I know we’ve all been saying it since Valentine’s Day – but spring break is finally here! We just have three simple steps between us and SB2k11:
1. Get through one more all-nighter with our fave Z. Smith Reynolds
2. Ace those midterms
3. Pack our bags
But are you one of those girls who finds the last step way more difficult than the first two? Packing all the right things for a trip without going overboard can actually be pretty tough! In the past, I’ve always been one of those special chosen ones – the few, the proud, the over-packers. We’re the girls who bring a whole extra suitcase designated solely (no pun intended) for shoes, even when it’s just a weekend trip. Honestly, when I went away for winter break last year, I dragged along more bags with me than Joan Rivers would have under her eyes if she’d never discovered Botox.
Of course every collegiette™ has to be the best dressed girl at the resort, or she wants to show off her newly developed super-cool-Wake-girl style to all her home friends. But it was such a dagger that one time I had to pay the airline fee because I just so happened to go over the maximum baggage weight allowance – oops. However, I have definitely improved: this year, I’ve been really focusing on the art of packing, and I’ve slowly learned that I may possibly be able to survive any given vacation without four different pairs of jeans. I figured now, with Spring Break upon us, is the perfect time to share my newfound packing knowledge with you, my fellow collegiettes™, whether you’re heading to the beach, to the slopes, or home for some well-deserved R&R. It may sound crazy, but it really is possible to pack light and still look fabulous every day of your vaca!
Beach Bum
If you’re one of those lucky girls heading somewhere hot and sunny, first of all, I’m already jealous of the soon-to-be stellar tan. But second, you may not know it yet, but you really have the easiest type of trip to pack for – you’ll be rocking bikinis all day every day anyway, and those take up no room in a suitcase whatsoever! But seriously, packing for a trip to some exotic beachy locale is a cinch.
I always start with shoes, and in this case, all you’ll need is some flip flops for the beach, some nicer sandals or heels for going out at night, and a pair of sneakers in case you want to do some exercise or some sightseeing that requires a bit of a hike. Next, toss in your bag a couple bathing suits – just a few! Remember, you don’t need to have a different bikini for every single day of your trip; it causes weird tan lines anyway. Pack just one bathing suit cover up. There is nothing wrong with wearing the same thing over your suit every time you hit the beach/pool, and this way the hottie at your resort will more easily recognize you as you strut by him every day on your way to claim the perfect tanning spot. Now add to your bag a cute outfit for every night you’re planning on going out after the beach. Make sure to plan these outfits; don’t just throw in a bunch of random tops and bottoms – you’ll end up packing more than you need and not even wearing a bunch of the stuff you bring. Sundresses are perfect for looking cute at night, and they’re a one-piece outfit, so they take up so little room in a bag. Finally, make sure to add one pair of pants and a long sleeve top, sweater or sweatshirt; even if you’re going somewhere really warm, it will most likely be a bit chilly some nights.
Skiing Sista
Are you the sporty-kinda-collegiette™ who’s planning on hitting the slopes this spring break? You definitely need to pack light, because you’ll be toting along some supersize items (like skis or a snowboard, your boots, and your massive coat) in addition to your regular clothes for the trip.
Again, I always like to start with shoes – and your feet will be stuck in ski boots all day, so that takes care of that! Of course, you should also pack a pair of cute flats, boots, or heels for après-ski dinners and fun, and maybe a pair of sneakers if you feel like hitting the hotel’s gym. Next, you obviously need to pack your skiing clothes. The key is to bring enough to stay warm without filling your bags up with too much bulky clothing. Bring a few long-sleeved Under Armour Coldgear tops as your bottom layer, and a couple of pairs of spandex tights or leggings to wear under your waterproof pants. If you wear those super warm bottom layers, the only other item you’ll need is some sort of fleece to wear under your ski jacket, and you can definitely wear the same fleece layer every day. And of course, don’t forget waterproof gloves and a funky hat!
After you pack your ski stuff, you can move on to packing a couple outfits for after the slopes. You’ll be all set with two pairs of pants. I always stick with jeans, one dark pair and one light pair, or one skinny and one wide-legged. Then, add a top for each night you’re away, and it will look like you’re wearing a different super cute outfit every night! Pack one nicer outfit like a skirt and top or a dress for a fancy dinner or special occasion. If you’re in a ski town, it will probably get cold at night, so keep that in mind with your outfit selection – long sleeved tops are always a good idea!
Headin’ Home
For most of us, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen mom and dad and all our high school girlfriends, so it’ll definitely be nice to go back to your hometown and just relax. Ppacking for a trip home should be really easy, because you probably already have some clothes back in your old closet! Unfortunately, it’s kind of impossible for me to give specific advice about what to pack when you’re travelling home, because Wake girls hail from all over the country, and we all have different weather where we’re from, and of course we all like to do different things when we’re chilling at home.
But one universal piece of advice: when you’re packing to go home, before you put anything in your bag, really think about whether or not you have something similar at home. If you have something at home that you could use instead of lugging an item back and forth from Wake to wherever it is you’re going, don’t pack it! Also, remember that you can always re-wear certain pieces, especially jeans and sweaters, and totally change your look by switching up shoes and accessories.
And there you have it, a packing guide for wherever you may be heading this spring break. Even if you’re going somewhere I didn’t mention above, like sightseeing in Europe, camping at Yellowstone, or volunteering in South Africa, the tips and tricks to the trade of light packing are universal. Of course, there are some essentials you always need to bring wherever you’re going: don’t ever forget pajamas, underwear, socks, and toiletries. Now that you know what you need, as soon as you finish that last midterm, get packing and, of course, have a fun and safe spring break!