We all strive to go on vacation and pack less, myself included. There’s nothing worse than getting home from a trip and opening your suitcase to discover you only wore half of the items you brought. As we’re all fitting in our final trips of the summer (and I’m packing for a big trip), I decided we needed to do a summer vacation packing post! Keep reading to see our formula for packing light. Now, let’s see if I can follow my own advice; only time will tell!
Bon Voyage!
Breathable fabrics & Easily Forgotten Accessories
The key to packing light is being able to mix and match tops and bottoms so you can get the most wear out of a few pieces. Also, finding fabrics that are breathable and quick to dry are often thinner and lighter to pack. I am currently loving Duffield Lane for their travel-friendly Solarstretch fabric (with UPF 50+). And you can never go wrong with linen in the summer. Pants like these L’Agence Linen Drawstring Trouser and a top like this Frank & Eileen Relaxed Button-Up Shirt in linen are nice and flowy to keep you cool on the hottest vacation days.
Remember your sun protection! A Packable Hat can complete a look with ease. And how many of us have left on summer vacation and forgotten the most essential thing of all? Sunglasses. Grab our family’s favorite sunscreen (even Mr. Real Life Style will wear it!), Supergoop! Unseen Clear & Invisible Face Sunscreen – SPF 50, now on sale at Target!
Prada 54mm Gradient Square Sunglasses, $249.99 (on sale from $400)
Frank & Eileen Eileen Relaxed Button-Up Shirt, $258
Nordstrom Fray Edge Packable Panama Hat, $49
Duffield Lane Solarstretch Peri Pant, $166
L’Agence Connie Linen Drawstring Trouser, $315
Duffield Lane Traveling Pant, $198
An Easy Dress or set
Dresses are the simplest thing to take on a summer vacation because they require little thought. Just throw it on and go. We recommend packing dresses that pair easily with simple sneakers for daytime touring, and then with sandals to elevate your look for a nice dinner. Sets can also be a great option as you can break them apart and use them as separates, or wear the set together. Note how the Duffield Lane Della Top pictured below would also pair well with any of the pants above!
Spartina 449 Adella Tassel Midi Dress, $238.40 (on sale from $298)
Duffield Lane Della Top, $179
Duffield Lane Shelley Skirt, $216
Duffield Lane Solarstretch Sleeveless London Dress, $226
Comfortable Shoes
I cannot stress this enough: shoes can make or break your vacation. Walking all day in uncomfortable shoes will not only destroy your feet, but also your vacation mood! Find yourself a few pairs of neutral shoes that you can walk 10+ miles in, and only bring those. I have had great luck in the past with sandals from brands like Orthofeet, Söfft, and Teva. For my Italian vacation, I’m bringing two pairs of sneakers for daytime walking: the New Balance 471 Sneakers and the Adidas Ghost Sprint Ballet Sneaker. You always want to be able to switch up your shoes when your feet get tired of one pair.
Teva Women’s Original Universal Slim Leather Sandal, $80
Söfft Bali Sandal, $134.95
New Balance 471 Sneakers, $110
Orthofeet Chloe Sandal, $99.99 (on sale from $109)
Adidas Ghost Sprint Ballet Sneaker, $100
Pack it all up
Now that you’ve sorted out what you’re bringing, it’s time to get it all packed. My husband has convinced me to switch to a soft-sided bag for our summer vacation this year. This Osprey Wheeled Travel Pack is incredibly durable and can be used as a rolling suitcase or as a backpack when you’re navigating old towns and cobblestone streets.
Think a suitcase backpack is unnecessary? Prefer the chicest hard roller? Me too. However, I stopped arguing after Mr. Real Life Style was proven right (yet again) in his insistence that we take a backpack (the horror to this fashionista!) on our trip to Thailand. And then we were told to pick up our luggage, get off the boat, and walk not an inconsequential amount in a foot of water to our island hotel. And so now he always gets to choose the luggage.
Having a travel jewelry case like the one below will keep your jewelry untangled and contained; it also fits easily in your bag around packing cubes: my ride-or-die travel accessory. Lastly, if you haven’t yet discovered the Cadence Capsule System for your bathroom products, Sloane highly recommends trying it. They’re compact and hold way more than you might think. With the perfect curved bottom design, you never waste a drop of the face cream, hair product, or sunscreen you bring!
Osprey Farpoint Fairview 65 Wheeled Travel Pack, $350
Nordstrom Rectangle Zip Jewelry Box, $15.99 (on sale from $25)
Cadence Capsule System, Price Varies
BAGAIL Set of 4 Packing Cubes, $24.99 (pricing varies by color)
Do you have any summer vacation packing essentials we left off the list? Help your fellow summer traveler and drop it in the comments below!
Real Life Style is a style consulting firm that teaches busy women to wear their power so they can live their lives fully and confidently. Lani Inlander, Kyle Dunphy and Sloane True are based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and serve clients nationwide. We offer personal styling services, and an on-demand e-course.
Once in a while, you can find Lani Inlander and Real Life Style on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Mostly, they are happily busy serving their fabulous clients, not hanging out online!