Pretty much every client/friend/family member I know struggles to pack when they travel and ALWAYS end up taking way more than they need.
The truth is, it’s hard to plan so far in advance because what we wear is usually directly linked to our mood – how do we know what version of ourselves we want to present to the world a week from now?!
However, taking every item of clothing away is both unnecessary and expensive (if you go over the baggage limit at least) so I wanted to share a few guidelines that I try to follow to help you minimise what you take away BUT crucially will still give you variety whilst on holiday.
Really think about what you’ll be doing whilst you’re away – if you’re going to spend 80% of your time by the pool or on the beach then swimwear and cover-ups should be your focus and you really only need one pair of flip flops for by the pool for example.
Create A Capsule
If you’re on a city break or planning some day trips whilst you’re away choose items that you can mix and match. A couple of pair of shorts and two different tops will create four different outfits so if you’re planning just a few outings during a two week holiday then that’s all you need (plus suitable footwear of course)
Choose Dress-Up/Dress-Down Pieces
Most places these days have fairly casual dress codes in the evenings so take shorts and dresses that can be glammed up with heels and accessories but also worn more casually during the daytime with a pair of flat sandals.
Plan To Wear Everything Twice
Particularly for evening wear – aim to wear your outfits at least twice. This means on a two week holiday you can vastly cut down on the amount of clothes you take. You’re only going to be wearing your evening outfits for a few hours and it’s likely to be cooler so it’s not like they’ll be covered in suncream and sweat!
Be Strict With Your Footwear
Shoes take up so much room and if you’re anything like me, you’ll just end up wearing your most comfortable pair most of the time anyway. For a two week holiday in the sun I would take one pair of flip flops for by the pool, one pair of dressy flats and some leopard print wedges – plenty of choice and they’ll all go with everything.
Pack In Pods
Using little packing pods (you can get them from Amazon here) keeps everything neat and organised and they’re great when you’re travelling as a family as you can get different colours and divide everything up making it super easy to unpack quickly when you arrive at your destination.
I’d love to hear your packing tips and techniques! Drop me a comment below or head on over to Instagram to join the conversation @annamewes
Happy holidays!
Anna xo