5 Tips for packing for summer holidays.
How are you feeling about your upcoming holiday? Are you excited to get away but dread the thought of having to thrall through the wardrobe to pack? Or worse (at least for the environment and or your wallet) buying a whole suitcase worth of new clothes every time you leave the country?
While it is fine to get some new bits to update your holiday wardrobe, or indeed to treat yourself to something you will love and wear for the summer, not just on this holiday it might be worth delving deeper to understand why you find it easier to buy all new than go through what you already have and maybe consider doing a full wardrobe declutter when switching your wardrobe to summer this year. I have an amazing free guide on how to do that here.
Packing should be part of the excitement not a stress.
If you are ready to start packing, here are 5 tips for summer holiday packing:
Don’t leave packing until the night before! Have items earmarked at least a week before so you can make sure they are washed and in good condition for the holiday. Nothing worse than realising your favourite summer dress has a stain on the front the night before your trip.
Plan your days. It can seem easier to fire everything you own into a suitcase but you pack less (and have more room for souvenirs) if you plan ahead. My process is to write out all the days I am away and note any big events where I need to wear something specific, or any plans where something might be required for example dress for formal dinner or hiking boots for a planned day hike. I then try to plan my outfits around items I really want to wear.
Example: If I have a top I want to wear and I know it looks great with my denim cut-offs I find a few t-shirts to go with the same shorts - I have 3 outfits without overloading my suitcase.
Check the weather! It can be easy to assume it will be roasting hot on holidays but it is worth checking. Sometimes there can be thunderstorms or it can get cool in the evenings - best to be prepared. I normally have a wrap in my hand luggage for the plane which I use as a wrap while away (you can read the full list here), and a comfy light knit for evenings.
Unnegociable is comfortable footwear. Unless you are planning to not leave the hotel pool for the entire holiday you need to pack some comfortable shoes or sandals (ideally you should be wearing the comfy trainer type shoe for travelling and then back the comfy sandals). No one looks or feels their best hobbling round in heels, and frankly heels on the beach are dangerous. You can absolutely pack some heels for dinner and going out - but have something comfortable as well.
Tip - pack your shoes in their dust bags or shopping bags if you don’t have dustbags so the shoes are protected and the soles don’t dirty your suitcase or clothes. I also use a different dustbag for my washing which makes life super easy when I get home!
Once you have packed survey the items - have you stuck to your original plan? How much ‘other’ stuff is in the suitcase? What do you already know you are highly unlikely to need or wear? Being able to curate the suitcase is the final step but important nonetheless… you will know you have done an awesome job when you come back from holidays having worn 100% of what you packed!
You will need to be ruthless in this step; no one needs 7 handbags for a weeks holiday. Consider taking one in neutral tones that go with everything and/or a bright one that will add a pop of colour to any of your outfits. Bonus points if it is also an interesting texture.
Bonus tip - rather than expecting your outfits to all be completely different looks use accessories to add interest to outfits. Accessories are easy to pack and can change up looks. A scarf can be worn as a headband, a belt or on a handbag. A chunky necklace can add interest to a simple shorts and tank top outfit, or lend an edge to a pretty ‘going out’ dress.
Doesn’t it feel better to not have to sit on your suitcase to close it? And to know you have exactly what you need for the trip. Comment below if you try any of these tips and how you found it!
100% success in this packing endeavour is not always easy but by employing these tricks I have gone from wearing about 40% of what I packed, to 80-90%. Remember - progress over perfection!