How to Pack Light for Holiday Travel
November 20, 2008 by Diana · 12 Comments
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If you’ve ever packed way too much for a trip, struggled with your suitcase, or gotten to your destination only to realize you’ve left pertinent pieces behind, you may have wondered if there is a better way to go about packing. The answer is yes, there is. All you have to do is make a plan, assemble a clothing capsule, and put it in the suitcase. Once you get good at it, you can be packed and ready to go in about ten minutes. Let’s look at these steps in detail: |
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1. Make a Plan
I’ve known lots of women who insist on packing just about everything they own because they don’t know what they’ll “feel” like wearing on any given day of their trip.
Translation: They don’t know what they’re supposed to wear so they take everything, hoping something will be appropriate.
What’s a better plan?
ASK. Find out what you’ll be doing, where you’ll be going, what the weather’s like, and what other people will be wearing. If you’ll be visiting friends or relatives, ask them. If you’ll be speaking at a conference, ask the meeting planner. If you’ll be vacationing at a hotel in the Caribbean, email the concierge before you go.
It’s such a simple little thing, but so few people think to do it. If you don’t know, ASK! It’s the quickest way to find your answer.
Once you have your basic itinerary, you can begin to consider what types of clothing you need to take.
2. Assemble a Clothing Capsule
The next step is to figure out how to take as few pieces as possible yet still cover all of your activities. You want to minimize your losses if your bag goes missing yet maximize the number of possible ensembles for the greatest flexibility.
Sound impossible? Not if you use clothing capsules.
While I’ve reviewed capsules before and cover them extensively in WARDROBE MAGIC (complete with tons of pictures), I’ll touch on it again because the information bears repeating. Once you master how to mix and match your clothes, as my grade school daughters have, you’ll be astounded by what you can do with the clothes you already own.
So here we go:
A clothing capsule is approximately 8-12 pieces of clothing that mix and match easily with each other. They can be the same or complimentary colors, and in styles that work well with each other.
Let’s say that you’re headed to your Mother’s or brother’s for the long Thanksgiving weekend. You’ll be eating, shopping, eating, cooking, eating, going hiking, eating, going to the movies, eating, going to church or temple, and possibly going out to eat. A good capsule might include:
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White blouse
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Red sweater
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Blue long sleeve t-shirt
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Black cardigan
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White and black scarf with a pattern
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Black jacket
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Black pants
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Black skirt
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Blue jeans
Now, for some sample ensembles:
| Thanksgiving dinner:
White blouse, black pants, black cardigan Shopping: Blue T-shirt, blue jeans, black jacket Hiking: Red sweater, blue jeans |
Jones New York |
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The movies: Red sweater, blue jeans, black cardigan Church or temple: White blouse, black skirt, scarf tied at neck (or draped over shoulder or down back), black jacket |
Printed scarf |
Eating out:
Blue t-shirt, black skirt, scarf tied around neck
See how easy this is? If you stick with a basic color scheme and pieces that mix and match easily, you’ll not only have a variety of outfits, you’ll be able to come up with something instantly if you find yourself headed somewhere or doing something you hadn’t planned.
Another bonus? You can cut WAY down on the number of shoes and other accessories you need to take because you won’t have to accessorize so many different outfits.
3. Put It in the Suitcase
Once you’ve put together your clothing capsule and determined what accessories you need to take (jewelry, belts, shoes, handbags), stop for a moment to consider your undergarments. Do you need a camisole or slip? Special panties or foundation garments? Pull it out now so you don’t forget it.
Put everything in your suitcase. Add nightclothes, slippers, and a robe. Put in your underwear and footwear for however many days you need. If you’ll be swimming or working out, pack those clothes as well. You want to take what you need without over-packing or leaving key pieces behind.
Now go pack your cosmetic case. Use travel-size toiletries, and keep them in your cosmetic case from here on out. Pack any prescription medications you need and take along a stash of feminine hygiene products whether you’re expecting your cycle or not. Stress has a way of messing with your body and you don’t want to be caught without supplies.
Finally, always wear layers when you travel, particularly if you’re going to be changing climates. You want to be able to regulate your body temperature easily, so wear cardigans or pullovers that can be added or removed as needed. If you keep them in the same color family as your clothing capsule, you now have one more piece to work with.
Traveling is stressful enough without struggling with a heavy suitcase, keeping track of lots of pieces, and wondering what you’ll be doing once you get where you’re going. So make it easy on yourself.
Ask a few questions, make a plan, put together a clothing capsule, and put it in your suitcase. You’ll look good, feel great, and save yourself an aching back. You may even raise some eyebrows by how few pieces of luggage you bring – especially when you look great every day of your trip.
| Need some more help putting together clothing capsules, with tons of pictures for easy understanding? Then grab a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC, to see how easy looking great – and traveling light – can be. |
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks for this Diana, very helpful.
This capsule is for a relatively brief span of time. I’ll soon be going to a 2-week business conference overseas in a cold climate – what guidelines might you give so that when I return I won’t want to burn everything because I’m so sick of it?
Well that might be asking too much, but I would appreciate your thoughts on how to plan for a longer trip.
Thanks again, you always provide an interesting read!
@Linda,
Diana’s plan above will still work but add in a few more blouses. Depending on whether you are a skirt or pants person, add another of those and another blazer/jacket. If they are all in your colors and coordinate style-wise, you can get lots of looks. I wear mostly black, white, and red so I can go from monochromatic to vivid really easily. The other thing to consider is, if you are a scarf person, taking more scarves in your colors. Those, and different earrings, are amazing at changing the look of your outfit. Oh, and don’t forget your coat!
Also, I always do what Diana recommends, which is make a plan, especially for business trips that may include dinners out. I got stuck once, years ago, when I wasn’t prepared. It never happend again! Anyway, I make my plan & write up all my combinations, print it out, and take it with me.
Thanks @Paula. A written plan with combinations sounds like a great idea – I’ll give this a try.
I’m usually very well organized but when it comes to wardrobe I’m mystified and like others who have commented here, tend to pack everything I can “just in case”.
Thanks to all for the helpful additional input!
The concept of packing clothing capsules is great if you don’t work in health care or you’re a full-time caregiver. Sanitation and hygiene require clothes that can either be washed, spot-cleaned and aired between wearings. That nice small capsule suddenly doubles even with the best planning.
Now, I’ve got the added burden of schlepping gluten-free, allergen-free food everywhere. Even the best planned trip has unforseen troubles; delays, miscommunications, altered agendas, etc. Nothing’s worse that arriving somewhere late, the researched GF, AF restaurants are closed, room service has nothing “safe” and there’s not a 24 hour grocery store for miles.
I find the capsule works well for me, I just add a few extra blouses or tops for variety if I am going for longer. I travel all over Europe competing in bodybuilding shows and have to carry silly extras like oil, fake tan and bikinis for the show with me, as well as wheat free protein shakes…. ha ha. If I feel I am running out of options of what to wear from the things i have with me, I make time to go shopping at charity shops and consignment stores local to where I am staying, to buy a few cheap colourful tops or evening wear pieces to add to my capsule…..it works well, gives lots of choice, and is cheap to do.
I think the capsule idea is an awesome one, my family lives 1000 miles away, so when I visit it is for 5-15 days at a time and I am NOT known for packing light! I usually end up with several suitcases and carry-on’s and look like an idiot at the airport as I struggle with all my bags. I am going to try this next time…
The other thing that I AM good at is accessories. If you pack several sets of jewelry, some scarfs, belts, ect.. this will also double your outfits. Just changing the jewelry you wear with an outfit changes the whole look. Make sure you have at least one big “statement” necklace, several pair of eye-catching earrings, and some pretty bling-bling to dress up things. A necklace with a “pop of color” (purple, turquoise, and red are big colors right now) also helps change the look of things, it takes the focus off the blouse, and pulls it up towards your face.. Also if you are heavier and you wear bigger jewelry it can make you appear slimmer, which is always good on vacations!
Well that’s my two cents worth! Hope someone got something from that…
I used to be one of those lady’s at the airport looking hopeless with an enormous suitcase. Strangers would take pity on me to help me get it to the curb. I wanted to bury my face in Gigatius Suitacius and cry – I felt so lame. Now, with this technique, I pack like a champ. I even keep a written record of my capsules, especially for more frequent trips – like going to the city for the weekend, or cabin in the mountains or visiting Mom and Dad’s. It’s ultra easy to pack stress-free in 20 or 30 minutes from the capsule lists I’ve created! And I always get complimented on my selections… so I know I’m doing something right. Thank you.
Hi Shelly,
You’re very welcome! I used to carry WAY too much too. In fact, I took so much on our honeymoon that my brand new hubby refused to carry my bag! I think that may have been our first fight…:-)
One other little thing I keep in my suitcase: a packet of laundry detergent in a single-load size. That way, if I spill something on my blouse, or didn’t pack enough socks/underwear, or end up staying longer than planned, I can run a quick load of laundry so my “capsule” stays presentable!
Travel catalogues like L.L. Bean, Travelsmith, and Magellan’s carry zippered pouches in various sizes to help keep your suitcase tidy. For one trip, I packed a complete outfit, for each day, in each one.
I hate to pack a neat suitcase, then have it get all messed up as soon as I arrive and start digging things out!
—another bit of info I forgot to mention: Check with the same catalogues for tips on packing to different destinations, weather information, and more. Also, depending on where you are going, check the State Department’s website that has travel warnings.