All right, dolls. Raise of hands: How many of you waaaaaaay overpack every time you go on vacation? (Okay. Don’t fib. Put that hand in the air.)
I have this problem. My immediate thought while I’m standing over my empty carryall is this: Cram as much as possible into the suitcase… just in case.
When flying across the country, thousands of miles away, it just feels necessary to be prepared–which is completely okay, kiddos. But just don’t confuse being prepared with being totally paranoid. For your standard, week-long, summer-style beach getaway, here’s what you should keep in mind while throwing (er… neatly placing) things in that suitcase. (Note: Most of these rules apply similarly for all trips. Of the warm, cold, dry, wet weather type.)
1. Shoes: Keep it simple. You don’t need a pair of shoes for every occasion, you need a couple of versatile shoes you can wear to any occasion: if you plan on going out at night, one pair of heels, black or nude, is what you should pack. One pair of black flip-flops that can easily slide into your suitcase is another essential. If you’re going to keep in shape by running or walking, one pair of tennis shoes is good, and I’d try to wear these on the trip to save room in the suitcase. They’re so bulky!
2. Clothes: Leave some room. Here’s the breakdown… 2 swimsuits, 5 thin tanks, 2 pair of shorts, 2 skirts and 2 casual dresses. Any more and it’s just overkill. Leave some space, because if you’re the fashionista I know you are, you’ll go shopping. And I know you’re going to want some room to bring back your sweet finds.
3. Beauty products: Be honest with yourself. Are you really going to blow-dry and straight-iron your hair everyday? Or can you do without these items and just deal with the hotel hairdryer or wind-blown waves with a little mousse or salt spray for a week? I, in the past, have packed all the equipment… which I didn’t use. Try to pack the bare minimum in terms of hair and makeup–just the products you’ll use every single day on the vacation.
4. Accessories: The Rule of Seven. I think seven is a really good number. Five is too few, ten too many. Pack seven key accessories, because you won’t wear anymore and you can easily mix and match with these. For instance: 2 necklaces, 2 pair of earrings, 1 bracelet, 1 cocktail ring and 1 cute headband. (You get a pair of sunglasses for free. Wink, wink.)
5. Everything else: Be compact. Try to fit the extras into the small compartments of the suitcase: Undergarments, a book, a skinny foldable beach tote, etc. And always ask yourself: Am I really going to use this? Or am I just a tad paranoid about leaving it behind for a week? If you’re iffy about it, you don’t need it. True story.
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