It’s been an awfully cold Winter so far – these cold days have me dreaming of a sunny, hot, beach holiday! I’m currently working towards making that dream reality. I’m in need of a spot where the weather will be a perfect combination of hot sunny days and warm nights where no jacket is necessary and flip flops are mandatory (so would a drink in hand)! I’ve been looking holidays online to keep me dreaming on the Royal Holiday vacation club.
Over coffee recently my friend was bemoaning how difficult it is to pack for Summer vacations to prepare for every possible eventuality. I totally know where she is coming from, we’ve all been there! The earlier days of my consulting career has transformed me into professional packer when it comes to business travel, I just brought what I needed for meetings, a pair of jeans, a couple of tees for the evenings and I was good to go. However, when it comes to packing for vacation, I end up with way too many options, trying to foresee an outfit for every possible occasion. We all know that packing light is the key to both saving dollars and saving yourself from dragging heavy luggage with you – when you always end up wearing only about half the amount you brought with you – so why is it so difficult?
So unseasonal as it may be, I’ve come up with a few tips for what I think will help holidaymakers out there to pack lightly for those lovely, warm Summer nights…oh, roll on Summer! (At the very least this article will hopefully remind us that we aren’t living in the land of Eternal Winter, even though it certainly has felt like that lately!)
Where are you going?
When you are packing for your trip, think hard about the style of holiday you are going on. Will this be a beach holiday, an adventure holiday, a cultural excursion? It sounds obvious but more often than not we treat each trip as though absolutely anything could happen, so we need to pack clothes and shoes for every possible occasion! In reality we will have planned the majority of our holiday and we will be aware of what activities we are likely to be getting up to, so pack accordingly. If you’re planning to be a culture vulture, pack your most comfortable sandals/sneakers, if you’re spending most of your time at the beach, don’t forget to bring several bikinis and extra sunscreen!
Think about Colour
It’s a good idea to concentrate on using one colour palette or corresponding colours for your holiday style. For example, you may wish to choose an underlying palette of creamy neutrals for your staple wardrobe basics, and then add flashes of colour with an orange/pink summer shirt for the evening. I love the idea of bringing a few items that have a colour pop and adding to a neutral palette. You can be amazed at home functional this is!
Accessorize
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Using accessories cleverly will enable you to transform a ‘so so’ holiday wardrobe into a unique individual style, while helping you cut down on the amount of items you physically bring with you. Think about bringing a glamorous fedora, a statement necklace or two and some knockout earrings to glam up simple camis and jeans. A statement clutch can instantly transform a boring outfit into something luxurious.
Limit the shoes!
Shoes are one of the heaviest items we pack, so think about what you really need and limit if at all possible to three pairs. Can you keep it to flip flops, smart sandals and an emergency pair of heels? If you are doing a lot of walking, bring a pair of runners or if necessary hiking boots – although bear in mind these will add to your weight considerably.
Hope these tips help when it comes time for you to pack for your Winter getaway or upcoming Summer holidays, I’m off to make a cocktail and dream of blue skies and warm balmy nights!
Shown in photo: 31 Hour Bag / Song of Style for eLuxe VIOLA t-shirt / Jeweled Transparent Clutch (glitter version here) / Ray-Ban folding wayfarer / gifted necklace / Joseph Nogucci Bracelet / Stella and Dot Phoenix Necklace / Shoelery Polkadot Shoe Clips / old VS crochet bikini bottom