Women’s Ivy: A Packing List for Summer Travels
Memorial Day–and summer travels–are fast approaching. At one point in my life, I spent most summer weekends away from home. (This was when I lived in D.C.—I don’t miss that humidity!) As I refused to check a bag and did not use wheeled suitcases, creating the perfect packing list was a goal of mine. My packing list, while nowhere near as iconic as the one in Joan Didion’s White Album, covered every situation I found myself in. I’ve shared my packing list, what I wear when traveling, and a few packing tips today over on Ivy Style, and below. (And, as always, you can find my summer wardrobe staples list here.)
Memorial Day–and summer travels–are fast approaching. At one point in my life, I spent most summer weekends away from home. (This was when I lived in D.C.—I don’t miss that humidity!) As I refused to check a bag and did not use wheeled suitcases, creating the perfect packing list was a goal of mine. My packing list, while nowhere near as iconic as the one in Joan Didion’s White Album, covered every situation I found myself in. As I’ve received several requests for packing lists from Ivy Style commenters, I thought I’d share my summer list in today’s post–as well as a few tips for packing and what I wear when traveling.
The Fewer & Better Summer Packing List: Women’s Ivy Edition
J. McLaughlin sailcloth duffle or old canvas duffle
A knee-length skirt
A scarf
Baseball cap
Espadrilles or Palm Beach Sandals
And in my toiletry bag:
Molton Brown shampoo and conditioner
Hand sanitizer
What to Wear
When traveling, I try to dress neatly yet comfortably. My go-to outfit consists of a wrap, a button-up shirt, chinos, and loafers. This allows me ease of movement while still looking presentable–plus, I can wear some of the items I’ll end up using during my trip!
Packing Tips
There are endless packing tip posts circulating the Internet, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are a few tips I always use when traveling:
Pick a color palette and stick with it. This allows you to minimize the number of shoes and accessories you’ll need to go with your outfits. (Eleanor Leftwich talks about this methodology on her Instagram account, and it’s worth a read!)
Lay out your outfits in advance, so that you know how you can mix and match the pieces you’re bringing with you. Snap photos of each outfit to provide you with ideas–we all have that “I don’t know what to wear!” moment, and this helps alleviate that anxiety.
Take a careful look at the activities you might participate in, and pack accordingly. Playing tennis? Double-check any clothing restrictions. On the water? Pack layers and shoes with non-marking soles.
If you’re staying at a private house, don’t forget a hostess gift!
What are your must-pack items for summer travels? What packing tips have you picked up over the years? Please share in the comments.
This article was written by me and originally published on Ivy Style as part of my Women’s Ivy column. I retain ownership of all text and images included in the original column.
