to pack less; especially if you can fit all you need into a carry-on. No more lost luggage at Britian's new Heathrow Terminal 5, for example.
If you have been shopping-savvy enough to build a capsule wardrobe of matching items and neutrals (with the occasional off-the-rails moment), then you’will have minimized the dilemma of deciding which outfits to take. However, if like most women, you have a closet heaving with clothes that don’t necessarily go together, then fitting everything you want into your suitcase becomes far more of a challenge.
Pack Less but Pack Better
Learn to pack less but pack better. The lighter your load, the more stress-free your vacation is likely to be, or certainly your journey. According to the authors of the book, Full Frontal Fashion, it’s all about mixing and matching the right ingredients.
- Every woman has an active and passive wardrobe. Active refers to the clothes you wear regularly, and passive means outfits that you haven’t seen the light of day for a long time. The Full Frontal Fashion team advise you to skip any outfit that you haven't worn in the last two years.
- Unless you have been saving one or two special pieces especially for this vacation, try to pack from your active wardrobe, as you are more likely to wear them.
- New does not always mean better. Pack some old favorites that you are comfortable and confident in. This applies equally to shoes.
- Bear in mind that if you organize yourself properly, you’ll pretty much take as much for a two-week holiday as a one-week.
- The kind of clothes you decide to take depend very much on the purpose of your visit, your destination and the duration. Consider what activities and events you need to dress for, and lay the outfits out on the bed. After that consider your everyday wear, whether it be for the beach, countryside or city.
- Once you have laid-out some potential outfits, halve them (and halve them again, if you want to take only a carry-on!) Although this sounds harsh, if you are disciplined enough to apply this rule, (provided you have thought carefully about what to pack) you‘ll be surprised what a difference it makes to your trip by having less to carry, and less to choose from.
- Try to limit yourself to a single base color. Then pack your neutrals and other colors around it, plus some wonderful coordinating accessories.
Travel Must-Haves for Your Suitcase
No matter where you are going for a summer vacation, there are a few common clothing items that are indispensable for the stylish woman. These include a dress-it-up-or-down little black dress. A simple shift dress is also comfortable and versatile, and can be worn under a jacket or cardigan or dressed-up with a shawl for a special night out. You can’t go wrong with a pair of chic black pants, and some casual trousers or your favorite jeans.
If it’s a beach holiday, then you’ll need a couple of swimsuits, a fashionable caftan or cover-up, and a sundress or 2. If you want to ring the changes in the shorts department, then try one of this season’s comfortable and fun playsuits/jumpsuits. The general rule for tops and blouses is to take 2 for every bottom piece. Don’t forget a jacket, shawl or cardigan to keep you warm on cooler evenings, or in overly air-conditioned areas (especially on the plane!).
Shoes always present a problem as they can be heavy and take up lots of space. Try to limited it to around 3 packed pairs (high heels, sandals and flats?) which will work with the majority of your outfits. Wear one extra pair, and if you are traveling by plane, select comfortable ones which you can slip on and off easily. Unless it is a special outfit, don’t take it if it requires matching footwear that cannot be worn with anything else.
Plan Before You Pack
If you plan carefully before you pack and keep outfits to a minimum by working your wardrobe around a single neutral color, your suitcase will be lighter and more manageable. You’ll have a great deal more mobility and less travel-stress. Now you have decided what to take, the next step is to follow a few simple guidelines on how to pack a suitcase properly.
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