When it’s warm outside (maybe not now, but by the end of the week) and work is starting to get slower one can’t help but think of getting away.

To help “one” continue in that train of thought, this week we’re going to be talking about how to pack for a bulk free but fashion friendly vacation. Because no one wants to pay $25 to check a bag full of “just in cases” that end up never seeing the light of day.

Planning is a very good place to start. I used to be the kind of packer that would go through the closet, pull out my favorite one of everything, throw it all in a bag, shake it up and hope an outfit would pop out on the other side. A few trips spent regretting what I wore and taking too long to figure it out later, and I was ready to make a change and a plan.

Now, I plan every inch of what I’m wearing and pack only that (uttering the phrase “Just in case” for only one outfit). So it helps to plan, weeks in advance even (that way it eliminates any late night non-caring t-shirts being thrown into the pile). And it helps (in more than one way) to know your trip itinerary. It’s hard to pack for what you’re doing if you don’t know what you’re doing.