Why does most of the packing advice out there focus on bringing the least amount of pieces? It seems like it’s always about picking the fewest items & squeezing them into the smallest bag possible. And that you somehow ‘win’ at packing by being able to survive for 6 weeks in a carry-on. But here’s what I think:
You don’t ‘win’ at packing by simply fitting everything in a carry-on (because you can pack just as poorly no matter how much you bring). You win when you wear everything you packed & you didn’t feel like you were missing anything.
I believe that the same rules of style apply whether you’re at home or on vacation - you’re not just getting dressed to not be naked. And you’re not just getting dressed based on how your clothes function. You’re getting dressed in clothes that you love, that make sense for what you’re doing. And so that (ideally) your outside reflects your inside. And sometimes that can’t all fit in a carry-on.
Now, before you comment with lost luggage horror stories & how to fold shirts into tiny origami balls - I’m not saying that carry-on luggage is bad. I’m saying that by focusing on the least amount of items, you may very likely lose the joy of dressing for vacation - so there needs to be a balance. Sometimes that fits in a carry-on & sometimes it doesn’t. And yes, there are guidelines to follow no matter how long you’re going away (like never packing something in checked luggage that you’d be super sad to lose).
Rather than focus on how many pieces you’re packing - I prefer to focus on packing the right items. So, I wanted to share a handful of basic principles that I follow myself (and recommend to my clients) when packing for any length trip.
But don’t get me wrong - I will never recommend packing excessively. And especially if you’re changing locations on vacation, you need to be very aware of how heavy your bags are. So, versatility & functionality will always be important. But you can still have fun with your wardrobe, because fun & functionality can coexist in your trip wardrobe (I actually believe that’s the sweet spot of personal style).
So, here are 5 packing principles that can help you feel great on your summer vacation (without any packing regret).
Choosing the same color in a couple of bottoms keeps decision-making simple when you want to wear pants instead of a skirt.
1 - Choose a tight color palette
Mixing & matching is a high priority if you want to pack less, but have more outfits. So, you need a tight color palette - but this doesn’t mean a suitcase full of neutrals. A useful guideline is picking a couple of neutrals & 1-2 pops of color (in this case, I’m defining ‘color’ as non-neutrals). But if you love color, you can pick one neutral plus one main color & add a pop color (or two) - it’s really up to you. And I suggest that you start with the pieces that make the most sense for your trip. This might be a few pairs of shorts or your favorite linen pants or the only sandals that make sense for your agenda.
BONUS TIP: If you love prints, build your color palette around a favorite print piece. Pull colors out of the print to select different items & then continue to build outfits that make sense with this palette…
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