Pack It In
January 31st 2008 08:45
For many of us, summer means holidays. Whether in the southern hemisphere and living through summer, or in the northern part of the globe and dreaming of heading south - summer means holidays. A guaranteed chance to chill out, or go somewhere fabulous. The problem with going somewhere fabulous is packing, and many of us gals find ourselves lumping enough stuff with us for three months instead of three weeks.
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking you couldn’t possibly leave any of your favourite things behind, especially when you’re not really sure of what you might get up to on holiday. But you also don’t really want to be stuck with a 40kg suitcase (especially if you have to carry it yourself) and an excess baggage charge. So, I made a little list to make sure I actually pack sensibly for my next summer holiday and thought I would share it so you too can have all the right stuff for your fun in the sun without breaking your back, or your suitcase.
1. Take stuff you know you wear. When you’re thinking of all the amazing things you may do on your holiday, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking your trip will offer the perfect time to put that feathered dress on for the first time. A new bunch of people, a new daring you. Chances are, if you’re not sure about something in your own bedroom, you won’t want to risk in on your otherwise idyllic holiday. Stick with what you are comfortable in, and what you know you look good in.
2. Know your destination. If you’re headed to a lazy island, chances are one pair of stilettos will be all you need. As much as we don’t like to, think logically about how many occasions your holiday is going to offer up chances to get dressed up versus dressed down, and pack accordingly.
3. Take items that you know don’t need ironing. Who wants to be stuck with domesticity on their holiday? Take dresses and skirts that can be scrunched and fabrics that don’t crease. Worse case scenario, use the hairdryer like an iron and blow-dry the big wrinkles out while you’re doing your hair.
4. Take things that can make the transition from night to day. With the help of jewellery and shoes, a simple summer dress can become an elegant evening choice, and accessories take up a lot less space than extra trousers, dresses and jackets. Shoes are the obvious exception, so only take shoes that you know go with more than one of the outfits you’ve packed.
5. Think layers! Instead of whole new ensembles for the transition from breakfast to lunch to dinner, take thinner clothes that you can layer. A cute wraparound shirt or cropped cardigan can totally change your look, and won’t add weight to your suitcase.
I'm not pretending that packing for a fabulous holiday isn’t a total nightmare, and chances are most women will always end up over packing. It’s just too tempting to imagine all the amazing social opportunities that may present themselves to risk not taking that extra Alex Perry dress. However, I have found that if you opt for the basics in your suitcase and you do end up having nothing to wear on your holiday (which is highly unlikely), you can always shop. It seems to be one of our favourite holiday pastimes anyway, and there’s nothing like being able to justify the Jimmy Choos because you honestly don’t have a suitable pair of party shoes with you.
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking you couldn’t possibly leave any of your favourite things behind, especially when you’re not really sure of what you might get up to on holiday. But you also don’t really want to be stuck with a 40kg suitcase (especially if you have to carry it yourself) and an excess baggage charge. So, I made a little list to make sure I actually pack sensibly for my next summer holiday and thought I would share it so you too can have all the right stuff for your fun in the sun without breaking your back, or your suitcase.
1. Take stuff you know you wear. When you’re thinking of all the amazing things you may do on your holiday, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking your trip will offer the perfect time to put that feathered dress on for the first time. A new bunch of people, a new daring you. Chances are, if you’re not sure about something in your own bedroom, you won’t want to risk in on your otherwise idyllic holiday. Stick with what you are comfortable in, and what you know you look good in.
2. Know your destination. If you’re headed to a lazy island, chances are one pair of stilettos will be all you need. As much as we don’t like to, think logically about how many occasions your holiday is going to offer up chances to get dressed up versus dressed down, and pack accordingly.
3. Take items that you know don’t need ironing. Who wants to be stuck with domesticity on their holiday? Take dresses and skirts that can be scrunched and fabrics that don’t crease. Worse case scenario, use the hairdryer like an iron and blow-dry the big wrinkles out while you’re doing your hair.
4. Take things that can make the transition from night to day. With the help of jewellery and shoes, a simple summer dress can become an elegant evening choice, and accessories take up a lot less space than extra trousers, dresses and jackets. Shoes are the obvious exception, so only take shoes that you know go with more than one of the outfits you’ve packed.
5. Think layers! Instead of whole new ensembles for the transition from breakfast to lunch to dinner, take thinner clothes that you can layer. A cute wraparound shirt or cropped cardigan can totally change your look, and won’t add weight to your suitcase.
I'm not pretending that packing for a fabulous holiday isn’t a total nightmare, and chances are most women will always end up over packing. It’s just too tempting to imagine all the amazing social opportunities that may present themselves to risk not taking that extra Alex Perry dress. However, I have found that if you opt for the basics in your suitcase and you do end up having nothing to wear on your holiday (which is highly unlikely), you can always shop. It seems to be one of our favourite holiday pastimes anyway, and there’s nothing like being able to justify the Jimmy Choos because you honestly don’t have a suitable pair of party shoes with you.
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