For the packing pros- what's your method? - YouLookFab Forum

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For the packing pros- what's your method?

Susie

Veteran

I'm headed to Florida in a few weeks and starting to think about what to pack. I don't have any restrictions on how much I take because we are driving but I'd still like to not over do it. Casual wear is probably all I will need but still want to take some favorites.

For those of you who are minimal with packing, do you plan out each outfit for each day and evening? Or do you take x number of bottoms and x tops, that mostly work together, and just choose how to wear them when you are there?

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26 replies

Latest reply was from hissylizard

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I learned a lot from Gaylene. I was driving myself nuts trying to come up with perfect mix and match travel capsules. At times when my activities would be extremely varied and I might face wide variations in climate, too.

She suggested I make a list of all the possible activities I'd be doing, and come up with an outfit for each. Pare back or overlap where possible (i.e. the same sweater might go hiking and to a casual dinner).

My own variation on this (in some situations) is to come up with weather-ready variations for each activity. So...in your case...beach walks if the weather turns super warm. Beach walks if the weather goes unseasonably frigid. And so on.

I always bring more footwear than I think I need -- if I can. Because I walk and walk and walk on all my trips, and variety keeps my feet super happy.

After going through Gaylene's exercise, I also try to make "capsules" for my various activities to cut down on the amount I'm taking. I CAN pack super light if absolutely necessary. But I don't drive myself crazy if I don't have to -- quite often, checking a suitcase is a simpler option than trying to fit what you need in a carry on. It depends on the nature of the trip. I travel a LOT and my trips vary a lot, so I use different strategies depending on the occasion.

For instance, I'll be attending a month long retreat in the mountains in the spring. Weather will be completely unpredictable -- everything from snow to temps in the 20C vicinity. Activities will be equally varied -- everything from mountain hikes, exercise class, jeans-and-sweater to appearances where I will have to look semi-presentable. And city dinners with friends on a couple of the weekends. So...I don't think I'm going to aim for a carry on for that trip. It's just too difficult. Instead, I'll use my big suitcase, still aiming for a tightly edited version of my wardrobe.

carter

Veteran

OOOh...love packing posts. I will come back to read all the brilliant comments. For my input...we are planning a 15 day trip to Europe in June. Since we will not be doing laundry, but I'm definitely checking a bag, I am planning my wardrobe based on how often I'm willing to wear something before washing. For me, that's 2x on tops and 3x for bottoms. That translates to 8 tops and 3 bottoms for daytime and 3 tops and 2 bottoms for the nights we dress for dinner/theater. From this perspective, every top has to work with 2 bottoms and each bottom has to work with 3 tops. In theory, it all works. We'll see how it translates IRL.

fuzzylogic

Veteran

We travel a bit, rarely to the same place twice, so anticipating exactly what we need can be tricky. My advice would be to pack a minimal, basic, seasonally appropriate capsule with tops and bottoms that you can mix and a smattering of accessories. Hand wash pieces as required, allowing for drying time. You can pick up appropriate pieces as you need to on the way (without spending all your time in shops, of course!). Clothing, flip flops and hats make great momentos that you can wear next season or pack for your next holiday!

Gaylene

Veteran

I plan a traveling outfit, a day outfit, and a third outfit (evening, conference presentation, hiking, etc.) depending on the trip. I'll sometimes go so far as trying on everything I'll need to make the outfit work, including adjustments for hot, cold, or rainy weather.

If I know I'm going light, I then put everything on the bed and look for ways to cull down by looking for items that can do double duty, or can be worn in layers, or can be more easily laundered, or will add a bit more variety, or are more easily packed. Generally, I don't like to pack more than two pairs of shoes in a bag or more than one jacket. Unlike most people, I don't assume that I'll always be wearing bulkier items while traveling because I don't like to compromise comfort on a crowded plane or train, especially if the temperature gets warmer than expected, so everything has to fit reasonably well into either my handbag or bag.

My personal guidelines are

If I'm not positive I'll wear it, an item stays behind. If I guess wrong, I give myself permission to buy it if I decide I really need it. That scenario has happened only once when I decided I needed a pair of inexpensive sandals because of an unexpected invitation to a beach cottage--cost was about $10.

I pick the size of my bag, and set a weight limit (under 15 pounds)before packing. Everything has to fit into the bag and I eliminate stuff if I exceed my weight limit. I want to be able to easily carry my bag in a crowded subway car and up long flights of stairs without hurting myself.

No one knows if I'm wearing the same outfit uniform day after day so I don't expect to have the same choices as I do at home. Most of us can get by just fine on much less than we think we can. The less stuff I haul around, the more freedom I have to do things on the spur of the moment.

Quality pays off when it comes to traveling light and looking good. Since I'm wearing the same things again and again, I want everything to fit perfectly and look polished. I also get better treatment from service staff--like getting a complimentary pass to the executive lounge on the EuroStar.

Dee

Veteran

I do a fair amount of traveling between conferences and trips back to the US to visit family and friends, and pack fairly minimally. I tend to go with a color palette of neutral bottoms and layering tees/tanks and colorful toppers (cardis, blazers, jackets) and mix and match as appropriate. I also tend to pack things a little more classic than my usual style, because I hate looking back at pictures later and wondering, what was I thinking, in terms of trendy items/colors.

A week gets three-four bottoms, maybe a dress, four toppers, and enought layering tees to not have to do laundry. This works well for casual and business casual trips. If I know I have a fancy event in the middle, I bring one nice cocktail dress for it (I hate packing extras and this makes it easy day-of to decide what I'm wearing).

I add one good pair of flats for walking, a pair of converse or boots for traveling, and sometimes an additional pair of shoes appropriate to the climate/event.

Susie

Veteran

Wow, you all really ARE pros! I think my main issue is not wanting to repeat outfits which is probably just silly. I certainly don't mind wearing the same pair of jeans, but hesitate to repeat tops. I'm also guilty of taking extras 'just in case' but Gaylene is right in saying that I could always get what I need there. Hmmm, maybe that should be my strategy- if I don't have anything to wear, I will HAVE to go shopping!

MRL

Veteran

I choose a neutral (usually black , but for a summer trip or to a warm climate I would choose khaki or white). I choose a few bottom pieces as well as a sweater/outerwear in my neutral or a color that goes with it. Then I add in tops but stick to 2 colors so that I can minimize bags/accessories etc. I also add one simple thing for going out. That might be a knit dress or a dressy top.
I always have at least 2 pair of shoes usually three even if the trip is short.

MsMary

Veteran

I am a giant packing geek. For my last trip I actually made a photo packing list plus a chart of every outfit I had planned for every activity. I didn't stick to it completely but it was very helpful.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

My long, upcoming trip is a bit different from some because I will be staying in one place (mostly) for a month -- my home away from home. So people will see me regularly. In fact, more often than in my day to day work-from-home life! If you won't be meeting the same people every day, you can stop worrying about repeats, full stop. Just carry a bunch of colourful scarves and you are set!

I don't really worry about repeats, either, but for the type of trip I'm contemplating I do like to have a week's worth of outfits before I have to do laundry. I can wash some things in the sink (and will!) but I also like to have at least 7 days worth of variety. In practice, that means at least 6 tops and 3 bottoms. That would be very bare-bones minimum for a month; I'll actually take more.

Susie

Veteran

Mary, that's impressive! Will you please come to my house and help me pack??

rabbit

Veteran

MaryK those charts are amazing. What an interesting visual way to check out and pare down options, I could especially see trying this for a longer or more diverse trip, which is where I end up with invariably something that doesn't get worn (usually a top, I forget that I don't need to wash them after every wear, especially a day that's sitting on an air-conditioned plane).

I'm also into the idea that comfort on the plane is more important than wearing all the heavy/bulky stuff. It won't get me upgraded, and probably only works for casual trips, but neutral cotton cargo pants have been great on the plane. They are good for sleeping in, looking intentionally rumpled, and for having my passport, landing card, and ticket buttoned into a thigh pocket where I don't have to do a lot of re-adusting and holding it when my bag and jacket goes through the xray, or I get hot and shuck them. I try for a simple and chic shoe and top so it doesn't look safari. (also no one has ever tried to steal from my cargo pants thigh, lol and I've had various hidden travel wallet things unhook or break and fall off).

Jorja

I found this form and may try using it when I pack for our 14 day trip to London/ Paris/ Normandy this summer.

http://www.brendakinsel.com/pd.....-Chart.pdf

shiny

Veteran

Length of trip, mode of travel, weather, etc all play a role in it, so it's difficult to generalize. I love MaryK's charts and I do something similar, either with PPT to plan visually, or with a spreadsheet, where I map out daily outfit requirements.

I do NOT plan on shopping for anything I forgot to pack, because I do not want to waste my trips on going to the same malls and stores I can go to back home. And I'm hard to fit. And DH cannot stand shopping. Etc, etc. I just do not want the stress and added burden of having to hunt down whatever. Shopping still happens on these trips - but it's more for fun not necessity -- and panic!

Other tips...

1. Investing in fast-drying travel underwear was a smart move. 3 pairs of undies for one trip, no matter how long it is. It's surprising how much room underwear takes up and cotton does not dry very fast.

2. I always start my planning around shoes. At least two pairs in the luggage, and one worn on my feet.

3. Tops that don't wrinkle are awesome. Sleeveless tops are less likely to get all sweaty. Jeans that don't bag out after one wear are awesome. An iron can touch up dress slacks that wrinkle.

5. Hanging clothes up in the hotel closet will air them out between wears.

6. Repeat your travel outfit again -- wear the same thing going and coming.

7. Always pack one alternative outfit, just in case.

8. Florida will probably be hot, which is a plus and a minus. It's a plus in that summer clothes don't take up as much room. It's a minus in that the clothes get sweatier faster. And also you can't just pack all black or dark clothes (which hide stains and such).

9. It really does help to have a color scheme, and stick to it.

Diana

Veteran

Unless I'm packing for a specific special event (like an interview or a wedding) I try to make sure that every item I pack can work in at least two outfits. So, every top has to go with at least 2 bottoms, and vice versa. Now I may not end up wearing ALL of the possible combos but this means I have lots of options without overstuffing my suitcase. If I expect to be sweating a lot (like sightseeing in the summer) I'll bring one top per day but I'll probably repeat the bottoms at least once. These are generally thin layers like tees so they don't take much room anyway.

In general, I bring at least two pairs of shoes (one pair on my feet and one in the bag) and maybe more than that. My fussy feet do NOT like being in the same shoes for more than one day in a row.

MsMary

Veteran

Jorja, that form is pretty much exactly what I did, only I used photos! It was a lot of work but it was totally worth it because we were in three different climates and I needed to be very organized. I did throw in a few "extra" pieces and they did get worn.

BTW, I accumulated some things in my luggage and didn't have room to take everything home, and here's an awesome story about what happened to the things I left behind: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....d-to-share

Lantana

Veteran

Ultra-helpful post, my contribution is to roll, not fold if you are tight for space.

MsMary

Veteran

Yes, rolling! You just have to be careful because it makes your suitcase really heavy because you can fit in so much stuff!

catgirl

Veteran

Mine is this math:

Tops x bottoms = # of outfits

So three tops and three bottoms that all go can make 9 combinations. I use that to keep it all in a carry on. I never check anything in - have had too many bad experiences!

SuzyQ2

My one and only travel packing trip is to take my older underwear and clothes that like fine but I just don't care for anymore. I wear the underwear then toss, the outfits get worn once or twice then are folded and left in the hotel room. Not much laundry when I get home and lots of room in the suitcase for shopping.

Susie

Veteran

I've read that suggestion before but I could never do that. I want to take my favorite things, not my least favorite, when I go on vacation. So I definitely want to bring them home!

This trip is not really 'traveling.' As I mentioned, we are driving, so there is no limit. We are staying in a house with full facilities and it's basically just a vacation in a beach town. I was mostly curious about the thought process, whether you plan out actual outfits or just bring pieces that work together.

SuzyQ2

I know Susie, some people actually hate the idea of packing things they don't want to wear anymore. I travel quite a bit, and it's helped keep my closet pared down. I can't exactly wear it "just one more time" if I've left it 2000 miles away. Other than that, I'm a two color girl when I travel, black and blue. Black slacks, blue jeans and black and blue tops. Heels with any combo for evening, flats with any combo for daytime.

E

Veteran

For trips of a week or more, I usually take 3 bottoms x 3-4 tops x 2-3 toppers, making sure the colours and cuts of them allow for lots of mixing and matching. The magic of multiplication lets me create lots of different outfits as long as most of them go together; is a cardigan is a topper that can be worn on its own too. I don't get to travel too frequently, but that always works for me! If I were going to a very hot place, of course, I'd have to rethink.

Oh and 2-3 pairs of shoes, depending on what kind of activities I'm doing. 2 super comfortable pairs are my very minimum, so I can alternate for my feet!

Traci

Veteran

Taking photos has transformed packing for me. I start by pulling all the stuff I think I need to pack, and I lay it all out on the bed in an organized manner. Then I start putting on outfits and taking pictures. Almost immediately some items are dismissed and then replaced with better choices. I've noticed I dress a good deal differently when I'm away from home than I do when I'm at home.

I'm also with Suz on the shoes. I take as many options as I can fit into my bag. Sore feet really detract from a fun trip and sometimes I need to change my shoes a couple of times in a day to keep my feet perky.

froggiebecky

Veteran

I tend to do a little bit of both (planning outfits and things that work together), because I do plan to wear things more than once, but if it gets dirty or stained or rather sweaty after one day, I want to have something to rotate in quickly. I don't go so far as trying everything on, but I'll lay it out on my bed and make sure things can be used in a couple of different ways. I'm not a fan of the travel underwear--I just bring length of trip + 2. For a multi-week trip, then it's 9. (7 +2). This means I get a week, and 48 hours for laundry. The same goes for socks.

For shoes, it really depends on what I'll be doing, but I try to keep them to a minimum. It tends to be something suitable for walking (maybe 2), and something suitable for evening/sitting/something a little nicer. I try not to wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row (as others have mentioned, fussy feet).

If I were taking your trip, I'd plan less. For business trips/conferences, I start going with palettes and coordinating across several days.

Freckles

Veteran

Great advice!

Since you are driving and staying in a house with full facilities I wouldn't worry about the rewear factor and clothes getting dirty. I really like using the mesh laundry bags in my suitecase to keep things organized. Works great for the kids too.
If you bring a topper I strongly suggest a neutral. On my trip to Ireland last summer I brought a red boiled wool blazer and wore it every single day. It was perfect for the trip but I was wearing it in almost every single picture...
I'd also recommend keeping jewellery to a minimum. I only wear every single piece when going to a function (wedding) but other than that I tend to just stick with the pearl studs, same necklace and same watch.
I also STRONGLY RECOMMEND duct tape. Have never brought it and not used it...
Have a great trip!

hissylizard

Before I studied abroad in college, they made us take a "packing seminar" where we had some person come in and show us how to pack light...since we were basically backpacking throughout Europe for 7 weeks and living out of various hotels and a bus.

It was very helpful. Especially since it was during the winter, but since you have a warm weather trip you can squeeze more outfits in there, since summer clothes are less bulky. Dresses are great because they take up so little room. You can easily roll-up a non-wrinkle dress in there. Jeans take up the most room, as far as pants go. Same with heavy sweaters, blazers, or jackets.

I agree with the person who said to keep in mind various scenarios and pack accordingly. But you don't want to go overboard. I'd also look at buying travel sizes for toiletries once you get there so you don't have to worry about liquids at security, etc.

I also second length of trip + 2 for socks and underwear (or less socks and flat sandals...those are super easy to stack and pack). And also neutral colors that easily mix and match. Summer tops are very light and can fit easily anywhere. If they are non-wrinkle, roll them up and go crazy :D.

Light cardigans work well for layering. I tend to get cold (especially on a plane or if you're indoors and they jack up the A/C), so it is good to have some lightweight long-sleeve tops to go over everything. If I fly, I always put the heaviest stuff on while I fly...since I freeze on planes aka flying meat lockers. People think I am crazy because I wear long sleeved layers in the summer, but are always freezing in restaurants and they look longingly at me