Summer is finally here and no doubt you’ve got some vacation plans on the horizon. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve inevitably stood in front of your closet the night before you leave, convinced that the packing gods have aligned against you, thrown your hands in the air and stuffed half of your wardrobe into your suitcase. Then, you realize that in your packing fury (should I take the blue top or the purple top? Oh, I’ll just take both!), you’ve forgotten to pack shoes. So, out came another suitcase, which you filled to the brim with shoes, shoes, and more shoes. Only when you arrived at the airport with your two bursting suitcases (and carryon!) did you realize that perhaps you should have given packing for your trip a little more forethought.
It only took one experience like this- okay, two experiences like this (there was the impossibly embarrassing time that I filled my suitcase so full that it ripped at the baggage check and I had to duct tape it shut) for me to realize that packing is an art and should be treated as such. As a result, I’ve come up with my Five Golden Rules of Packing. And unless you’re Paris Hilton and have a tour bus just to tote your luggage, you, my friend, should heed these rules:
1) Pick a color scheme and work around it. Whether it’s pink and brown (my personal favorite) or black and white, getting dressed is much easier if everything coordinates. This also holds true for any jewelry or metallics (gold or silver, not both).
2) Layering works wonders and many items have a multi-functioning capacity. That tunic can do double duty as a breezy shirt or a swimsuit cover-up and a cardigan instantly transforms a slinky camisole into daywear.
3) You do not need to pack every shoe you own. Banish the what-if mentality- But, what if I really, really need my pink polka dot platforms (trust me, you won’t). You really only need two pairs of shoes (three at the most) for a weeklong trip: a pair of dressy shoes and a pair of comfy, but chic day shoes. Throw in some flip-flops, if you must, for bumming around your hotel room.
4) Before you leave, plan all of your outfits, try them on, and take a photograph of them. Pack the pictures in your carry-on and refer to them on your trip for stress-free dressing.
5) If all else fails and you really feel that you should have packed something (but didn’t) unless you’re vacationing in the Arctic, most vacation destinations have shopping of which can take advantage. Pick up something cool with some local flavor, like jewelry or a beaded top.
Now that you’ve read the Golden Rules of Packing, you’re ready to give it a go yourself. But just in case you still fear separation anxiety from your wardrobe, I’ve come up with four different vacation destinations and the clothes to pack for them. So, wherever your travels may take you this summer, whether it’s to a tropical island in the Bahamas or a bustling city, the last thing you need to worry about is what you’re going to wear.
~~~ Christie
