Best Dressed: Packing for A Summer Trip

Image courtesy of AWAY Travel

Two years ago my family and I went on a trip to Europe, starting in Rome, then Monterosso on the coast of Italy, Provence, and then Paris. It was a fabulous vacation and also the longest we had ever travelled....3 weeks in total. Getting ready for that lengthy of a trip is challenging enough when it is just me, but getting us all together and out the door proved to another challenge. Not that these are sad problems, after all, we were packing for a European vacation. Perspective.

Prior to our trip we bought roller duffle bags for each of us that were narrow enough to get through the train aisles, since we were doing quite a bit of train travel during the 3 weeks we were away. We were very prepared for the trip; my husband made a binder that held every bit of information we needed and even included toll fare for the roundabouts on the freeway in France! Talk about organized. I have to admit we made a few rookie mistakes too. Disclaimer here: I am not an expert on travel, or packing for sure, but I do have a couple things I that I would love to share. Here is my short list for do's and don'ts when I travel.

DON'T Overpack
While that might work out during domestic travel, its a bit of a disaster if you are traveling internationally. This time I am going to use restraint when packing and stick to a color scheme that can be mix and matched, like neutrals with a pop of color. I am going to chose lighter weight pieces that can be layered under warmer ones, easy to pack dresses for the warmer spots, and pair down the shoes. Plan, coordinate and when in doubt, leave it home. Unless your headed to a desert island you are probably ok without it. And if you are, you won't need those wedges that take up too much room
anyway, right?

The Carry On Smart Bag. Image courtesy of AWAY

DO The Right Bag
The roller duffle bags we used last trip were great in many way: they held a lot, were flexible, and were narrow enough for rolling through aisles, However, they are also heavy, even without being packed. Not good. This time I am bringing an AWAY bag, which is super lightweight, has 360 degree wheels and have a built in system for compacting your belongings perfectly. I took a recent trip to NYC with my AWAY medium bag, the smart bag Bigger Carry On (that includes a charger) and the Everywhere Bag which attaches neatly with it's pocket sleeve on top of any bag. I highly recommend these bags—they were easy to handle, lift, and zip through streets and airports. They even come with a laundry bag. Don’t leave home without them!

DO Use Packing Cubes
These are the best invention ever for the traveler. I bought a set of packing cubes for each of us and you can easily organize all of your belongings: sweaters, pants, undergarments etc by cube and then just pop them into the suitcase. When you arrive at your destination they can easily be placed in drawers in the hotel room and they keep your things organized and tidy. So good. Get them at AWAY or eBags.

Image courtesy of Madewell

DO Wear A Dress!
This year we are fortunate enough to be spending another extended amount of time in Europe, staring in London, Bath, Provence, Paris and then Iceland. It has been a very challenging year for my family and I am looking forward to this with gratitude. One of the items I am going to make a main part of my wardrobe is a selection of dresses.

Dresses are the best. They are an easy way to look stylish and you can layer them with a blouse of tshirt, dress them up with heels or down with sneakers and sandals. I am planning on packing (not overpacking this time…) a handful of versatile, chic little dresses that will look as good with my favorite sneakers as they do out to dinner. Here are a few of my favorites for a fabulous bit of summer, whether you are headed to the park, a picnic, and epic trip or just want to look damn good.

Image courtesy of AllSaints

The Marlow Kazuno Dress by AllSaints

This dress, you had me at hello! The Marlow Dress is a wrap-dressing the Kazuno print, inspired by vintage Japanese patterns. It's tied on the side at the waist-tie, and has the most flattering silhouette, I loved the feminine ruffles at the sleeves and skirt and it has a subtle slit in the front. Chic and gorgeous.

Image courtesy of Nordstrom

Denim Pintuck Cami Dress by Madewell

Denim dresses are so quintessential summer, and this one by Madewell is especially lovely because the fabric is lightweight. The pin tucks are flattering and the skirt is roomy enough to wear on a bike ride, yet still flatters. It also comes in a black with tiny strawberries all over it. Layer it over a fitted t-shirt or blouse for cooler days. Love.

Images courtesy of Shopbop

Haidee Dress by PAIGE

Stripes and summer just go together. PAIGE not only makes great denim, their Haidee Dress is so fabulous that you will not be able to stop wearing it all summer. Cool details like a tucked crisscross back, sweet/sexy button front and raw edge hem make this dress stand out from the crowd, and so will you when you wear it.

Image courtesy of Nordstrom

Off The Shoulder Ruffle Maxi Dress by Chelsea28

This dress is elegant and easy. Floral print dresses are it for summer and this cool chic maxi by Chelsea28 shows off shoulders in the perfect warm weather silhouette. Even better, it can be washed and tumbled dry and worn again and again on your travels.

Image courtesy of Shopbop

Two Piece Smoked Set by ENGLISH FACTORY

Two piece dress sets are everywhere this season and I love all of them, but being as I am a bit older I wanted to tread carefully. I adore this checkered set by ENGISH FACTORY because there is just a tiny peek of skin and the skirt is high enough waisted to be make you look your summery best without oversharing. Perfect for those super hot days!

Images courtesy of & Other Stories

Striped A-Line Dress by Designed in Stockholm

Everyone needs a white dress for summer and this one by Designed in Stockhom at & Other Stories is stellar. The classic shirt dress with a twist, this cool piece has short sleeves, a v-neck, fit and flare silhouette and a duo d-ring neck tie. The tiny pin stripe makes it fresh looking and perfect for looking put together day to night.

Whether you are planning a staycation or headed out to see the world, cheers to a sunny and adventurous summer. xx