Packing light is such a nice concept in theory; but if you’re like me, it’s really hard to pick only the things that I “need” for a trip. Over the years, I’ve packed quite a few suitcases and can now say that I have a method to my madness. To keep you sane and hopefully avoid those ‘over 50 lbs airport luggage fees’, take a hint from my packing strategy:

1. Start With The Basics

Every trip will require the basics: a casual tee shirt, great fitting jeans, a sturdy handbag, bikini (hello hot tub!), and of course a coat. Depending upon your final destination you may have to switch out a few items due to weather (ie a puffer coat instead of a cropped moto-jacket for a ski trip, or flirty skirts instead of printed pants, etc). When you’re gathering your basics, make sure they’re in neutral colors like black, white, gray, and navy. These pieces will be your building blocks to creating easy outfits that mix with your colored pieces.

2. Add In Complimenting Colors

Here’s the fun part! Picking out a color scheme for your trip can be really exciting, especially when you start to take inspiration from your destination. Like if you’re going to the tropics, you might want to pick vibrant colors that resemble floral filled jungles and bright blue beaches!

Personally, I like to pick three colors that all compliment one another (and me!) so that I can make a ton of different looks with only a few pieces. Be sure to add in a print or two to keep things interesting! Since you can mix the colors with each other and the neutral basics, you are giving yourself lots of options.

3. Pick Neutral Accessories

Accessories are probably the easiest part of packing for me because I choose pieces that can go with any outfit. I’m a firm believer that every outfit needs a little bit of bling and sparkle, so I choose a lot of statement necklaces and sparkling earrings. Having only one watch for all your outfits makes accessorizing really easy too.

Generally, I choose to go with either all silver or all gold jewelry so that they mix and match easier (I’m not too much a fan of mixing metals, but that’s just me!) If you change out your phone case to match your outfits normally (guilty!) try to pick only one for the trip that mixes with your color palette to make it easy on yourself and save space.

4. Rationalize Shoes

Personally, I had a real challenge cutting down my shoe count when packing because I believed that every outfit should have a coordinating pair of shoes. That’s just not realistic though! Instead of packing individual outfits with coordinating shoes, I decided to invest in simple shoes that are in neutral colors so that they will mix and match with each outfit. And yes, leopard print is a neutral! Shoes weigh more than you think they do and take up tons of space, so do yourself a favor and cut down on how many pairs you bring.

I hope this guide helps you to pack smarter and lighter