It’s summer and the sun is out, temperatures are high and business may have been slow these past few weeks. It’s also the start of your slow season (which is the norm for you) and you want to start planning your next vacation but what should you pack for this vacation or any vacation or trip?

Packing for a trip or vacation could feel like a nightmare when you don’t know where to start or how to go about packing. It doesn’t matter how many vacations or trips  you’ve had to prepare for in the past, it’s okay if you haven’t cracked the code yet and that’s why Miien is here for the rescue. One of the most common things a lot of our clients  complain about is not knowing where or how to start packing with such a jam-packed trip itinerary. If this describes you but you want more, a 1:1 service with a professional, to assist you with packing for your vacation or trip, Click here to apply for the Miien closet/wardrobe management service. 

This article covers the ultimate packing guide for whatever type of trip you are taking, whether it’s a vacation, a business trip, or a personal get-away. In this article, we will be going  through the strategies you need to consider to help you have an effective packing experience, maximize your options and prevent you from over-packing or packing less than what you need.

If you follow this checklist each time you have a trip to plan, then you can bid farewell to ineffective packing.

 The Ultimate Checklist For a Stress-Free Travel

Wash all your clothes (so you can see everything before you pack):

Nothing beats the satisfaction you get from having all your options set out right before you to choose from, and you will be surprised how many outfits you can miss by not doing this task before packing. Instead of thinking about shopping for new clothes whenever you are planning a trip, how about you try something different this time by sorting out all your current clothing. Yes, it could be a lot of work but this will not only save you money from buying things you may already have in your wardrobe, you are most likely to find clothes you didn’t even remember you had in your closet. With this exercise, you can have extra 2-3 combinations curated from the additional options of clothing you’ve washed. 

Also from a sanitary point of view, it is not advisable to pack dirty clothes for your trip, some people do this when it seems like there’s no time to do laundry or they postponed till was the last minute. As a professional with a busy schedule and very little time to get dressed daily, organizing your wardrobe will save you the time you use  to contemplate or frantically search for items in your closet daily while getting dressed, Click here if you would like to learn about managing your clothes, wardrobe declutter and the benefits of wardrobe management for better productivity in your daily life.

Having a limit (based on your suitcase size): 

After washing all your dirty clothes, and having everything set before you, It is imperative for you to use an appropriate size of suitcase that can take what you need. There’s really no need to use a large suitcase for a trip of one week or a couple of days, it’s always advisable and convenient for you to go with a fitting suitcase. Surveys have shown that a lot of women over-pack for trips, including your favorite personal stylist - Mikara Reid, and the men on the other hand pack too little. According to an article on  Afar.com, the psychology of over-packing is rooted in anxiety and the loss of control that comes with leaving one’s familiar space and for women it’s especially to avoid ‘eventualities’.

Not to excuse any level of over-packing, but there are many women who just go overboard by packing several suitcases when it’s not needed. This often happens when you don’t think first about what suitcase you will be bringing before selecting your clothes, or being indecisive about what clothes to choose. Now, the interesting thing about over-packing is that when you get to your destination, you will end up not using a lot of the clothing you packed in your suitcase. You may even say “Oh but I try not to over-pack every single time but it seems to be beyond my control”, if this describes you, here are a few tips that will save you from over-packing;

• Be decisive about your choices, don’t pack 5 red shoes just because you couldn’t decide which to take and which to leave behind. Interestingly, people/clients buy additional things if they don't have it and if you packed appropriately you should have space to bring some new items back.

• Stay within the limit of the number of clothes you require (based on your trip duration).

• Learn how to fold your clothes compact. A lot of people are surprised when they realize how much they can fit into their suitcase when the focus is on “compact” and not necessarily being neat. 

• Pack alone or if you're packing with someone, choose someone who is business minded and shrewd to checkmate you so you don't over-pack.
  
  

  Know your activities (what’s your vacation itinerary): 

This seems to be quite simple but very important if you want to pack efficiently. Here are some important questions and considerations to help you organize your vacation or trip itinerary;

The first question to get you on track is “Where is your destination?”: This will influence the choice of clothing for your trip. Let’s say it’s a vacation to Florida, and you plan to go to the beach, there will be no need to pack heavy clothing for such trip, especially because it’s summer, light clothing and beach wear will suit the theme of the vacation better.

The second important question is “What are your trip dates?” : Answering this question will not only prevent you from over-packing, it can also save you from packing less than you actually require. When you take note of your trip dates, it will help you know the number of days you will be spending at your destination so you can plan your packing volume(total number of clothing).

The third important consideration is the number of full days at the destination: Taking note of this will help you to be more detailed with your packing. You can deduce this by counting the number of days for your trip excluding the arrival and departure days.

The fourth thing you need to consider is weather forecast/predictions: this will not only help you plan for the type of clothing you will need on your trip, it will also help you schedule your activities effectively and with foresight, as you consider what the temperature range will be when you’re at your destination.

The fifth thing you need to consider is “activities happening during your trip”: With this information, you will be able to tell how many formal and informal clothing you will be needing on your trip. For example, take note if you will be attending corporate meetings, dinner nights out or afternoons at the beach. Writing out all the activities happening during your trip will definitely add detail to your packing. If you need outfit ideas to help you curate fashionable combinations that align with your  trip itinerary and resonate with your personal style, you can browse through our specially curated fashion lookbooks to find variety of collections, you can also Click here to get some ideas about how to dress to impress for holiday parties.

These 5 points have been culled from the Miien fashion wear trip planner, a guide that helps you understand or sort out your specific wardrobe interest and needs for your upcoming trip so you don’t second guess yourself when you get to your destination. Since the consultancy’s speciality is fashion identity, it’s important to also layout the necessary details before your clothing selection process and packing. This has helped many clients to be well-prepared and more confident in their trip being a huge success and using this method or hiring Mikara multiple times. Addressing any concerns or ideas you may have, you can include it in the planner.

BONUS TIP  - 16 Essential  Items You Need To Consider To Pack (Apart from clothing)

• Sunscreen

• Toothpaste

• Hand sanitizer

• Wipes

• Body moisturizer

• Facial mask 

• Face serums

• Lip balm

• Tide to-go stain remover

• lint roller

• safety pins

• Deodorant

• Socks

• Hair and Skin care products

• Hat

• Travel Steamer

Get suggestions for the best travel steamers, detailed tips on how to use colors correctly to achieve coherent combinations and more fashion tips by following us on Tiktok. Mikara specifically provides color pairing ideas on TikTok daily, browse through that profile and drop a feedback if you gathered some ideas. You can also follow us on Pinterest to get fashion wear outfit ideas from the latest collections. 

If you’re ready to discover your fashion identity and start making a statement with your personal style, the book ‘What’s Your Miien! ?’ by Mikara Reid is the perfect fashion guide to help you elevate your personal style and boost your confidence. Sign-up to MIIEN Styling Newsletter for updates about podcast, article releases, FAQ & a personal stylist's answers and perks. Also, if you have any question about how to use the Miien fashion wear planner or need help with your personal style, feel free to join Mikara on a live broadcast to discuss it or walk you through your struggles.