How many times have you stuffed your suitcase to the brim only to use 10% of your belongings during a trip?
It’s easy to panic and overdo it when you’re anticipating a big vacation.
What if you happen to travel during freak weather when all four seasons compete at once? What if your backup outfit needs a backup outfit because you know you’ll spill wine on yourself?
Justifying the crazy scenarios that pop into our heads while we pack makes sense. Although it’s comforting to know you have your entire wardrobe with you at all times, this bad habit will only weigh you down.
If you want to learn how to master the art of packing a travel wardrobe, keep reading for a clothing list and other helpful tips.
Wardrobe Basics Checklist
Creating a wardrobe checklist is the best way to make sure you’re packing all of the essentials without overdoing it. If you already know where you’re staying, it can help even more to research if that facility has laundry services.
If you’re packing for a trip that’s a week or less, then you don’t need to worry about having access to a washing machine. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to pack a week’s worth of clothes inside a small bag.
Although you’ll have to tailor these items to the varying seasons, the concept of travel fashion is simple. The more you can mix and match, the better.
In order to achieve this, here are a few essentials that are light and easy to style different ways:
- Your favorite pair of jeans
- One pair of comfortable printed pants
- A stylish skirt
- Three simple shirts
- Three blouses
- One nice, lightweight dress
- Your most comfortable and cute shoes that pair with any outfit
Of course, you can’t forget to pack toiletries, undergarments, and a few accessories, too. Keep reading to learn why you can look incredible with only 10 articles of clothing.
How to Make Your Minimal Travel Wardrobe Look Fresh
Keeping your articles of clothing simple and chic make it easy to mix and match for a fresh outfit each day. For more casual days, you can opt for a simple tee paired with your favorite boyfriend jeans. Tuck your shirt into a skater skirt for a more flirty, feminine look.
Choosing clothes that have solid color schemes and simple patterns will help you avoid clashing. An elegant black blouse or white tee would pair beautifully with floral harem pants.
Although you can’t mix dresses with other clothes, it is worth packing one lightweight dress for a day you’ll take lots of pictures. Who doesn’t feel their best when they’re rocking an incredible dress?
Utilizing a few essential accessories like a scarf, sunglasses, and a waist belt can tie all your outfits together and add some flair.
Why Materials Are Important
The key to looking and feeling your best while traveling is wearing lightweight, flexible clothes.
Although jeans are heavier, they should be included in your packing checklist because they can be worn in any weather with any other garments. Since you have one pair of safety jeans to rely on for emergencies, the rest of your wardrobe should be composed of synthetic materials like polyester.
The reason why polyester is one of the best materials to travel with is because it’s stretchy, it lets your skin breathe, and it’s immune to wrinkles. This is ideal for vacations where you’ll be doing lots of sightseeing.
Another benefit of polyester is that it dries fast. This means that you don’t have to worry about sweat stains or waiting long for your clothes to hang-dry if you don’t have access to laundry services.
If you want to know the best travel destinations to rock your outfits, learn more about the beauties of traveling west.
How to Pack a Suitcase Like a Pro
Everyone is guilty of shoving the entire closet into their suitcase then wondering why it’s impossible to find anything. Nailing your packing routine is essential for stress-free styling.
The best way to save space and make getting dressed simple, is the rolling technique. If you want to know how to pack a suitcase for 2 weeks without doing laundry, rolling your clothes will help you fit enough outfits inside.
When you roll correctly, you can save your clothes from unappealing wrinkles. When traveling, it’s always best to assume you won’t have access to an iron just to be safe.
One major reason why rolling beats folding your clothes into your suitcase is the ease of finding what you want to wear. When you fold, you have to pile everything on top of each other.
Rolling is helpful because it allows you to group each article of clothing with its category. Shirts can be packed on one side, pants on the other side and undergarments and accessories can act as a divider in the middle.
Since everything is visible, you’ll have no problems identifying each article and building your ideal outfit for each day.
Quick Tips on Toiletries and Makeup
The last thing you’d want to do after thinning out your travel wardrobe is bog your suitcase down again with tons of toiletries.
One of the best travel tips is to skip the bulky shampoo and conditioner bottles that can also explode and give you a big headache. Instead, you can meet all of your hair care needs with a shampoo bar.
The best part about shampoo bars is their lifespan. A single bar can last as long as three months even though the bar is only a few ounces. Not only will your suitcase thank you, but so will the environment.
Keeping the rest of your beauty routine simple will also help you enjoy your vacation. Moisturizer, mascara, and a nude lipstick will make you look radiant anywhere you go.
Want More Fashion Tips?
Now that you know how to plan your travel wardrobe, you can always look your best while you’re out having fun.
Giving yourself a limit to what you’re allowed to pack may make you feel nervous at first. However, once you realize how freeing it is to travel light, you’ll want to ditch your huge suitcases forever.
If you want to stay up to date on all things related to fashion, beauty, and styling, Styles Wardrobe is your ultimate guide to looking stunning. For more outfit inspo, check out our blog.
