How To Pack For a Weekend Trip

It has been a VERY long time since I went on a trip. And last time I traveled away for a weekend was when I was abroad. So the thought of trying to pack for a little trip is very stressful! I used to be a good packer- just enough to have options but not overpacked. Since I am currently packing for a little weekend getaway to Chicago (hi Chicago friends!), I thought this blog post might be helpful for others! What to pack when you want to pack everything you own? Heres a little guide so you have everything you need, while also looking and feeling your best for the weekend!

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

This is my all time favorite packing advice to anyone. It is the best possible solution to overpacking. Create a small capsule wardrobe for your weekend looks, so you can bring as little as possible but still have TONS of outfit options. In order to create a capsule wardrobe, you want to choose really neutral pieces that can be worn in multiple different ways. I recommend a couple tops, two or three pants, and two or three pairs of shoes. And boom done! Then you can throw in a fun bag or two and jewelry to make the outfits more fun and chic! An example of a capsule wardrobe for fall/ cooler weather would look something like this.

Pack In a Small Bag and Carry On

I know this one might be really hard for some people, but if you follow the capsule wardrobe piece of advice it's totally doable. Packing in a carry on is also the easiest way to travel for a weekend. Plus, then you don't have to wait for all your luggage and can be easily on and off the plane. I recommend bringing a carry on with wheels so you can manage everything with ease. I usually pack in a wheeling carry on bag and then a tote bag. I can throw a bunch of random things in the tote- my computer, sunglasses, airpods, my wallet etc. in the tote and then just wheel the tote on top of the carry on so it isn't too heavy. So easy and super manageable in the airport!

Try On All Outfits Before Packing

There is nothing worse than packing an outfit for a trip and then getting there and hating the outfit on. Then you either have to suffer through or stress about what else to wear. When you are only going somewhere for a few days, you don't want any of that added stress. Try on all the outfits you know you will wear on your trip before you pack them. If you are packing in a capsule wardrobe fashion, try on all the different outfit combinations! I would even recommend taking pictures of all the outfits on (jewelry and all) so that you can just look at your pictures, decide what to wear, and you're done. It really does make your life SO much easier, and you can feel confident and chic in whatever you end up wearing- no stress involved!

Limit The Number Of Shoes You Bring

To be honest, the hardest part of packing for me is figuring out what shoes to bring. But when you are packing just for a weekend ( and in a carry on) you really need to limit your shoes. They take up so much space in a bag, and can be really heavy. So I recommend trying to only bring two pairs. This isn't always realistic (especially if you're going to an event) but it is a goal, and really does make packing easier. I would recommend a sneaker for sure and for this time of year, some kind of boot. The easiest way to limit the number of shoes you need to bring, is to create outfits starting from your shoes. If you start building outfits based on shoes, you won't need any more pairs and the shoes will coordinate with your outfits perfectly!

Let me know if there are any specific blog posts you want to see coming up, and if any of these tips help you!! Leave a comment about your favorite packing tips for a weekend trip!