Ladiesss, this one is for you! If you are like me, you have a different pair of shoes in mind for every outfit you want to pack. For weekend getaways it can be so difficult to pack light! Sometimes when I travel with my boyfriend, Francesco, I don’t know how we are getting around and it makes the most sense to only bring a backpack. For example, when we went to Ischia, we were traveling around the island by scooter so there was no way I would have been able to bring a rolling suitcase. But I still wanted to look CUTE! So how do you pack for something like this?

For me I have a 3-step process while packing. I really hate packing and unpacking so I need to keep things simple otherwise I will get distracted and I will put it off. Hey, at least I know myself 😊.

Before you begin any of these steps look up the weather, sis.

Step 1:

Know your itinerary, if possible, so you can plan your outfits accordingly.

One thing I have quickly come to realize when traveling with Francesco is that this is something most men don’t take into consideration…love you babe, haha! But honestly if he has something in mind that I don’t know about like going out for a nice dinner, I need a nice dress and something cute to put on my feet. Or maybe we are going to go to the beach and then we are hopping on the scooter and going straight to happy hour – I’m gonna need a little bag to throw in mascara, concealer, & some dry undies, and I am going to need a cover-up that looks like a real outfit! It’s these little details; if you can find them out in advance it will be so much easier to know what to pack.

Now, I know you are never going to be able to plan every minute of every hour of your trip. Spontaneity is part of the fun!!! So, don’t be too anal. Try and bring outfits that you can mix and match and anticipate changes in the plan – neutral tops that match different bottoms is ideal! So maybe you know that after the beach there is a possibility that you’ll grab a drink somewhere. Just bring your fav wrap dress and use it as a cover up that way, with a little effort you can totally dress it up!

Step 2:

Lay out the outfits.

This is so you know exactly what shirt goes with which bottom. It’s my least favorite part, but when I skip this step, I always end up forgetting something! Laying out all your outfits allows you to visualize what is actually feasible and practical. It also allows you to see which tops and bottoms you are going to mix and match! Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals.

This is also where I am able to dwindle down my shoe selection – visualizing the shoes with the outfits makes you realize which shoes are the most versatile and which ones you can save for another time. Truly the saddest part of packing.

Step 3:

Time to add the other stuff.

Is there a hairdryer in the place you’re staying? How many times are you ACTUALLY going to take time to curl your hair? Do you need all three of your bronzers? (Sometimes you do, and I get it, trust me). Most of the time, I style my hair with a blow dryer so it is usually one of my essentials—but when I only am able to bring a backpack I usually have to plan a bit differently. If I can’t bring the blow dryer, I will settle for the straightener and hope that if I shower at night, my hair will be dry by morning to style it! But luckily, most of the time there is some sort of blow dryer in the places I stay, so it all works out. Either that or it’s messy bun for the win!

So, going back to step one: If you know your basic itinerary, this helps! If you are going to be hiking or swimming all day, chances are you can go without all of your makeup and hair products – just bring the basics.

My last piece of advice would be to bring a bag that you know you can carry by yourself. If you are on a train, can you lift your bag above your head to stow it? If you’re on a plane, is it small enough for overhead storage, or sometimes even just under the seat? Are you going to be able to re-pack or is your bag too full in the first place?

Just a few things to think about!

I hope this helps you pack your next weekend getaway and that you are all staying as safe as possible!!

Let me know if you have any other tips in the comments below! I am always looking for more ways to travel light.