How to Pack Light and Be Alright

A vacation is intended to be relaxing; however we all hate the preparation needed prior to the actual trip. And for many of us, packing is a chore. What do we bring? What to leave behind? And do we really need that? Here are few tips and tricks on how to get over that obstacle and come out alright at the end.

Clothes

The most important thing to remember when packing clothes is to bring separates that match with just about anything. For instance, instead of bringing that trending bright colored jean, bring your staple dark navy wash that goes with almost any top. This way, you don’t need to have a different bottom for every top. If you are going to a place during autumn or winter where the weather can get crazy, always make sure you have a cover all to keep you warm. Remember that it is easier to unwrap layers off to get cool, than to try and stay warm in the wrong clothes.

Tip: Bring clothes that can play dual roles. For instance, scarves are a great light-weight item that are easy to pack and brighten up any outfit. More than just an accessory, thicker ones can double as a wrap for chillier days and silk patterned ones make great halter-tops when artfully tied. And since the chances that you won’t be doing any laundry when you travel, scarves are a great cover up for a top that has a small stain.

For a trip that’s a week long, 3 bottoms and 6 coordinating tops (3 dressy tops and 3 casual) that you can mix and match should be sufficient, exclusive of what you are wearing when you are travelling. Pack a beautiful dress that passes for smart casual, just in case you are going to a nice restaurant or the theatre. If you want to pack even lighter, dresses and jumpsuits are great one-piece ensembles that you can fit in as well. You can change the whole look up with smaller, easier to pack accessories.

Shoes

No matter where you go, you only need maximum of 3 pairs of shoes:

1. A good pair of walking shoes or sandals
2. Dressier shoes for nicer restaurants or events
3. A casual shoe that is easy to get in and out for leisure time

Tip: Most of the time, combining item 1 and 3 is easy, which means you only need 2 pairs of shoes. And if you wear them when you are commuting, you only need to pack one other shoe – your dressier pair. As with your clothes, bring those that would match well with most of your outfits.

On the other hand, if luggage space you are after, wear the bulkier shoe when you are traveling. Such as, if all you need are sneakers and flip-flops wear your sneakers and pack your Havaianas.

Toiletries

These days, there are strict regulations regarding to what you can bring on board with you. For toiletries, you can’t bring an aerosol or liquids that amount more than 100ml. They also need to be kept in a clear plastic bag so the contents can be seen.

Nowadays, you can simply buy a travel pack of essentials that are already packed in a clear, see-through pouch. But if you do not want to keep buying these each time you travel, invest in clear plastic containers that you can transfer your toiletries into and re-use it.

Tip: Be a sample hoarder. Little sachets of shower gel, moisturizer and foundation are really useful as compared to bringing a jar or bottle of the stuff. Once more, packing two-in-ones also help in reducing your luggage. For example, bringing a scented moisturizer let you to skip the bottle of perfume, while a tinted moisturizer allows you to skip foundation for a light coverage. Most moisturizers also come with SPF these days, so you can leave the sun block spray/lotion at home.

When it comes to make-up, cream lipsticks can also double up as a cream blush. Copper-toned eye shadows also double up as great bronzers when mixed with a little moisturizer, whereas a pearlescent one makes a great face highlighter.

There are numerous ways to get creative with how you use things. Keep the tips above in mind the next time you are packing for your vacation and watch the luggage space free up and get lighter. After all, who does not love a bit of free space to take up with new buys?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net