The Closet Coach

Spring Break’s just around the corner for my family, and when you’re vacationing with hubby and kids, that’s a whole different kind of Spring Break than the Daytona Beach ‘n’ beer variety.

And a whole different kind of packing list, too.

Last year I outlined a one-carry-on version that worked in a warm climate for 7 days.

This year, I’m packing for a 5-day road trip Spring Break in the northeast.

Some items are going to change (more long sleeves, no pool stuff, sigh), but many are going to be very similar (denim and sneakers and cardigans).

Even though I technically have more room and can bring more, because it’s a shorter trip I’m going to keep it light. Besides, I find that when I plan my items and outfits in advance like this, there’s really no need for a lot of extra options.

That’s the beauty of identifying a core set of packable pieces in your wardrobe; it gives you an easy starting point for assembling a packing list that’s customized for each trip.

Packing List for a 5-Day Spring Vacation Road Trip

Here’s what I’ll be bringing.

Clothing

• Jeans
• Long pants (black/khaki)
• Second pair jeans or long pants
• Cropped pants
• Grey hoodie
• 2 cardigans
• 2 knit shirts (short sleeves)
• 3 T-shirts (long sleeves)
• 1 knit shirt (3/4-length sleeves)
• Pajamas
• Underwear (5 panties, 2 bras)
• Socks (5 pair)

Accessories

• Belt
• Medium weight jacket (denim, leather or heavy knit)
• Umbrella
• Sunglasses
• Hat/cap
• Tote bag/Backpack
• Camera(s)
• 1 pair flats
• 1 pair sneakers
• Chargers for phone, cameras
• Hair dryer (if not available in hotel)

Outfits

Day 1 (travel)

• jeans
• long-sleeved T-shirt #1
• hoodie
• flats

Day 2

• pants
• short-sleeved knit shirt #1
• cardigan #1
• sneakers

Day 3

• pants
• short-sleeved knit shirt #2
• cardigan #2
• sneakers

Day 4

• jeans
• long-sleeved T-shirt #2
• hoodie
• flats

Day 5 (travel)

• jeans #2
• long-sleeved T-shirt #3
• hoodie
• sneakers

What to buy

Like the items in the photo illustration above? Here’s where to find them.

• Wallis coral top, $44
• Hollister Co cotton cardigan, $35
• Wallis indigo jeans, $52
• Vans Lo Pro shoes, $50
• Travel hat, $36
• Wallis pink shades, $18

[Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.]

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If you packed in one of these, you didn't pack light.

Last week for Friend Fridays we posted on summer vacation and packing, and one of the questions was about tips for packing light and fitting into one suitcase.

I’d like to think I’ve finally figured this one out after years of trial and error, so that was an easy question for me to answer. Quite a few of the other posters and commenters, however, confessed to being chronic over-packers.

That got me thinking–how did I learn out how to pack less? So here’s my story of how I learned to pack light and love a carry-on suitcase. And it wasn’t overnight, my friends. Sometimes it takes me a looong time to learn my lesson.

Phase One: In Which She Buys The Largest Suitcase Possible

Senior year of high school, Arizona, my church youth group takes a trip to DC and New York–the first time we have ever been east of the Mississippi. Already a confirmed fashion lover, and reader of Elle and W, I am determined to be as stylish as possible when visiting (respectful pause) New. York. City.

This leads to complete packing paralysis and indecision. Somehow I convince my parents (OK, my dad; I think my mom rolled her eyes and sighed) to buy the largest suitcase we can find. I fill it completely. Then I drag it from van to airport to van to hotel, etc.

Phase Two: In Which She Packs in a Container Larger Than a Suitcase

Junior year of college, I embark on a year-long study abroad program to England. Again, I am unable to decide what to bring and what to leave behind. Again, my poor father is talked into supporting my bad habit. This time, large suitcases aren’t enough. We actually purchase and ship a steamer trunk full of clothes, shoes and God knows what else.

That’s right, people: I packed in a STEAMER TRUNK. (See illustration above.)

Clearly this was not going to be an easy habit to break.

Phase Three: In Which She Must Carry It All

During that year abroad, I did the obligatory month of backpacking across Europe. You will never pack as efficiently as you do when you have to fit everything into a single backpack. And then carry it.

It was my first taste of packing a core set of items and mixing and matching. (And sink washing.)

It was temporary.

Phase Four: In Which She Pays Various Baggage Fees

After college, my suitcase size reduced somewhat, but never to carry-on sizes. Checked baggage was free and I usually did curb-side check so I didn’t have to lug my suitcase around much.

Then my bag size crept upward until one winter trip of 2 cities and 10 days (no, not this one) when I brought our biggest bag and discovered, when checking it to come home, that I had exceeded the weight limit of 70 pounds (!) and it was going to cost $40 to check. Strike One.

I kept my bag size and weight smaller after that, but it was a temporary respite. Not long afterward, the airlines began adding baggage fees. At first I paid. I couldn’t really fathom not checking my bag. Until I did the math. Wait–at $25 each way for each bag, that means 2 people just spent $100 round-trip for the luggage?

And that was that. Lugging huge bags didn’t do it. Inconvenience didn’t do it. Taking spending money out of my pocket? Forget about it!

Phase Five: In Which She Is Reformed

The first thing I did was start making detailed lists. I used to pack by sort of haphazardly pulling anything and everything out of my closet that I thought I might conceivably feel like wearing at some point during the trip. Plus another outfit or two. This way suitcase creep lies.

Now I have a couple of lists: one for warm weather travel, and another for cold. I started by listing the items I typically found myself bringing and/or expected I would need to wear–the basics, really, like T-shirts and jeans and so forth.

To make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and that my relatively short lists were actually long enough, I then planned out what I would wear each day, including travel days, based on the list. I could quickly see where I needed to adjust.

When I get ready to pack, I just pull out one of my lists. If I’m going on a longer or shorter trip, I adjust by a day here or there. I include all accessories and toiletries, too.

With this simple system in place, I know I can fit in one suitcase and won’t forget anything important. Traveling is never easy, but packing got a lot simpler!

Now it’s your turn to confess

• Have you mastered the art of one-suitcase packing?
• Or are you on the verge of dragging a steamer trunk with you on your next vacation?
• What’s the one thing you’ll never leave behind?

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[Photo source: Flickr, Captain Spaulding.]

Is it beach vacation time yet?

This week for Fashion Beauty Friend Fridays, we’re talking about summer packing: “Now that summer is in full swing here… and vacations are coming up, let’s talk about what you’re packing to take on vacation.”

And oh how I wish my vacation were coming up soon; alas, our annual week at the beach isn’t until late August.

But it’s fun to start thinking about it now, isn’t it?

1.    When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?

Less is more! Cliché but true–especially if traveling by plane these days, with all of the checked baggage fees. I’ve been able to fit everything into a single carry-on lately and it makes traveling so much easier. (You can see some examples of my packing lists for warm- and cold-weather trips here: http://www.closet-coach.com/tags/packing.)

This all goes somewhat out the window when we go to the beach, since we’re driving and have the luxury of fitting more in the car. Mostly what we add is beach paraphernalia: sand cart, toys, umbrellas, towels, ice chest, etc. etc. Clothing remains a single bag, and it’s mostly swimsuits, sorts and coverups.

2.    What are your must packs?

Read the rest of this entry »

What to pack for a spring trip by closetcoach

Juicy Couture cotton tee, $48
Eddie Bauer Long-Sleeve Open Cardigan, $30
J Crew striped top, $40
Victoria s Secret graphic hoodie, $40
Hive Honey ruffle top, $29
TopShop printed top, $36
Cami top, $19
J Crew denim jacket, $98
American Eagle Outfitters cropped jeans, $50
TOMS glitter shoes, $54
Nicole Coolio black flats, $90
Buckle belt, $47
AUGUST HAT cap hat, $28

It seems like spring has barely started while at the same time summer is just around the corner. But if you’re traveling in the next few weeks, chances are you’ll still be packing for a trip in warm but pleasant weather.

So what should you pack for a 7-day trip in the spring? We just got back from our Spring Break journey to California, so here’s a road-tested packing list for warm weather and variations in climate. Best of all, it fits into a carry-on sized suitcase.

Packing List for a 7-Day Spring Vacation

Read the rest of this entry »

Whew! I’m back from my 10-day, 3,000-mile winter trip which means I’ve road-tested my packing list in the real world. So how did my recommendations of what to pack for a 10-day winter trip hold up?

Quite well, I’m pleased to say.

What worked well

I had more than enough options to create different outfits every day without feeling like I was repeating myself too much. And I had enough layers to be comfortable in weather that ranged from cooler-than-expected but still mild for late November to downright freezing.

Best of all, everything really did fit in one Samsonite four-wheeled pilot case. (Which I love love love! I’ve gotten my money’s worth on this trip alone.)

What I’ll change next time

The next time I take a winter trip of this duration, I’ll make a few small changes:

• More neutral long-sleeved shirts. I took one grey, one white and one red. I wore the grey one several times, but the other ones just once apiece.
• Fewer cardigans. I brought a grey hoodie plus two different cardigans. I really only needed the hoodie and one other cardigan.
• More short-sleeved T-shirts. I wound up wearing the short-sleeved T-shirt I brought as a layering piece more often than I expected; next time I’ll bring at least one more.

Your turn

• When you take a winter trip, what do you pack in your carry-on?
• And what’s your favorite bring-aboard piece of luggage?