Here’s my current carry on — Bag: Longchamp // Kindle Paperwhite // Sunglasses: Quay, Tory Burch // Wallet: Coach – old, similar here // Toiletries bag: similar // Powerbeats Wireless // Glasses // Surface – older, current version // S’well Bottle
Our trip is coming to an end (Sad day!) and I apologize if I’ve been overposting on Instagram….so many things to take pictures of! Today I want to share some quick tips and questions to think about when packing. This trip has been interesting to pack for because we’re hitting every season – Spring in SF, Warmer in Napa, and then full-on winter in Tahoe. So I guess no fall, but you get my gist! I’ll be sure to share some outfits in the coming weeks, but here are some easy packing tips!
Plan Outfits
This might sound complicated, but I don’t mean planning what you’re going to wear each day and then sticking to that – I mean thinking about “Types” of outfits and packing accordingly. Are you going to be spending time hiking or exercising outdoors? Then you definitely need some workout clothing. Or are you going to be sightseeing and need comfy shoes? Before you start adding anything to a suitcase be aware of what type of trip you’re going on – beach, city, mountain – they all require different things! If you need outfit inspiration I would suggest Pinterest – just searching “Lake Tahoe outfits” brings up tons of packing lists!
Pack Versatile Pieces
Once you’ve taken a step back and thought about what type of vacation you have it’s time to think about versatile pieces. Make sure you have a few pieces to “anchor” your packing and build your outfits around. I don’t bring clothing on trips that I can only wear one place and wouldn’t be comfortable throwing on – main exception is if you’re traveling for a wedding or special event! Then you definitely need a special outfit. The pieces that are most versatile for me are my Paige Skyline Skinny jeans, J.Crew Pixie Pants, plain T-Shirts, and my grey slip-ons . I can wear both pairs of pants to all types of places – casual sightseeing, hanging around, or to a nicer occasion where I can dress them up with accessories.
Bring Appropriate Shoes
I’ll be honest – I love shoes. I have a definite problem with overpacking shoes (I think I brought 25 pairs of shoes back to MN last time…..I’m not exaggerating). Shoes are heavy and take up space so when I’m flying I try to be super aware of what I’m bringing. Again, shoes depend on what type of vacation you’re on! Going to a beach? Then you need some cute sandals, comfy wedges, and maybe a pair of tennis shoes for working out or wandering around. Going to a city or sightseeing vacation? Then I would lean towards comfortable and supportive shoes – like sneakers or slip-ons. Sneakers are so much cuter than they used to be so you can really something like the Nike Theas with jeans and a t for a full day! I would suggest bringing one nice pair of shoes that you could wear to a fun dinner or night out – I usually lean towards flats like Tory Burch because they’re easier to pack and comfier than high heels.
Layering Pieces
Now that you’ve got your basic outfit pieces picked it’s time to spice things up! Grab a few fun scarves you can wear and some fun jewelry to dress things up. Be sure to pack some light sweaters you could throw in a purse or under a jacket if you’re going to a place that might be cooler. See my post from last Friday for a bunch of jewelry and scarves I’m eyeing right now!
Tips & Tricks
Here are some tips I use when packing that are random, but hopefully helpful –
- I put all my shoes in individual plastic shopping bags – like the ones from Target, etc. That way my clothes don’t get dirty if my shoes aren’t clean.
- I always double bag toiletries – I’ve had too many things burst or leak in one ziploc bag, so now I put a smaller ziploc into a bigger plastic bag.
- Roll your clothes – rolling clothes helps with wrinkles and clothes take up less space in your bag than just folding.
- Wear your bulkiest pieces – I try to wear my biggest pieces on the plane so I don’t have to pack them. This means winter jacket, sweater, maybe boots. I’m TSA Precheck so I don’t have to take shoes off which makes it much easier!
I hope these tips are helpful as you pack for any upcoming trips! Of course be sure to bring some fun items and don’t stick to just t-shirts and jeans – it’s always fun to wear a new shirt or outfit on vacation! Have a great weekend!
