🧳 Style Mail: How you can pack better...next time

A bonus post - because I couldn't wait to share this!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about packing (click here if you missed it). And it not only includes one of the most important things to remember when you pack - it also includes links to the packing strategies that I’ve shared over the years.

But then I was thinking - how can you figure out the best way to pack for you? How can you look at what worked on recent trips & replicate it? And how can you use your past mistakes to your advantage? So, I came up with the idea of ‘vacation packing hindsight’.

My background (before becoming a stylist) was corporate retail. And hindsighting a business season was a big part of planning the next one. So, I thought it could be a helpful way to pack better - because I don’t think many people return from vacation & objectively look at what was in their luggage (I just consider it a win if I unpack in less than a week!).

So, here are specific things that you can do before, during & after your trips - so you can see what worked, learn from what didn’t work, recognize your tendencies & become an expert at packing for yourself.

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✍️ Style Scoop

Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash

Since this is an off-cycle post (you’ll still hear from me later this week with a bunch of mid-summer style strategies), I’m going to be as concise as possible. So, here are the steps to ‘vacation packing hindsight’.

BEFORE THE TRIP:

Write a list of what you pack (I’ll get back to list-making later). Write down everything you’re bringing & be specific - clothes, accessories, toiletries, etc. And this includes what you put in your carryon & what you pack in your bag(s).

DURING THE TRIP:

Take selfies. Every day & every outfit change. And you can even write down how you feel about your outfits - everything from how it worked for your activities to how you feel wearing it (physically, mentally, emotionally - here’s more on that subject).

I’ve talked a lot about the process of taking selfies & writing down how you feel in Style Mail VIP - so if you’re not already a VIP, now is a great time to sign up.

AFTER THE TRIP:

Look at your pre-trip list to figure out what you brought vs. what you actually wore. This may be as easy as looking at what’s in the laundry bag vs. what isn’t - or going through your selfies as you unpack. Then it’s easy to compile a few other lists.

Write a ‘what I wore’ list & include any additional ideas you have about how these outfits felt, functioned, etc.

Write a ‘what I didn’t wear’ list & jot down some notes about why (was it pure circumstance - like the weather was unexpected? or was it one too many dresses?).

And if it’s appropriate, write a ‘what I wish I packed’ list - if you feel like you could have made different choices. These lists can be as brief or as detailed as you like. And it’s not about berating yourself for any bad decisions - it’s about being objective & realistic about what did (and didn’t) work & why.

And now it’s hindsight time. Take a look at your habits - what you bring & don’t wear, what you wear multiple times, what you often forget, how you feel about your vacation outfits, etc. And if you’re up for it, write some things down. You may realize you’re better at packing than you thought. You may realize that you’re packing for what you hope may happen on the trip (but it doesn’t relate to your actual agenda). You may realize that, in hopes of packing perfectly, you could use a few more things. Or you may realize that you need to revisit how much time you give yourself to pack.

BEFORE YOUR NEXT TRIP:

Review your hindsight info. Because you may not remember everything.

And then write some standard travel lists - like:

• The ‘always’ items - toiletries, pjs, underwear, lounge clothes (watch this Instagram post if lounge clothes aren’t already a must-pack), phone chargers, etc. etc. etc.

• Items for often visited locations (or similar types of trips). This might be a ‘hot weather vacation’ list or a ‘visiting family for the holidays’ list or a ‘weekend at the lake’ list. (I have a standard trip list & then a separate list for when I visit my parents, since there are a bunch of things I already have at their house.)

• Items that you learn are must-haves for you on every trip. Like a compact umbrella & folds-into-a-bag rain jacket. Or cozy slippers. Or an extra white t-shirt.

The goal with these lists is to never forget anything - and to consciously decide what you are/aren’t bringing. And the goal with hindsighting is to recognize any habits that may get in the way of packing well - and subsequently effect how you enjoy your trip.

Do you have any other things that help you pack well (that you do before, during or after vacation)? Leave a comment so we can all learn from each other.

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☝️ One more thing

Not to be all ‘list-happy’ - but I write a list of what I’m packing for every single trip. This happens way before the trip in the notes app on my phone - so I can write down things as I think of them. And it helps me to be planful with my outfits & how they relate to my agenda, the number of days I’m away, etc.

And then, if your luggage is ever lost, you know exactly what was in it!

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Let’s Work Together!