Travelling Soon? Read My How to Pack Smart Tips So You Don’t Tip The Scales.
Hands up who loves to travel?? Now hands up who loves to pack??
The very thought of packing for most can be quiet daunting and I’m sure most of us are guilty of over packing and taking way more than we actually need.
While some of us are minimalists and very happy travelling with a bare minimal capsule wardrobe, some of us (like myself) still need a little more variety and choice. No wrong or right either way, however if you’re someone who wants the extra choices, but doesn’t want to lug a suitcase full of outfits you’re never going to wear, then play by the 80/20 rule and not the 20/80! ;p In the case of packing its 80% necessity and 20% of extra items you might wear if you’re in the mood.
I call myself a mood dresser because sometimes Im in the mood to wear certain things & other times I’m not. So how do I get variety without tipping the suitcase scales and still have enough options for all those “what if” moments?? Follow my 5 top tips for smart packing and take inspiration from the pictures below of how I packed this time for a Queenstown summer…
Summer in Queenstown is a little like Melbourne: One day it can be hot and sunny, the next day you need a jacket and jeans. This kind of weather can be the trickiest as its all about mastering the art of layering!
- Think: Hard about the weather and what activities you will be doing in your trip. No use bringing a suitcase full of fancy pieces if most of the trip you just want to be casual and comfy.
- Plan, plan, plan: You need to mix and match your little heart out before your trip!! You want items that come on holiday with you to earn its spot in your suitcase. They need to work hard and most of the items must be able to work back with everything else (please refer to pictures) Think of those staple pieces in your wardrobe that you can dress up & down easily and can possibly wear 3 ways. Only after this step do I go and add an extra couple of tops or maybe a pair of pants to give me that extra 20% if I’m in the mood. I still however make sure these items also work hard unless of course they are for a special occasion. My extra items this trip were the very last outfit, which obviously I got good use out of!
Tips:
- All top should match bottoms and any jackets that come must match back with all outfits
- Accessories are a great way to change the look and feel of an outfit, plus they don’t take up much room in the suitcase. Think belts scarves, earring and necklaces; still keeping in mind they should work hard. Refrain from taking your most valuable items just in case your luggage gets lost
- Take pictures of all your looks, so dressing each morning is as easy as flipping though your phone
- Colour co-ordinate: I personally like to pack mostly neutrals, and then you can easily add pops of colour if that’s your style. Try and stick to 2-3 co-ordinating colours as this will give you lots of variety & options.
- Avoid the black trap: Just like your wardrobe at home, your travel wardrobe needs both light and dark options to create variety (please refer to pictures) Pack lighter & darker options for pants, tops, jackets & shoes where you can.
- Rolling: This is a key technique when it comes to compact traveling, it has revolutionised my packing & will also minimize creasing and the need to iron.
PS: I couldn’t squeeze all the pictures in to this post, so please refer back to my Facebook or Instagram post for full outfit options and I’m off to my favourite destination Bali next week, so stay tuned to see how I pack!