Packing Light Right: The Collegiette's™ Guide to Summer Vacation

Choice of destination, hotel reservation, plane ticket, and asking your boss for a week off are only half of the battle when it comes to preparing for your summer vacation. The other comes down to packing. Let’s face it, packing lightly, smartly and sufficiently for a week at the beach is a hard act to balance. Overpacking is never a fun situation, especially when it comes to lugging your bags around or making a quick day at the beach to night-out-on-the-town transition. However, underpacking puts an equally annoying damper on the week (trust me, putting on your one and only wet bathing suit is not fun).
 
At this point in our lives, we’ve all had enough packing lectures.  Tips like make a list, check it twice, organize your outfits, or go with a color scheme don’t necessarily help. So instead of cramping your style, here are a few staple items that may save you from that overweight baggage fee. 
 
The Caftan

Even if you are not planning on trekking through the deserts Sex and the City 2-style, investing in this popular summer trend is a sure way to cut your suitcase and beach bag in half. Originating in the 14th century, the full-length, loosely fitted garment is worn by both men and women in many different cultures. Finally catching on to the worldwide trend, American designers have popularized the caftan this summer with silk, chiffon, and cotton variations. Pioneering the movement is designer Camilla who released caftans as an “ultra glam work of art” with animal prints, sparkling Swarovski crystals, angel wing sleeves, lace-up necklines, and intricate studding.

Lucky for us budget-conscious shoppers, Camilla is not the only designer jumping on the caftan bandwagon. Victoria’s Secret offers a printed cotton caftan that serves as a go-to piece for the beach and for a night out, making it the perfect summer getaway item. And with funky tribalista prints, you are sure to be Sartorialist-ready at all times. For a slightly more formal option, Target recently launched the Calypso St. Barth for Target line, a less expensive spin-off of Calypso’s sexy summer cover-ups. The Calypso St. Barth for Target pink maxi caftan with a rope belt is a must-have especially for the windier summer nights.