Winter Trips: Warm Sunshine Packing
It’s that time of the year when a break from your current winter weather sounds great. I’m escaping the gray Seattle weather with a trip to Hawaii soon and I can’t wait to soak my feet in the warm sand, and not wear my sleeping bag coat ;).
If you’re heading somewhere warm and wondering what clothes to pack, here are some tips + links to current products I love and trust! A couple of variables for you to consider are your trip length and whether or not you have laundry in your place. I try to survive on carry-on alone, especially for warm weather trips since the clothes are less bulky. Adjust as needed - LMK if you need advice! And if you’re going somewhere HAVE FUN!
Protection/Practicals: First things first because don’t ruin your trip (or your skin) with a sunburn at the beginning. Facepalm, I’ve done that before and it’s no fun.
Unisex Ray-Bans. A classic that’s durable and very functional (nose-pads!)
Sun hat - bigger the better, and foldable for packing. San Diego Hat Company has a classic packable version at a great price and it’s rated UPF 50 for protection.
Sunglasses - bring some that don’t slide if your face gets sweaty. For me, glasses with nose pads are essential. I love classic Ray-Bans as they’re stylish, durable, and a solid value.
Sunscreen - for your face and body. I love tinted sunscreen for my face but so many have made me break out. My go-to is the Supergoop! Glowscreen with SPF 40 as it makes my skin look and feel great. For my body, I love the Sun Bum SPF 50. It’s a classic, applies easily and everyone in my family loves it.
Tide To Go Detergent Pen - perfect for on-the-go in case you have a spill! Trust me, you will!
Laundry Detergent Sheets - these are so small, eco-friendly, and easy to pack. I first started using these for a trip to Europe and they were a lifesaver. You can use them for a gentle hand wash load in your sink or in a machine. No spill, and the size of a credit card.
Insulated water bottles - In warm weather, you’ll appreciate the insulation and your pocketbook will thank you for saving $6 a pop for a bottle of water! More money for shopping later :). I personally love this Stanley because the handle is so easy to carry, it’s spill-proof, easy to put in a bag, and actually fits in a cup holder. I also love the large HydroFlasks - my family and I have used these for years.
Skincare - your typical heavyweight winter routine may be too much for warm weather. Think about using your summer skincare items. Elemis is a fantastic overall brand, great quality, selection, and value, plus the lovely travel sets.
Accessories:Bring ones that pack a punch and can be used with a lot of outfits. Think neutral or a print that’s versatile.
Large Tote Bag. For winter I love a puffer tote. Here’s a great value, comes in a ton of colors, and has a zip-top for security. If you’re looking for a sleeker look, here’s a foldable travel classic that will never steer you wrong.
Smaller Multi-Purpose Bag for going out and about. Think about portability and your preferences such as what type of handle you prefer and the essentials you need to put in it. For instance, a lightweight cross-body is a must for me to keep my hands free and I can use it day or night. HOBO: New Arrivals Are Here" target="_blank">HOBO is a brand that I’ve come back to and they have a fantastic selection of hands-free options.
Scarf. Great to double as a wrap, wear in your hair, accessorize on your bag, or worn traditionally. This colorful beauty will go with everything.
Statement Belt. Here’s an inexpensive, cute one that is flexible to wear with pants, a dress, or wrapped over a jacket.
Hair scrunchies - in hot weather, keep your neck cooler with your hair up. I love Silk scrunchies because they are soft, the elastic holds well, and they don’t pull out my hair. These also double as sleeve holders (see my IG video!). Free People also has big chiffon scrunchies in bright colors.
Roomy, squishy, tons of colors, $39.95
Clothing:
A. Base/layering - my go-to brands for one-stop base layer shopping are Skims, Free People, and Aritzia. These can all easily roll up in your suitcase.
Tank tops and tee shirts - pack some neutral hip-length options that can go with and under your other items. I always pack white, gray, and a black option.
Boy shorts - great to wear under a shorter dress, with a longer shirt, or working out.
Ribbed dress or tee shirt dress- any length. I pack a short version and a long version. They don’t wrinkle, can be handwashed, and go with everything as well as double as a cover up. Here’s some fantastic, affordable options from Free People.
Leggings - bring a neutral. Works for an -athleisure or dressed-up look with a flowy top.
B. Tops - so many to choose from, pick the style that works best for you! I find cotton tunics or button downs to be such versatile options. You can wear them over a dress, with any bottom, tied at the waist, tucked into a waistband, or left open. This is a new versatile solid fave because it’s simple but eye-catching.
C. Dresses- a printed sundress is like a vacation in and of itself. They are also the best travel partners because they camouflage wrinkles and spills. See styles you like but don’t like the deep v-neck in front or back? Me too - I always wear a thin tank top or compression tank slip dress underneath! Farm Rio makes stand-out statement sundresses and you can find great options at Zara too.
Don’t fret about the deep v-neck! Put a slim layering top underneath.
D. Bottoms-
Shorts:I always pack a denim pair, a khaki/neutral pair, a comfort/athletic pair, and a printed pair. Pick the length that works for you! If you go shorter, you can always dress them up with a longer blazer over them. Free People, Boden, Anthropologie, and Everlane will have nice options.
Jeans: Think about one pair for going out that you can dress up or wear casually. I avoid overly distressed denim (holes, rips) if I’m packing one pair. My two fave denim brands are Good American and KUT - great quality, won’t break the bank, wear well, and typically have a lot of comfortable stretch - but they aren’t boring, I get compliments on them all the time! I love this white pair right now. Fit tips: size down if they have stretch. If you’re petite, cropped length should be regular on you. I’m 5’4” and I always buy cropped-as-regular because hemming is something I almost always forget to do.
E. Cardigans/Jackets- If you get cold easily like me, wearing a jacket on a plane is a must and for evening walks. To avoid bulking up your suitcase, wear it on the plane. Think about bringing something that’s neutral that will go with everything - whether that’s a cardigan, a flowy linen blazer, or a lighter weight jacket. Two absolute stand-outs that I love are this updated denim jacket and for a slightly dressier look, this quilted coat, both from Free People. I just got the quilted one and I love love it.
F. Shoes - Again, your personal preferences need to bubble up here because shoes can be bulky and heavy to pack so being strategic about shoe selection is a must. If you are going to be relaxing poolside a lot but going out at night, dressier sandals can be great. If you’re on your feet all day exploring, then comfortable sandals will be important. Use your best judgment here. My choices I always bring for a sunny vaca are a neutral comfort sandal, a dressier black espadrille, flip flops, and I wear sneakers on the plane. My go-to sandals or out & about sneaks shoe brands because of great selection, quality, comfort, and won’t break the bank are Marc Fisher, Shop Online Exclusives" target="_blank">Sam Edelman, Sorel, and Veja’s (these look great with sundresses too).
These Marc Fisher’s come in 4 colors, $89, and so comfy + cute.
F. Swim Wear - I could go on for days about the joy (insert laugh here) of bathing suits. My advice to you here is to think about your use cases while on vaca. Lounging poolside or going surfing? Need support like underwear in your top, or trying to minimize a certain body part (waist, I’m lookin at you!)? *Start with your priority first, to filter results, then keep going filter by filter to whittle down your choices:
One-piece or two-piece. My go-to swim brands are Robin Piccone, Bleu, Trina Turk, Ted Baker, and Tommy Bahama
Top style: tankini, halter, bikini, strapless, asymmetrical, deep v, racer back, etc.
Bottom coverage: full, moderate, bikini, trunks, boyshorts
Solid or printed. Printed can be great camouflage but don’t let the print overwhelm you.
Other must-haves depending on your body style: underwire top, adjustable straps, ruching at the waist, thick ties, fold-over waistband, etc.
Then layer in your other preferences - and good luck to you. I typically try on 10 before I find 1 - so if you’re ordering online, make sure you check out the return policy first! Beach cover ups can be super fancy or functional like a tunic that you already packed. Find whatever works for you.
F. Undergarments - don’t forget to pack your bare essentials; bras, underwear, and shapewear. I love Skims for all of these because of the massive color selection, comfort, and softer-than-butter feel.
G. Other tips: I used to travel a ton internationally as a marketing exec and rarely did I check in bags (a roller bag and big tote are my go-to’s), the exceptions were winter travel for more than 4 nights without laundry in my room. So these are some tips I keep in mind:
Folding or rolling your clothing - honestly, it’s a matter of personal preference. I’ve done both and everything in between. I think the biggest takeaway is to be efficient with how you fold (the tighter the better) and think of your suitcase like Jenga or a puzzle as you put items in. Now if you want to see your items easier, rolling and placing them vertically is the way to go. Put whatever you want wrinkled the least on the very top.
Save room in your luggage for souvenirs / stuff you bought on the trip. Or, I have a friend who strategically just checks in a bigger bag and she leaves a lot of it empty for shopping. Either way - just plan for it so you’re not stressed later.
Use shower caps to cover shoes. I buy a big pack from amazon and I think it will last me forever.
If you’re traveling internationally, keep your passport on you on the plane (I use a fanny pack).
Don’t forget your chargers. Save room and get a multi-port one like this!
Bon voyage!
xoxo,
Judy
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