Recently I spent about a week in my hometown and I gave myself a little challenge. To pack clothes that were not loungewear. And to make matters more interesting, I left this all to the last minute and packed the morning we left. But as easy as it would’ve been to just rely on my comfies, I wanted to maintain my productivity levels while not being in the comfort of my own home, and only pack comfortable pieces that could take me from day to night. I basically treated it like I was going on a casual vacation. My (last minute) packing process was simple: rather than humming and hawing over it and possibly overpacking, I immediately turned to my quality basics and my go-to outfit formula. This truly made deciding on what to pack too easy. Plus, it all fit nicely into my carry-on suitcase!
In this post I’ve outlined tips on how sticking to simple go-to pieces and considering an outfit formula can lead to an easy packing process. If you fit into the “last-minute” packer category, need a simpler way to help you pack, or need some proof that you can pack a week of outfits in a carry-on suitcase, this post is for you.
Some items in this post are PR products (labeled as c/o) and some links used in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. My goal is to inspire you to get creative with what you already have and be intentional with quality pieces you’ll love for years to come. Thank you for supporting Her Simple Sole blog!
Outfit details:
Uniqlo t-shirt, Uniqlo pants, Poppy Barley bag (c/o), Birkenstock sandals, Aritzia belt (linked similar)
1. Grab Your Favourite Basics
When it comes to packing, I like to pre-plan my outfits beforehand so I have an idea of what I’ll likely wear each day. This leads to an easier process to avoid over-packing. However, if pre-planning isn’t a part of your routine, my first tip is to stick to your favourite basic pieces. Ones that you can reach for over and over and can be styled with almost anything in your closet. Not only that, but these would most likely be easier to pack due to their classic silhouettes and lightweight fabrics. For me, this meant immediately grabbing a few pieces from my cotton t-shirt collection and one seamless bodysuit. The basics I packed include:
- Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Rib Baby Tee
- Uniqlo Mini Short Sleeve T-shirt
- Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-shirt
- Uniqlo U AIRism Oversized T-shirt
- Abercrombie & Fitch Bodysuit
Outfit details:
Uniqlo t-shirt, Uniqlo pants, Poppy Barley bag (c/o), Birkenstock sandals, Aritzia belt (linked similar)
2. Identify an Outfit Formula with these Basics
Next, consider what combination of clothes you enjoy wearing with these basics. Your favourite combination of clothes can be designated as your outfit formula. And once you have one set in stone, it makes getting dressed a lot easier. For me, my ultimate go-to outfit formula, as detailed in this Reel, consists of:
A t-shirt, a pair of wide-leg pants, and a button-up shirt.
It’s truly a favourite of mine, since the button-up shirt is treated as a “summer jacket” and is worn (where appropriate) as a third piece. It never fails to create a look that is cohesive, effortless, and comfortable. So to create this outfit formula, I also packed:
Since it’s summer, I didn’t want to go overboard with pants. Instead, I added a few pairs of shorts that are a similar style to a pair of tailored wide-leg pants, thus still being in line with my favourite outfit formula (but a summer-ized version), as follows:
Outfit details:
Everlane shirt, A&F bodysuit, A&F shorts, Poppy Barley bag (c/o), Birkenstock sandals
I’ve found tailored shorts to be some of the most comfortable styles I have, as the fabric on these are not rigid and allows for ease of movement. For days where it was too hot for a layering piece, a simple outfit of a t-shirt and pants/shorts did the trick!
For shoes and bags, I opted for 1 casual and 1 dressier piece, since either can be easily styled with my main outfit formula, as follows:
Casual
Dressy
- Bag – Gucci Mini Chain Bag
- Shoes – Dolce Vita Pilton Heels
Outfit details:
Able shirt (almost sold out, similar here and here), A&F t-shirt, Aritzia shorts, Poppy Barley bag (c/o), Birkenstock sandals
3. Bring a Versatile Outerwear Piece
Another easy tip to make packing a breeze is to consider a thoughtful outerwear piece. Since it can be worn with your travel day outfit, you’ll save precious cargo space for other pieces you plan to wear throughout your time away. It’s an obvious tip, but one that can often be overlooked. I brought my Modern Ambition Cropped Jacket since it’s classic silhouette went with pretty much all the basic staples mentioned above.
Outfit details:
Modern Ambition jacket, Uniqlo t-shirt, A&F shorts, Poppy Barley bag (c/o), Dolce Vita heels, Aritzia belt (linked similar)
4. Consider a One-And-Done Piece
One-and-done pieces, like a dress or jumpsuit, is another way to pack with ease and get dressed easily. If a 3-piece outfit formula isn’t your jam, a one-and-done outfit formula may just do the trick for you. For summer, I like to opt for lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton that are easy to roll up, thus taking up little space in my suitcase. These included:
Outfit details:
Dynamite jumpsuit, Dolce Vita heels, Gucci bag, So Pretty Cara Cotter earrings
Outfit details:
Tradlands dress, Dolce Vita heels, Vivaia tote bag
