Girl's Guide to Jetsetting in Style: Packing for Travel

Packing for Travel:

When i'm travelling anywhere, I have a tendency to over-pack. Even when I went to spend a weekend in Manhattan, I ended up bringing an entire suitcase and a carry-on. 

Since i'll basically be backpacking through Europe next semester, bringing as much luggage as I would like to bring (for two seasons, might I add) isn't practical. After spending a lot of time packing, I've learned a tip or two about how to narrow it down, and how to pack things.

The Basics

Dresses/Skirts: Say Yes to the Dress?

Versatile, transitional pieces are key here. Whether you're going on a short business trip or a long vacation, you need pieces you can layer and dress up or down.

My favorite things to pack are dresses and skirts. They're an outfit in themselves. Unlike pants, which take up a lot of room in a suitcase, a skirt or a dress can be worn multiple ways for any occasion with the simple addition of tights. Try to stick to basic colors and a single color scheme here. One or two fun prints or patterns here and there can be fun, but remember- basic, versatile, transitional pieces are key. 

Try to stray away from any pieces that are too trendy. A hot pink mini can be cute, but will it work in the spring and in the fall? Can it be worn with multiple tops? Can you get away with wearing it a few times without it being obvious? Probably not.

Example:

J.Crew Tall shirttail mini in wool (see more long skirts)

My Rule for Packing Dresses:
Depending on your length of stay, determine how many "formal/semi-formal" events you might attend such as ballets, operas, dinner parties, business meetings, etc. Then, divide that number by two for short trips (a weekend to a few weeks) and 3 for long trips (a few weeks to a few months). That's how many dresses or skirts you need to pack. Choose ones that can be dressed up and down. Simple colors. Classic styles.

Tops: Layer Away

Layering, layering, layering! Once again, staying basic is key. The part where you can really have fun with your outfit is with your accessories. Make sure you have a variety of short and long sleeved items here. I prefer to pack mostly short sleeve shirts, because I can always pack a few cardigans that will go with anything.

My rule of thumb is have a few basic shirts (ones that you can easily replace should you need to do so- who knows what you'll buy while you're travelling that you'll want to bring home!) in solid neutral colors such as white, navy, and black. 

J Crew blouse (see more silk shirts)

Pants: Bottoms Up!

I tend to say 1-2 pairs of pants for a short trip, and 3-4 for a long trip... tops. Because pants aren't as easy to transition between seasons and occasions, they aren't a good investment of suitcase space. 

If you have business meetings, pack one or two pairs. Otherwise, stick with a simple dark-wash pair of jeans (dressier than light-wash) with no holes and minor detailing. From there, pack a pair or two of "dressier" pants that are neutral in color and stay within your color scheme. 

I stuck with a pair of straight leg dark-wash jeans, Brooks Brothers riding pants in a dark brown, and a pair of mustard color straight leg pants.

Accessories: Make It or Break It

THIS is where you can have fun! Think about it, clothing takes up way more space in your suitcase than four or five necklaces, right?! This is your chance to show who you truly are. While I always wear my pearls, (not even kidding- I don't ever take them off. Ever.)  I love accessorizing with scarves and bracelets. Pack as many as you want. There isn't really a need to be too selective here because they take up so little room. A single necklace or pair of earrings can make the same outfit look entirely different and can give off an entirely different feel.

Picking Shoes: The Right Way

Chances are, you'll be doing a decent amount of walking. Always bring a comfortable pair (or two) of flats. I blogged about some really great portable ones here that take up little to no space. Then, bring a simple pair of black heels. Black heels are the little black dress of the shoe world. Finally, determine what season(s) you'll be visiting for and what your activity needs are. 

Are you planning on hiking? (Hello, Ireland!) Will it be snowing? (Hello, Italy!) Will you be walking up and down busy streets? If you're going to be doing a lot of physical activities, bring one pair of tennis shoes. If it's going to be cold, choose the pair of boots that can most easily be worn. If you'll be walking a lot, stick to flats and really comfortable heels. 

Black suede high heel pointed toe court shoes (see more black high heel pumps)
Old Navy Womens Sueded Pointed Toe Flats - Black/gold (see more pointed toe flats)

Example: 3 Outfits From 1 Shirt, 1 Skirt, and 2 Pairs of Shoes

Packing for Travel: 1 Outfit, 3 Ways by mercerm featuring a long necklace

J Crew dress shirt / Kaliko black cardigan, $41 / J Crew long skirt / Red tight / J by Jasper Conran pointed-toe pumps, $63 / Old Navy black flat / Charlotte Olympia lucite purse / Givenchy red purse / McQ by Alexander McQueen black handbag / David Yurman long necklace / Blue Nile diamond jewelry / Chanel vintage jewelry / Ted Baker chunky necklace / Links of London stud earrings, $125 / J Crew j crew jewelry / Miriam Haskell long necklace / Bracelet charm, $9.73

Other:

Tights!! If you're going anywhere and there's the slightest chance that it will be cold, make sure you bring tights! This is the easiest way to transition those dresses and skirts from spring to fall. I brought a pair of tights in three basic colors.

To Bring or Not To Bring?

If you're torn between bringing or not bringing an item, like I often am, ask yourself- how often do I really wear this? If I were home, how often do I go for this item in my closet? If it's not a staple from your daily wardrobe, don't bring it.

Ciao,

M