Hey babe!

So now you know the trick to beating packing overwhelm is sorting everything into 1 of 3 categories:

• airport/in flight stuff
• wardrobe
• personal care

We already talked all about packing everything you need for your carry on bag, and if you missed that post, read about it here!

Today, let’s tackle the thing I dread the most: WHAT DO I WEAR?! The anxiety of this question usually stems from a few issues: you don’t have clear plans for your trip, so you feel unprepared to plan outfits. What if you have a wedding to attend, and you want to have options just in case because we have all been there! 

I’m not an overly structured person when it comes to vacations, so I tend to fight my natural urge to pack all the “options” so I’m covered for any scenario; problem is, I usually end up hanging around reading books or wandering around the whole time, so that cocktail dress and 3 pairs of heels wasn’t necessary. The key is what’s called a capsule wardrobe. Just a fancy term for a few versatile pieces of clothing that all coordinate + compliment each other: you get maximum outfit options with minimum stress. Never again pack the 3 items that only work with 1 other thing–when you plan ahead, you can go from brunch to night out by flipping a couple of accessories!

Here is a great visual of a “starter” capsule wardrobe for your next sunny vacay:

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven | twelve

Here are some basic pieces that can create several fun looks! Let’s see what we got:

 So, what do you think of this idea? I love how versatile this method is, and if you’re reading this wondering what the heck in your own closet can recreate these options, here’s a guideline.

Basics are key! 

Always have:

• a t-shirt

• a pair of jeans

• white sneakers

• sandals

• a light jacket

• fun jewelry

• a pretty white top

• 1 pair of shorts

• a dress that can be casual or dressed up with accessories

• bathing suit 

These are the building blocks of great, easy to mix n’ match outfits! Put your spin on this idea + make it reflect your style!

Pro Tip: I love to use packing cubes to help organize my clothes and keep them a bit neater in my suitcase. I love these from CalPak–they’re well made, I love the pattern, and the variety of sizes + the fun lined envelope give me tons of options!

You can toss in a couple of dryer sheets to keep the scent of dirty clothes from spreading; I never leave without a few.

Lastly, if you know you’ll need to freshen up a dress, say for a wedding or party, bringing a travel-sized steamer is so handy! It may seem a little extra, but girl, do you want to look like you slept in that chiffon? NO! So, use your judgement, but a great little weapon to have in your back pocket. Your crew will thank you too! Cue the confetti!!

Ok girl, I hope this helped! Tell me in the comments what your favorite outfit is + where you’d wear it. I’ll see ya soon with my last bit of packing advice—and a downloadable Packing Guide!