Planning Your Summer Travel Wardrobe

Planning your summer travel wardrobe can be easy and fun if you give yourself plenty of time and plan your outfits around your activities.  This is an area I have a lot of experience in, let me guide you.  When my family has a trip on the books, like we do right now, traveling to Cabo for Memorial Day, I like to use my handy dandy little wardrobe planning notebook.  First I fill in the dates of the trip and where we're going.  Next I look up the weather for each day we will be there.  Then I write down any reservations we have for activities or dinners.  Finally I fill in my clothing for each day based on what we will be doing.  Since our Cabo trip will consist mostly of relaxing on the beach, I know I need to pack several swimsuits, caftans and kimonos, a hat, a beach bag, sunglasses and flip flops.  I also know we will go into town for some dinners so I'll be sure to pack an easy black dress, which I can add a kimono to if I want to spice up my look.  I'll also want to pack an easy workout outfit for beach activities or gym time, so shorts, a tank and a sports bra.  I know that I like to be comfortable on the plane and I like to dress in layers, so a lounge set is a perfect choice and I'll most likely wear a tee in case the plane is warm.  I have a tendency to be an underpacker but that's because I like to have an excuse to shop and I like to leave room to bring something new home with me.  

Beach trips for me are so fun to pack for.  This time I'm brining a variety of swimsuits because I'm expecting to be in the water or, at the very least, on the beach every day.  So, I like to have at least one bikini and a one-piece.  I have some fabulous caftans and kimonos, which might make it challenging to choose which to pack.  I'll bring a beach hat and a baseball cap, and luckily now I have the perfect bag for my hat, so I don't have to wear it on the plane.  I have a couple black embroidered dresses that I've bought in Mexico in the past so I plan to pack those, a basic black knit dress which will be versatile and comfortable and my leopard dress which can be for day or night.  I just got a new pair of Tory Burch flip flops for the beach and I'll bring along a pair of my favorite black leather slides as my dressier option (I don't get too dressed up in Mexico).  

I would pack the same if I was going to Hawaii.  One quirky thing I do when we travel is I like to bring with me the items I've purchased from that place in the past.  So, I'll be bringing all of my sterling silver jewelry.  I feel like that keeps me from being tempted to buy more of the same things.  I usually get a blowout on the day before I travel so that I have good hair for the first few days but since we're going on a beach vacation where there will be wind and I'll be wearing a hat, I may just skip the blowout and leave my hair natural.  I will pack extra spf for my face and lips but since we don't check a bag, I'll buy the sunscreen when we get there.  I never unpack my makeup bag, it just goes from trip to trip so that's always ready to go.  I just have to throw in some bras, underwear and sleep shirts and then move onto my carry on.  Like I said, I am trying a new carry on for this trip, it's a bag with straps to carry my hat, I hope it works!  In my carry on I always have a fashion magazine, a book or my kindle, my travel journal, chargers for my phone and kindle, AirPods, gum, kleenex and maybe a snack.  I'll bring a smaller handbag because it has to fit into my carryon.  

This is going to be a fun trip, my family is joining my brother's family to celebrate my sister in law turning 50 and beating breast cancer, we will enjoy this time to relax and spend time together.  If you're heading somewhere for Memorial Day or any time this summer and struggling with what to pack, please reach out, I'm happy to give advice or lend a hand styling outfits.  Have a great trip!