Who is sitting in their office, anxiously counting down the minutes until summer vacation? If it’s you, this is the ideal article for you. It will help you be well prepared and warm up before you even start. Packing is always so hard and there are so many dilemmas you may face while choosing which items to pack. In order to facilitate the process for you, we’ve gathered this list that we’ve found to be helpful for us while packing. First, we obviously want to look our best while traveling in the most exotic and photogenic places, so we must pick stylish yet also comfortable outfits- which is not easy (yes, that means your old sports shoes that you planned on wearing every day and throwing away at the end of the trip should probably stay at home). Second, most airlines these days are only allowing small suitcases, so you can squeeze until a certain point, but you can’t carry all of your closet as you had planned.
So, we came to a few conclusions while thinking of a strategic way on how to pick your essential vacay items while still traveling light. Follow our list and tips and you won’t feel the fear of packing incorrectly.
1.White Shirt
The key to this list is white; white items are my favorite choice and always emphasize your tan. Besides white, focus on neutral tones when it comes to shirts. Having neutral items makes getting dressed easier because it’ll be very easy to pair. If you are more of a print person go for a more minimal one (stripes and small flowers). Try to pick the most versatile pieces that you could style in more ways than one.
Packing a white button-down shirt is essential for every vacation. You can wear it during the day as a cover-up and during the night as a blouse. This is one of the reasons why I love white button-downs so much.
2. Wide Easy Pants
The vacation mood is officially on! Cropped or long, I don’t really mind as long as you feel comfortable in them. It’s always cute wearing wide-leg pants with a one shoulder swimsuit top or with a crop top.
These pants usually tend to wrinkle easily (depends on the fabric, but more often than not) so don’t fold them. Instead, try rolling them up to avoid creasing while also taking up less space in your suitcase.
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3. White Dress
I’m sure you are going to pack at least three dresses, but one of them must be white. A white dress is essential for creating the perfect vacation look. The second can be a silk slip dress for dressier evening plans and of course the third should be a statement. Think puffy sleeves, colorful, printed, fun dresses- whether it be for night or for day. One of the advantages of packing for summer is thin layers. You can fit more pieces in your suitcase so three dresses should be the perfect amount.
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4. Warp Midi Skirt
Whenever I am traveling, I always think about the items I left home and how well they could fit me. Most of the times, for me, it’s my midi skirt. I don’t why it happens, but when I’m packing I feel I won’t have a place romantic enough for me to wear it to. And yet as soon as I arrive, I regret not bringing it. So I had to put it on this list in order to never leave it behind again.
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5. Swimsuit
There are so many pretty ones on the market right now: knitted, printed, with a cool belt, with sleeves, high-waisted… So, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, and let you pick whichever’s best for you. Just make sure to also pack a classic black one.
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6. Shorts
I think two shorts are enough. One pair of vintage Levi’s high-waisted denim and one pair of tailored shorts. Both styles are very versatile so they will go well with any of your tops. Here’s an extra tip: pack a brown belt to elevate the clean look.
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7. Tops
Three must-have tops: a basic t-shirt, a statement sleeves top, and a knitted tank. Don’t carry too much, bring one or two of each kind. Having sufficient space in your suitcase is always an issue so make sure ahead of time that the bottoms you packed match your statement tops seamlessly.
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8. Shoes
As a shoe addict, it’s a tough decision. For narrowing purposes, I like to take one shoe from every “section”- one sneaker, one pair of high heels, and one pair of flat sandals. Another tip I can give you is to separate your shoes and put each pair in a corner of the suitcase.
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9. Straw Accessories
I must admit, there’s something so refreshing about being a tourist for a little while. Something about taking time off, getting out of your routine and your comfort zone, and just breathing new air makes me feel a type of way. Being in this atmosphere effects not only the way I act but also the way I dress. So, I love to have fun items that I only take out during vacations, such as a huge straw hat and a big basket bag to upgrade your look.
10. Silk Scarf
The coolest item of all, you can play with it in so many ways. You can tie it as a top, on your head, on your bag, on your waist… the possibilities are endless. Best of all, there are millions of different prints and styles to choose from and they’ll always be in style.
11. Shell Ankle Bracelet
The last detail you need to complete the total beach girl look is some jewelry. This season, we’re loving all things shells. In particular, shell anklets while on vacation just look so clean yet so cool at the same time.
Don’t forget to pack some leggings and warmer layers in case you experience unexpected bad weather conditions. After packing and making sure you didn’t forget anything, try and pair some of the items in your head and check you have enough combinations for the amount of days you’ll be away. For me, my outfits from day to night are not so different, but if you love dressing up, make sure to accommodate for that.
Bon voyage!
Edits by: Ariela Levi
