Packing for Vacation? Make These Items Part of your Getaway Plans!

Whether you're planning a few weekend getaways or a long adventure, there's no reason to carry more luggage than you can handle. With a little planning and some simple storage techniques, you'll be able to pack efficiently for your holiday's worth of gear (and get it into a standard carry-on!)

Here is a general set of rules for how much of each item to bring. You'll want to adapt them depending on how formally you'll need to dress:

Unmentionables: Make your mum proud and pack a clean pair of socks, undershirts, and underwear for every day of your trip.
Shirts or dresses: two fewer than the total number of days in the trip. By wearing the same outfit on the flight back as you did on the flight out, you can save two days worth of clothes.
Pants: a pair of pants for every other day.
Shoes: for a short trip, one pair of functional shoes (sneakers or sandals) and one pair of fancier kicks (i.e. high heels or smart boots) should keep you stepping forth in style and comfort
Toiletries: If you're going through security, be sure to get everything in travel-size bottles. You may want to wrap liquids, such as a travel-size shampoo or skin toner, in a plastic bag to prevent spillages from damaging your other luggage.

Capsule Wardrobe

We all have different ideas of the perfect holiday: sun and surf? Quiet and cosy by the campfire? An urban adventure with museums and galleries topping the list? Whatever your perfect vacay, packing can get a little easier when you realise that you're essentially creating a capsule wardrobe of your getaway clothing. A capsule wardrobe, as every fashionista knows, is a minimalist wardrobe filled with functional pieces that you can wear a variety of ways.

If you're overwhelmed with planning and travel arrangements, you may have forgotten what really matters to you, how you like to spend your time, and the dreams you have for your vacation. Living and dressing with less helps you reconnect and remember. Sometimes, to figure out what matters you have to get rid of everything that doesn’t. Deciding what to wear on a trip also requires mental energy that can be better spent on other things. Instead of over-packing in the hopes of being perfectly prepared, curate a small capsule wardrobe Your daily decisions will be so much simpler, and you get to wear your favourite things every day.

Check the Weather

Weather changes can make the contents of your suitcase irrelevant if you’re not prepared. Be sure to check the weather before planning your trip, and check the forecast again as you near the date. Sure, you're bound to forget something, but you don't want to spend all your time buying extra layers of clothing or umbrellas when your beach getaway gets rained out. Plan for the weather so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

What Will You Be Doing?

There’s a lot to consider when determining what to bring. With so many factors at play, it’s easy to overpack or underpack, especially if you’ve waited until the last minute. However, the most important factor to your trip is what you'll be doing once you get there! It may seem obvious, but you'll want to bring vacation dresses instead of power suits if you'll be lounging on a beach side tiki hut.

Tips to Pack for a Winter Getaway

Choose Non-Bulky Layers: Opt for clothing that isn’t large and bulky. Instead of a chunky knit scarf, get a thinner one. Instead of your favourite slouchy sweater, grab a more fitted one. When adding variety to your travel wardrobe, rely on lighter layers, like t-shirts layered under a cardigan, some thick wool tights or an oversized blouse style to keep the wind off your back.
Leggings and Long Underwear: Pack a lightweight pair of leggings and a set of long underwear pieces (leggings and long-sleeve shirt) to make all your outfits warmer. They’ll help you rock your favourite pair of jeans, without freezing your backside off. Look good and stay warm at the same time!
Down Jackets: A lightweight down jacket might be the best for winter travel. It will pack small when you're not using it, hold up against the wind, and a cute design will have you feeling great while you're prepared to wander through any winter scenario.

Best Shoes for Travel

You can't enjoy your trip if your feet are in pain, so remember that comfort is king. Never pack more than 3 pairs of shoes for any trip.

Invest in Luggage Organisers

There are many types of luggage organisers, including:

Packing Cubes
Packing Folders
Compression Sacks and Cubes

These luggage organisers help to compartmentalise like with like. Some luggage organisers, called compression sacks, even help you save space by vacuum-sealing your clothing. If you can't splurge on luggage organisers, or don't travel enough to make them worthwhile, we recommend at least compartmentalising a little with a simple, small bag for toiletries and makeup.

Let your travel day outfit be the bulkiest, so you don't have to pack those items!

Pro Tip: Travel Day Outfit

Here's our favourite tip, and it's a real game-changer for the world of travel:

The outfit you wear to travel should be the bulkiest outfit of the trip!

Think sweaters, special vacation dresses or jeans, with big boots... this way, none of those things have to go into the bag! While a bulky travel outfit might make the transit a little warm at times, you can shed those layers during layovers and waiting times to cool down. A perfect travel day outfit will include a lightweight jacket with multiple pockets--perfect for stashing maps, hotel keys, sunblock and lip balm.

Convinced with the travel hacks above? Shop our winter collection to find that perfect travel outfit now!