How To Dress For Less When Traveling

Although I love traveling, packing for an upcoming travel definitely isn’t one of my favorite activities. The reason: it’s a constant battle between my heart and my head. While my heart wants to pack 20 different outfits for a 4-day trip (I know, right?), my head (and my other half 😊) keeps telling me to pack as light as possible!

And the problem isn’t the number of outfits, alone. Deciding what to wear and pack takes up most of my mind space in the months prior to the trip.

I’m sure many of you can relate with me here, especially all you pretty ladies out there 😊 After all, we do want to look our best while posing in those pictures, to be treasured lifelong. So I thought I’ll write a quick piece about planning what to wear on a trip. Something that saves space and doesn’t burn a hole in your pockets too.

I’ve recently shared my Macau travel guide with you all. I’m going to be referring to that trip in this article to help explain what I’m talking about.

Consider the local weather

The first thing I always do before deciding my travel outfits is checking the local weather at the time of travel. This will give you a great idea on whether to pack clothes suited for the summer, winter or monsoon.

We traveled to Macau in November, when the weather is really pleasant. It is usually sunny in the mornings, with occasional showers and slightly chilly in the evening and night. So dresses, tops, and shorts were going to be the code for the day. Also, I usually pack a light jacket for the evenings.

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My look for Day 1 at Macau: Denim shorts from H&M, purse from a local store, top and shoes bought online from Myntra.

The places you will be going to

For your usual sight-seeing, easy breezy sundresses or shorts are fine. However, Macau also has a nightlife including casino hopping, so cocktail dresses are appropriate for the evenings.

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My look for Day 1 evening: Cocktail dress by Label Ritu Kumar bought online on Myntra.

The mode of travel

The mode of travel is a key consideration when it comes to selecting your shoes. Some dresses are best paired with heels. But if you’re going to be walking about a lot, you need to choose flats or wedges. Always pack shoes that are comfortable and will complement your attire too.

The duration of travel and your itinerary

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. The number of days you’ll be spending at a place will determine the number of outfits to carry. Also, make sure to check your itinerary. If you are planning on sight-seeing during the day and retire to your hotel in the evening, a single outfit for the day is enough. If you’re planning on going out at night too, make it two.

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My look for Day 2: Simple black denim, the same shoes and sling bag from Day 1 and top by All About You from Myntra.

So for a 2-day trip to Macau in November, this is what I carried essentially:

One pair of shorts, one pair of denim, a couple of tops, a cocktail dress and two pairs of shoes. If that ain’t minimalism (in a girl’s dictionary), I don’t know what is!

Do you have any other tips to share for packing light during your travels? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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