1. Deciding on the number of clothes
For trips less than one week, a workable rule of thumb is one shirt per day, one bottom per every two days, one sweater, two pairs of shoes, and underwear for every day. Seasonal additional can be made accordingly e-g a bathing suit.
2. Plan to wash rather than bringing more clothes
The same numbers should be followed when you are travelling for more than a week. You should plan on washing your clothes rather than bringing more. Hotel dry cleaning or laundry service can be availed if the exchange rates of the country, you have travelled to, are good and you are not facing a tight budget.
3. Two pairs of shoes are sufficient
Though it is hard to imagine that just two pairs of shoes are sufficient to cover all occasions, its true and you should stick with the ‘two pairs of shoes ‘rule. You should bring a casual pair and a dressy one. The dressy pair would suite great with pants or skirt. The casual pair would be used to walk across. You would not need running shoes unless you plan to run.
4. Considering multiple uses of a jacket
To pack lighter, you should consider multiple uses of a jacket. An olive-green or navy blue blazer really suits over jeans. It would also suite with business slacks. A long fancy coat suites as a casual outfit.
5. Complementary colours
If you want to have greater latitude in the choice of your outfits, you should pack complimentary coloured dresses e.g grey, black, and red, or green, brown and beige. In this way, more mileage will be sought out of fewer accessories.
6. Shopping
You should get such cloth elements which will tie your wardrobe together. It will enable you to pack fewer things. The key clothing items of children, if outgrown, should be reoutfitted before travelling.
7. Opting for wrinkle-proof, light weight fabrics
While packing, prefer choosing light-weight, compact, wrinkle resistant and washable clothes.
8. Choosing a travel outfit
You should carefully select an outfit to wear while travelling. Opting for the heaviest cloth might be your choice but you should take care that the cloth breathes. A bit of layering is suggested because the cabin temperatures vary often. Heavy winter coat should be left at back home or in the car truck if you are heading towards south.
9. Travel ready your cloth on time
Once you have selected your cloth, see which ones need to be washed, dry-cleaned or mended. Get them ready before time. If you are travelling with children, have them try their clothes they will be wearing on vacations. Some of the clothes they used in the last trip might have out grown.
