Are you going away this summer? It seems like everyone is! Summer is traditionally a big travel season, but I feel like this summer is even bigger. You may have postponed family vacations from the last couple of summers. Or you may be doing a few shorter trips throughout the season. Or you may just be tired of being home so much that you’re ready to go anywhere.

But it may have been a while since you packed for a vacation – and you might have gotten out of practice. So, here are some of my favorite packing tips for summer vacations, aka my always/sometimes/never list of packing advice (that works for most any kind of trip).

ALWAYS CHECK THE WEATHER (& YOUR AGENDA)

I know this may sound obvious – but no matter how many times you’ve been to your cousin’s cabin. Or to Maui. Or to New York City in the summer. It pays to check the weather for the exact days you’ll be there. Because it’s so easy for a tropical day to turn into a rainy afternoon (bring a jacket). And San Francisco isn’t the same summer weather that you may have at home (bring a sweater). And even though you’re sure you packed everything, the last thing you want to do is buy shoes you don’t need on your trip because you left the appropriate ones at home.

And while you’re at it, be realistic with your agenda. If your trip is more about hiking and less about fancy dinners, maybe you can get away with just one fun dress. And if you’re on your feet sightseeing all day, comfortable shoes are a higher priority than your cute new sandals.

ALWAYS CHOOSE A TIGHT COLOR PALETTE

Mixing and matching is the name of the game when you’re packing. The idea is that even though you have 4 tops and 4 bottoms, you can create many more than 4 outfits. And that’s where a tight color palette comes in. By keeping your colors consistent, you’re more likely to be able to wear one top with different bottoms, and vice versa.

But don’t get me wrong – a tight color palette doesn’t mean that your trip wardrobe is monotonous or boring. An easy guideline is to use is basing your wardrobe in 2 main neutrals, and then choosing a pop color (or two). But if you’re all about color, start with 2 colors and then pick a neutral accent. It’s more about being able to wear things multiple ways than about any hard and fast color rules.

If the idea of choosing a palette feels intimidating, here’s what you can do. Choose one print item that you want to bring on the trip. And then pull colors out of it to determine your trip wardrobe. Click here to see a work trip capsule in black and grey, with pops of pink and raspberry – and the inspiration for the entire capsule came from one floral blouse.

ALWAYS SELECT VERSATILE STYLES

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – mixing and matching is the priority when you’re packing for a trip or vacation. Because you’ll get the maximum number of outfits out of versatile styles that you can wear different ways. So, keep this in mind when you want to bring that top that only goes with one bottom in your suitcase.

SOMETIMES START WITH ONE OUTFIT

When I’m showing someone how to pack and they don’t really understand how to create a capsule wardrobe (because that’s what packing essentially is), I’ll use a different method. And this doesn’t work for everyone or for every trip, but it comes in handy when you just don’t know where to start.

Here’s the idea – start with one outfit. Pick one full outfit that you know you want to bring on your trip. (And of course, keep the ideas of versatility and color palette in mind.) Then take a piece from the first outfit, and use it to make another outfit with different things from your closet. Then take something else from the first outfit and make another outfit. At this point, you’ll be able to start mixing and matching – read this packing article for a more detailed explanation.

SOMETIMES PACK A BACKUP (OR TWO)

Life can be messy. And vacations can be messy, too. So, if you’re traveling with young kids or you often spill food (I’m one of those people) or you otherwise might need a backup item, go ahead and pack it. If you’ve been thoughtful and concise with the rest of your trip wardrobe, it’s okay to add in one more versatile top. Or an extra pair of pants. (I’ll often throw in an extra layering t-shirt or two, and a white button-down just in case.)

The only time I’d avoid a backup is with physically large/heavy items, like your shoes and jackets. I do recommend bringing enough shoes so that you’re not wearing the same ones every day (I’ll almost always go with the ‘wear one, pack one’ rule, no matter how short my trip.) But shoes and jackets take up a lot of space, so think it through before you pack a backup.

SOMETIMES SELECT DOUBLE DUTY PIECES

Versatility is always important, but that’s not what I mean by ‘double duty’. Double duty means items that can act as different things during your trip. Like a cardigan that you can button and wear as a top. Or a shirt dress that’s also a duster over a t-shirt and jeans. Or a long shirt that’s a top one day and a swimsuit coverup the next. This doesn’t work for everyone or for every trip – but it’s very handy when it does.

NEVER PACK SOMETHING YOU’LL ONLY WEAR ONCE

I know I’ve already said this, but the number one rule of packing is versatility. And the enemy of versatility is packing something you’ll only wear once. The only cases when it makes sense to pack something that you’ll just wear once is if there’s a fancy occasion (like a destination wedding) – and it’s the only opportunity for you to wear your cocktail dress. Or if there’s an activity that requires something special (like rock climbing shoes) that you wouldn’t otherwise wear on the trip. But if you find yourself packing shoes that only go with one outfit, I’d think twice.

NEVER PUT PRECIOUS THINGS IN CHECKED LUGGAGE

A few years ago, we went on a cruise that departed from Rome. And my husband’s suitcase arrived. And my son’s suitcase arrived. But mine didn’t – at least for a few hours. But during those few hours, I thought about two things. One was if I’d be able to buy enough clothes to get through a few days prior to boarding the ship. And the other was lamenting that I might have lost a few precious items that were irreplaceable. So, I packed my precious things in my carryon on the way home.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOE/JACKET CHOICES

No one wants to carry super heavy bags, right? Or need an extra suitcase just because you couldn’t narrow down your choices? Shoes and jackets are typically your heaviest and largest items. So, one of the most important decisions you can make when packing is which shoes and jackets you’re bringing. And this is where I am the most stringent – the shoes you bring need to work with many different outfits. And the jackets you bring need to work over most of your outfits.

My general shoe rule for any trip (from a couple of days to a week or more) is 2 pairs of daytime shoes, 1 nighttime shoe and one activity/event specific shoe if you need it. For longer trips, you can add a little – but still be very strategic.

BONUS TIP: Don’t bring anything brand new on vacation! I know this is tempting, but you really want to avoid wearing something for the first time while you’re on a trip. Ideally, you’re packing tried and true favorites from your closet. But if you find yourself shopping to satisfy vacation needs, test drive them before the trip. Wear them once or put them on for a few hours around the house (or something like that). The last thing you want to do is find out how uncomfortable or ill-fitting or inappropriate something is while you’re on vacation, when you don’t have many other choices.

Did these tips help you figure out what you’re bringing on your next trip? Ask me any additional questions in the comments.

And if you’re looking for more style inspiration on a regular basis, click here to sign up for Style Mail – my best style advice with tons of tips to make getting dressed easy and enjoyable. And when you sign up, you’ll get my free guide with the 5 ‘style basics’ that were missing from many of my clients’ closets. Because they might be missing from yours.