Packing Tips 101

So you’re going on vacation and have no idea what to pack? I decided to write up some packing tips since I’ll be going on short vacation soon for about 10 days. Someone recently gave me some great advice when it comes to de-cluttering my house/closet/life. “There are really just a few things we need in life. Pretend you’re going on vacation and bring only the things you need.” It’s so true. With the tons of clothes that I own, I really only need a small suitcase worth of clothes to survive on. Since I’m the type of person who likes to pack pretty light, here’s what I came up with for my trip.

Here are all of the items that you’ll find in the pics below. I find it really useful to lay everything out when you’re packing so you can actually see everything you’re bringing. Also, this list is mostly only applies for a tropical vacation so sorry if you’re packing for cold weather!

• 2 button down shirts
• 3 pairs of shorts – denim, khaki, and one that can be worn in water
• 2 cardigans
• 2-3 short sleeve tops – if you’re spending a lot of the time at the beach, you’ll end up wearing these more than you think.
• 3 sleeveless tops + 2 strappy tank tops to wear underneath sheer things
• 1 bikini top with 2 matching bottoms
• 4 dresses in a variety of styles – laid back casual, floral, black convertible, and patterned body con
• 1 pair of pants (mostly for the airplane)
• 1 large carry on bag that will double up as my purse
• 1 clutch for dressier occassions
• 2 hats (I really only needed one, but I couldn’t help myself)
• 3 pairs of shoes – flip flops, keds, and sandals that could be dressy and casual

When it comes to choosing clothing for vacation, there are a few rules I like to follow:

• How many times can I wear this? I try to pick pretty basic tops that I can mix and match with other bottoms. For example, a light denim shirt will go great over tanks, tees, and even a dress. I’ve also packed a convertible American Apparel dress, which comes in handy since you can wear it many different ways.
• What material is it? I take this into account in case I have a spill (which is often) and need to hand wash something. If I’m not able to wash it (for eg, silk), then that piece is pretty much done with for the rest of the trip so I usually pick tops and dresses that have that flexibility.
• Can I layer it? Weather can be unpredictable and one of the worst things is being unprepared for colder weather. The two long sleeve collared shirts can easily be layered with the cardigans in case it gets chilly at night. I will also always bring a hoodie for the airplane.

As for jewelry, lay out everything you want to bring. I use a combination of jewelry bags, mini ziplock bags, and bubble wrap bags to pack everything.

I’ll put smaller items like rings and link bracelets in a smaller bag and then combine it into a larger bag that contains stretch bracelets, watches, and such.

I always save those mini ziplock bags you get from buying jewelry or from extra buttons. Those come in handy for delicate necklaces that you don’t want to tangle from traveling.

These padded bubble wrap bags are great for larger statement pieces that need extra protection.

And of course it doesn’t hurt to have some extra sturdy protection for pieces that you don’t want to get crushed. I found that this Magic the Gathering deck box was the perfect size for my bracelets!

Happy traveling!