Spring break is the time for adventure. Whether you’ve been planning that trip to Florida’s Clearwater Beach for months now or you’re throwing a dart at the map and going where destiny (and your lousy car) takes you, there are a few things you’ll undoubtedly need—some real friends, a camera to capture those unforgettable moments and of course, clothes.
Being on vacation isn’t an excuse to look any less than hot. In fact, you’ll likely be meeting new people every day, so you’re gonna want to wear your cutest outfits to leave a stylish first impression, or at least so you’ll feel super confident. But cramming your entire wardrobe into a teeny suitcase or duffel bag is unnecessary and almost silly. To save yourself the trouble of fighting to get that zipper to close, here are a few tips to save space while traveling:
Think necessities:
It’s never a bad idea to start with the basics. If you’re going to a warm place, forego bulky shoes and socks and pack a reliable pair of flip-flops. Also, undies don’t take up much space, so pack a surplus of those. No one has ever complained about having too much
underwear.
Camis or tank tops are also useful, especially for layering, and they won’t dominate your suitcase either. And even if you’re embarking to a relatively warm spring break hot spot like Florida, don’t forget to pack some kind of jacket. After the sun goes down,
things can cool down quickly.
Bathing suits are also a good just-in-case item. Even if you’re not going to a beach area, many hotels have indoor swimming pools. You don’t want to be the one sitting awkwardly on those poolside lawn chairs watching your friends’ purses while they’re lounging in the hot tub.
Also, while not a “basic” per say, nice clothes are useful if you and your travel-mates decide to check out a more upscale club or restaurant. A crisp dress shirt will work wonders for guys. Ladies, don’t be afraid to pack your cutest dress.
Get color-coordinated:
Ever pack all of your favorite clothing items, get to your destination and upon arriving find that nothing you packed looks good together—at all? Yes, packing for a vacation takes a little bit of planning. Sorting your items by color is a good way to do just that.
One method is to start with a neutral color such as black or brown. Then, pick one color that looks good with your base color and pick one or two more colors that complement those selections nicely.
Say you start with tan. Mint green might look tasty with that color. Add in a cream color and a pale pink and voila—everything in your suitcase will coordinate to a certain degree. Use mostly solid color pieces but factor in a few patterns, like floral or polka dots.
Use your own sense of judgment on this, too. Not everyone has the eye of an art major, but most people have a preference for certain color combinations. Don’t go too overboard, but make sure you can put together a good number of coherent outfits from only a few articles of clothing.
Factor in shopping trips:
Vacation spots often have a sizable number of shopping destinations as well. Whether you’re the type who buys the souvenir sweaters with a big ol’ Virginia Beach emblazoned across the bust, hits up all the swanky stores you’d find a celebrity hiding in or likes scoping out quirky local places in search of unique clothing, there’s a good chance you’ll be heading back home with more than you left with.
If you like getting your shop on while travelling, it is wise to leave a little wiggle room in your suitcase. Stick one hoodie (more if you’re a shopaholic) in your bag along with the stuff you plan on taking, make sure the zipper shuts and then remove the hoodie. You officially have room to buy one new hoodie or a number of smaller things.
One added benefit of going shopping while on vacation is that if you find you don’t have enough clean clothes to get you through the rest of the trip, you can just buy a whole new outfit. Sure, it’s more expensive than, you know, going to the laundromat, but now you have new clothes, and who doesn’t love new clothes?
