How To: Shop/Pack For A Trip

With Summer just around the corner, I am sure that many of you have vacations and weekend trips planned. It's the perfect time to make new summer memories! Before a trip, I always purchase new pieces that will be fun and new for me to wear. Summer vacations and trips are so important to me! It's not only a chance to explore new places and make new memories with friends and family, but it's also a chance for you to get some amazing photos! I love documenting my vacations!!! Whether I am blogging about it or just keeping the photos for myself, I love a good picture! But a major part of those photos are, of course, your outfits! (duh!) So here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping and packing for your latest summer vacation/trip (in no specific order!)!

1. Know The Location/Climate

Before going away on vacation, I always make sure that I know the location and the type of weather there. This is probably a given, but sometimes it can be tricky. Knowing what the weather is like will make all the difference when you are shopping for the perfect pieces! Of course, if you are traveling to a tropical island you most definitely want to buy light, airy clothing because of the heat. But, if you are traveling to a cold climate destination, you'll need some heavy clothing to keep you warm! This important factor will be a huge determinant of whether or not you enjoy your vacay! If you aren't dressed in the appropriate clothing, you may be very uncomfortable for the duration of the trip (which is no way to spend any vacay!)

2. Know The Reason For The Vacay

Before any trip, I always think ahead! Depending on what the reason for your trip is the clothing you wear plays an important role! Let's say you are traveling for a destination wedding, of course you most definitely need a wedding outfit that is on the dressier side. You'll also need dinner outfits too! Or if you are going to Disney World, you'll definitely want to pack comfortable clothing that will keep you cool. The events of any trip are so important to be aware of so that you can dress accordingly. So when shopping, keep in mind the reason for your travels.

3. Plan Your Looks

For me, keeping all the clothing I've purchased for my trip on a clothing rack keeps the process very organized and running smoothly. It doesn't have to be a clothing rack, but as long as all the pieces are together will make it easier for you to see what you have and what you still need. This also makes it easy to plan your outfits. I like to get a general idea of what pieces I am going to wear together. I know for me, in the mornings I always stare at my closet for an unnecessary long amount of time, so planning your looks will remove that hassle each morning of your vacation so that you can spend more time enjoying your trip and less worrying about picking out your clothes. 

4. Shop At Your Favorite Stores

They are your favorite for a reason so why not take advantage of that!? The first places I look are where I shop the most. Odds are, they will probably have pieces that you'll need or fall in love with. And it will be easy to shop because you know the brand and how certain pieces will fit you. I don't recommend shopping at stores you've never shopped at before. Maybe for a few odds and ends pieces that are trendy but other than that, you may want to stick to what you know. But, do the bulk of your shopping at places you are familiar with! 

5. Get Inspo!

I love looking through Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media sites to get outfit inspiration before going on vacation! It may sound silly, but it really helps! This will give you a better idea of what you like and what you don't like. And when shopping, it will be a much more fun and easier process. Knowing what you are looking for when shopping is going to make it ten times easier. Going in without any specific idea of what you want, won't be fun and won't really make for a good shopping experience. I recommend making a Pinterest board for outfits you like or following a brand that you like how they style their clothing. Doing your research will make all the difference and leave you feeling confident and satisfied with your vacation looks! 

6. The Duration Of Your Trip

Depending on whether you are spending a week or a month at your travel destination you'll want to keep in mind the duration of your stay. This is an important factor when packing. I tend to overpack because I love having options but you do not want to over pack! Having options is key but having too many options is unnecessary. First, bring the things you really want to wear and know that you are going to wear them. Then, bring a few extra tops and bottoms in case you aren't really feeling the outfits you planned. Make sure you have an appropriate amount of clothing for your stay. If you have access to a washer and drier that may be the difference between you bringing 7 or 5 outfits. If you don't, then you may want more options because you may not be able to wash your clothing. 

7. Basics

Bringing basics like tees, tanks, and denim are really important. These can be the bases of your outfits and you can add trendy pieces to them. You can even sleep in them or even wear them casually if you are going to the beach. What also comes into play are your undies and bras. You don't need to bring an excessive amount but make sure you have an appropriate amount to last you the entirety of your trip. But the bulk of your outfits will no doubt be trendy pieces. I tend to wear outfits I wouldn't wear on a normal day because the point of a vacation is try new things. Vacations don't happen very often so why not be as extra as you can be! 

8. Know What You Have/What You Need

This will be a huge help when shopping! It will help you spend less money on unnecessary things which will then leave you more money to use on your vacation! The smartest thing to do would be to bring things you already have while also purchasing some new pieces. This way you can still participate in the fun of buying new things but also not break the bank! Let's say your bathing suits are old and you are in need of some new ones, swimwear can be on your list. But if you have a ton of shorts, then you know you may not need to purchase any. What also comes into play are vacation necessities like sunscreen, travel-sized products, beauty supplies, etc. You'll definitely need these, so be sure to make a list ahead of time so you know what you need. 

Hope these tips help! However, there is a lot more to keep in mind, but these are just a few of the important ones! :)