How to pack your bags for the Holidays + your clothing checklist
As we slow down for the big day next week, the last thing we tend to turn our minds to is packing for our time away. I think we fall into two categories here, 1 – over pack and take enough clothes to last an entire winter but only wear 10% of what we take or 2 – chuck a few bits in you always wear without much thought and think ‘That will do’ and immediately regret it when you arrive at your loved ones because Aunt Karen has her best dress on and your fave cousin Emma has the most amazing sequins with her (annoying) or even worse, your mum lays out an outfit like Bridget Jones mum does for her.
I am making sweeping generalisations here, but packing is dull, boring and the last thing we want to think about, and if you have children you have packed their bits already and have probably lost the will to do yours. BUT stick with me here and follow my very quick, easy and simple tricks and you will be out doing Emma on her sequins for the first time in your life and Aunt Karen will give you an approving wink across the table. Plus, the best bit is you will get excited about what to wear for once and feel so much better.
Big news! Before I teach you ALL my very best tricks… I now have easy SHOPPABLE links for all of the products featured on my blogs - wahoo… better late than never right? Simply click on any image and it will take you to the product or the nearest I can find.
Why do we struggle to pack?
We overthink each and every item
We worry about what others will think
We aren’t sure where to start
The things you want to wear aren’t clean
No outfits are planned or considered
We forget we can wear the same thing but in a different way – ta dah that’s 2 days sorted with one outfit
You have no structure or plan
You are knackered and can’t face it – my list goes on
How to tackle the packing
Break it up into days plus activities as well as which friend/family group and put your positive pants on. Plus think about repurposing and re styling everything to you pack carefully. You are done for the year and off to see loved ones, one final push to pack and this extra effort will help you feel more confident, feel way nicer in your outfits and because of that have an even better time. Promise.
I am away for 8 nights and 9 days and seeing my mum’s family, Jonny’s family and then my Dads family and will be doing a variety of different activities as well as wanting to work out and want to dress up to feel Christmassy. I also know that each family has a different take on whats ‘dressy’ too. Plus, I know I will want to feel well dressed until after we eat on Christmas day so that’s an added little extra. SO I appreciate it’s a LOT to get our tired heads around
What exactly do you need to pack?
The absolute game-changers here are what I call one-pieces… A one-piece is a dress, jumpsuit, boiler suit, playsuit, you name it but literally one item that covers your whole body. Packing 9 dresses plus a special outfit and activewear plus jackets etc would be ridiculous I know so I re-style them so a one-piece can do two days OR a day to night look.
For example, the green boiler suit I am wearing above) will cover 2 days and one evening look. How is that you ask?! Day one wear it as it comes with converse and a coat. Then at the next family wear it with a roll-neck underneath eg an animal print one and belt it, or layer over a chunky jumper and with my biker boots. I will dress it up for the pub with gold-heeled boots and leather jacket or my blazer depending on the type of pub and who I’m seeing. I could also re-purpose it with another roll neck if I needed to.
= 2 days done + a night out
I will be taking one of my Queens of Archive Dresses, probably my leopard print one. I have linked a very similar one. They travel SO easily and hardly crease which is what we want. On day one I will wear it with my biker boots, thick black tights, gold headband, and leather jacket. The next time I wear her, I will wear printed/textured tights, trainers and a blazer with earrings. If I want to dress her up I can brave bare legs and my gold heeled boots. If you are conscious of getting hot in your clothes, wear a roll neck to stop any smells.
= 4 days done + a night out
My final ‘one piece’ will be my denim boiler suit. I will re style it the same way as my green jumpsuit and wear it on the more casual day around the house. You can repurpose a roll neck on the second day and swap the denim belt to the belt you packed for the first jumpsuit or dress (see what I’m doing here) and also wear it one evening with some earrings.
= 6 days done + a night out
Now on to separates. I would pack either a jean or jean equivalent, for example a leather trouser/pleather legging and a skirt. If you pack a leather style trouser, I wouldn’t pack a leather mini as they do the same job, I would choose a colourful or printed mini. However, if you have packed jeans then go for it with a leather mini as we want as much variety as possible here.
Then choose a blouse that will work with both bottoms, something neutral like a metallic or simple like a Bretton is an easy option. Plus a body suit or easy casual t shirt that again, works woth both bottoms. Then you can mix and match both with blazer/leather jacket/trainers/converse/metallic heels/tights/belts plus the knitwear you use for layering over the jumpsuits… That’s at least 4 options alone and a couple of evening outfits…
= 8-10 days easy + evening option
As you can see, I have over-packed already and have hardly any extras at all. We obvs need one fancy outfit for Christmas Day and maybe even boxing day. I will be taking my gold sequin trousers and wearing with my gold heels, earrings and a sparkly bodysuit (that I can also wear with my jeans or mini skirt) for the main day and then trainers, headband and knitwear (that I have been re-wearing with everything else) for boxing day.
= Bonus of 2 fancy outfits
Finally, we obvs need PJs we can wear in front of the in-laws and kids, slippers and 2 pairs of bed socks. You may want one saucy little number to feel dressy in but usually, the cheese takes precedence I know.
For bras, I would take one nude that is also strapless. A t-shirt bra and one you love – I would go the whole hog and match it with your knickers… why not hey, it’s Christmas?!
I would take your fave knickers plus a few extras and don’t forget to take no VPL options if you are wearing silk or satin.
Take extra socks and mix up your tights, two plain and two textured for a good range again.
If you are outdoorsy perhaps a walking outfit and ‘proper’ coat as my mum calls it – maybe even a gilet and lastly your active wear for the odd spot of working out you may get time to do. I will take 3 sets with me.
Here’s my list for your suitcase to copy for a 9 day trip
3 x one pieces
2 x knitwear – one v neck one roll neck
2/3 layering pieces eg printed long sleeve T
1 belt
2 x jacket – eg blazer and leather/suede
2 x bottoms eg jeans/leather trousers or mini/maxi skirt
1 blouse
1 t shirt
1 bodysuit
12 x knicker
12x socks
4x tights
Biker boots
Trainers
Dressier boots
Accessories – 1 earring and one headband
Pjs, slippers, bedsocks
Saucy lingerie if you dare
3x active wear
Maybe one outdoor outfit but you could use your activewear.
1 coat but make it your fave.
Follow a clothing routine so you dont repeat outfits right after each other. For example;
Day 1 – One piece + trainers + blazer
Day 2 – Mini and blouse + boots + Leather jacket
Day 3 – One Piece + boots + knitwear
Day 4 – Jeans and body + trainers + blazer
Day 5 – One piece + trainers + leather jacket
Day 6 – Mini and body + boots + knitwear
Day 7 – One piece + trainers + blazer
Day 8 – Jeans and blouse + boots + leather
Day 9 – One piece + trainers + knitwear
My Travel do’s and dont’s
Don’t travel in a jumpsuit if you know you will need a wee stop – two words – public toilets = nightmare
Don’t travel without a steamer if you are taking linen, silk or satin items = crease central.
Don’t pack two similar things that do the same job e.g. leather trousers and a leather mini
Pack clothes spray if you get hot like me. It helps you to wash your clothes so frequently, so you are more environmentally friendly too!
Pack a couple of extra knickers because you never know, mother nature might come early
Also, pack extra socks/tights because soggy socks/tights are not the one and can make you feel quite cold and miserable.
Don’t forget to pack no VPL knickers for outfits that need them – nothing worse than an obvious knicker line!
Don’t forget your dirty clothes bag to keep things separate.
There we have it – in the bag! (so to speak) Final thing is to fold or roll neatly – whichever you prefer and be careful not to lose your earrings (speaking from experience)
Don’t forget to ENJOY your clothing, once you have packed like this, getting dressed becomes second nature and the packing drama becomes a distant memory.
Let me know how you get on, you will have one more blog from me next week,
Stylish wishes,
Sian