Summer is quickly approaching and that means summer vacations. Whether you are staying put or heading out of town, what we wear is often not far from our minds.
How do you navigate your summer vacation style? Packing for a trip can feel overwhelming and you end up throwing everything but your winter coat into your suitcase, just in case. Am I the only one who's ever done that?
It doesn't have to be that way! Over the past decade, I have refined my packing strategy and now can pack for a two-week vacation in a carry-on. To learn how to pack in a carry-on, click here for a past blog post.
I believe you should feel amazing in what you wear no matter what you are doing, including casual wear at the cottage, so I am going to specifically share with you my packing strategy for the cottage.
To start, I consider all the parameters of the trip:
I don't want to wear clothes I care too much about because I will be active, having fires, in the bushes, on the water, etc.
It's typically quite warm, however I need options for the chilly days
Creating a list of activities I will be doing from swimming, to running, to day trips and dinners out - this will ensure I have clothes for every activity
Side note: Wearing clothes that won't make you sad if they get wrecked doesn't mean you have to let style go out the door. You are still allowed to feel good in clothes you won't stress over if they get some dirt on them.
Next I take into consideration ME - my Style Foundations are just as important!
Colour - I make a colour palette for the trip where everything is cohesive and can be interchanged, allowing me to get the most out of what I bring. Typically, I go with 3-4 neutrals and 1-2 colours. This can vary, but it's a great starting point.
Silhouette - I want clothes that make me feel balanced, even around the camp fire.
Style Personality - I still want to feel like myself hanging around the lake, so everything I bring needs to reflect me.
Over the years my closet has evolved to include only pieces that reflect me, which makes packing easy. Your Style Personality is important to keep in mind when preparing for a trip, because it's easy to get carried away with last-minute shopping and you may end up with items you don't feel comfortable in or don't end up being a good fit with the rest of your wardrobe.
On last year's cottage vacation, I took some 'outfit of the day' pictures. I will make some comments and let you know some tips on what you can do to make sure your style personality comes through on your vacation wardrobe.
A few comments:
To get everything in a carry-on should you wish to do so, wear layers and your heavier items for the travel days - can you guess which outfit that was?
Don't be afraid to give pieces double duty - many of my dresses I could wear to the beach as a cover-up or dress it up for dinner
When packing, start with a capsule (see blog post linked above) so pieces will work together, then add a few extras as needed
Having a colour scheme is key as it will give you more flexibility!
Overall, have fun with what you wear, wear what you love - not what you think others think you should love - and be your most confident self... even on vacation.
xo
~Shelby
P.S. Did you know I help my clients pack? That's right - from putting outfits together and taking pictures of them, to making sure the clothes fit the trip's agenda. If you want to know more, email me at shelby@allsetstyle.com.
Comments