If overpacking is your biggest travel habit too, this is the simple system that makes packing for a summer holiday so much easier
Have I completely solved my overpacking problem?
Probably not.
I still occasionally find myself staring at a beautiful dress and convincing myself that this will finally be the holiday where I wear it. Sometimes a pair of shoes makes it into my suitcase simply because I love them, even when I know they are not particularly practical. That said, I am much better than I used to be.
Over the years, I have realised that the way I pack depends entirely on the type of trip I am taking. For Fashion Week, work trips or events, I often pack around specific outfits. Those trips usually have a clear schedule, specific occasions and a certain image I want to create. In those situations, outfit planning makes perfect sense.
Holidays, however, are completely different. Most of my summer holidays are actually quite relaxed. They are filled with a long breakfast, walks to the beach, afternoons spent exploring, spontaneous lunches, sunset drinks and dinners that happen whenever we feel like it. There are usually very few occasions that require a specific outfit. Because of that, I no longer pack around outfits. I pack around moments. Instead of asking myself what I am going to wear on each day, I think about how I will actually spend my time. Once I started doing that, packing became so much easier and my suitcase became significantly lighter.
For me, every summer holiday wardrobe can be divided into four simple categories:
The Beach, Breakfast & Morning Coffee
This category takes up the largest portion of my suitcase because, realistically, these are the pieces I wear the most. When I think about a typical summer holiday, most mornings look fairly similar: breakfast at the hotel, a walk to grab coffee, time by the pool or at the beach, perhaps a quick stop at a local market or a relaxed lunch somewhere by the sea. None of these moments require complicated outfits, which is why I always rely on a small collection of easy, versatile pieces that work together effortlessly. An oversized cotton or linen shirt, a great tank top, denim shorts, simple flip-flops, a lightweight cover-up dress, a bikini and a flattering swimsuit will usually cover almost every daytime scenario. These are the items that make getting dressed completely effortless and, perhaps most importantly, they are the pieces that allow you to feel comfortable while still looking put together.
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The Afternoon & Sunset Wardrobe
As much as I love beach days, this part of the day might be my favourite. There is something about those late afternoon hours when the temperature softens, your hair has dried naturally from the sea and the entire atmosphere feels slightly more elegant. This is usually when I change into something a little more polished without sacrificing comfort. Linen co-ords, beautiful summer dresses, lightweight skirts, ballet flats and kitten-heel flip-flops are always the first things I reach for. The goal is not to look overly dressed up but rather to feel appropriate for everything the afternoon might bring, whether that is a long walk through town, drinks overlooking the water or an early dinner that turns into a much longer evening than expected. In my experience, many of the outfits I remember most from summer holidays actually belong to this category because they strike the perfect balance between relaxed and elevated.
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The One Special Evening Rule
This is where I think most people, myself included, can sometimes get carried away. We often imagine ourselves needing a different outfit for every evening, when in reality most holidays only include one or two genuinely special occasions. Perhaps it is a beautiful restaurant you booked months in advance, a celebration with friends or simply one evening when you feel like making a little more effort. For those moments, I find that one or two strong options are usually more than enough. A beautiful dress, a great pair of trousers with an elegant top, a pair of heeled sandals or mules and a small evening bag can cover almost any special dinner or event. Whenever I am tempted to pack additional occasionwear, I try to ask myself whether I can genuinely picture myself wearing it on that specific trip. More often than not, the answer is no.
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The Accessories Worth Packing
Accessories are often what make a suitcase feel complete, but they can also be the quickest route to overpacking if you are not careful. Over the years, I have become much more selective and now focus almost entirely on versatility. I want every accessory to work across multiple outfits rather than for a single look. A great beach bag, a small evening bag, a pair of sunglasses that I wear constantly and a few pieces of jewellery that complement everything are usually all I need. The same philosophy applies to shoes. For a seven to ten day holiday, I rarely pack more than four pairs: everyday flip-flops, ballet flats or comfortable sandals, a slightly dressier pair for evenings and one neutral pair of heels for special occasions. Once those essentials are covered, I find there is very little else I genuinely miss. The beautiful shoes that seem impossible to leave behind at home often end up being the ones that never leave the suitcase.
