Vacation Clothing Buying Guide

Pack well and pack light

Struggling to zip over-packed luggage closed, hauling it from your car to the check-in, yanking it off of a luggage carousel: when you cram your luggage full of clothes, you're exhausted before you've even reached your hotel. You don't need to bring every article of clothing you own; there are many situations that just aren't going to come up. Besides, you'll need to have room in your suitcase for all the souvenirs you'll want to buy!

"Pack light" is advice you've probably heard before, but you may not have realized that it's really more about packing wisely than it is about merely leaving things out of your suitcase. It means bringing the clothes you will really need and use while you are on your vacation--nothing more, nothing less. Regardless of where you are traveling, this includes checking what the weather is going to be like and planning what your schedule is going to include.

If you're flying to your destination, remember that packing wisely also means following the rules from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Be sure to go over the TSA packing tips to make sure you're within regulations.

Make a plan

Wherever you travel and whatever you do when you get there, you'll enjoy yourself more if you have the right clothes. Deciding what the right clothes are, though, is where it can get tricky. You want to be prepared for the activities you're planning, dressed appropriately for the weather and, of course, comfortable. Planning ahead is the best way to make sure your clothes fulfill all of those needs. Think about your schedule and how you would like to be dressed when you are doing those activities. This guide will help you make a plan for men's clothing and women's clothing.

Streamline your vacation wardrobe

Many smart packers recommend creating a "capsule wardrobe," where all the clothes you bring can be mixed and matched. You can make this easy with neutral colors, or have fun and shop for several pieces in coordinating colors. Not only will you be able to create more outfits with fewer items of clothing, but you'll also need to bring fewer accessories. For example, one scarf can be worn around your neck with one outfit, as a belt with another and as a headband with one more.

Remember, too, that you can wear some items of clothing a few times while you are on your trip. A dinner outfit one night can be a lunch outfit a few days later. One jacket can be worn during a cool evening at a patio café and during an afternoon rainstorm. You don't need to bring duplicates.

Sun-and-sand vacation

Sunny days spent by the pool or on the beach, warm nights by a bonfire or at an outdoor restaurant: a vacation at a tropic locale is all about relaxation. Pack clothing that lets you enjoy the sun in comfort.

Bring

• Swimsuit: The most essential clothing for this vacation is your swimwear. Unless you are going to be on your trip for more than a week, one swimsuit is probably enough.
• Beach cover up: You'll want something to wear when you're going from your room to the pool or when you get up from your beach towel to buy a drink. Choose a beach cover up that coordinates with your swimwear.
• Sandals: You'll want two pairs of sandals: one dressy pair that can be worn to restaurants and one casual pair to wear with your swimsuit.
• Casual clothes: Before you plan the clothes you're going to pack, think about your itinerary. Are you making specific plans, like horseback riding on the beach? Bring a pair of jeans. Or do you have general plans, like window shopping and maybe a spa treatment? Bring casual pants, shorts and tee shirts.
• Dinner clothes: If you're planning on going out to a few nicer restaurants, make sure you have a few outfits that are more dressed up. A sundress or two for women and a pair of khakis and a few button-down shirts for men should be enough. Most places don't expect tourists to dress too formally, and the natives probably dress fairly casually themselves.

• Sunglasses: Protecting your eyes from the sun is important, especially when you are spending all day outside. Pick up a good pair of sunglasses before your trip.
• Sun hat: Sunglasses aren't the only protection you need. You're counting on the sun shining on you while you're on this trip, so prepare for it with a sun hat.
• Tote bag: Use a tote bag to carry your beach gear, to pack a picnic or to transport your souvenirs.

Leave at home

• Formal clothes: Most vacation destinations have a relaxed dress code wherever you go, except for the fanciest of restaurants. Don't fill your suitcase with gowns and suits.
• Most of your warm clothes: You'll probably only need one sweater, jacket or hoodie during a trip like this, so don't bring too many.

Ski and snow vacation

Fun days playing on the slopes and cozy evenings relaxing in the lodge: a ski and snow vacation is all about enjoying a winter wonderland. In addition to your skiing or snowboarding gear, you'll need clothing for layering during the day and lounging at night.

Bring

• Sweaters: Not only will you want a sweater as a layer when you're on the mountain, but sweaters are practically the uniform of ski town restaurants and bars. If you bring one sweater for every day of your vacation, you will likely use them all.
• Coats: You can wear your ski coat all over town, but you may want to bring a winter coat to wear in the evening while your ski coat dries or airs out--depending on how your day went!
• Boots: You can't wear your ski boots everywhere. You'll want to have a pair of regular boots to wear when you're off the mountain.
• Warm hat and scarves: Don't forget about the accessories that will keep you warm when you're not wearing all of your snow gear. You'll be glad you have a scarf on those snowy nights.

• Evening clothes: Plan ahead for what your evenings will hold: restaurants, which may require dresses and sport jackets, or casual spots, where you can pair your sweaters with jeans.
• Lodge clothes: After a long day on the slopes, you may want to just relax at the hotel or lodge. Bring loungewear, like warm-up sets and slip-on shoes, so you can really kick back.

Leave at home

• Warm weather clothing: No matter how hot you may feel from a day at the ski resort, you won't want to put on shorts and a tank top. It gets cold quickly in those mountain towns, so only bring clothes that will keep you warm.
• Sandals: Icy sidewalks and slushy streets would make sandal-wearers miserable.

Sightseeing in the city

Museums, historic sites and interesting architecture: whether you're visiting a large metropolis or a few quaint villages, you'll want to wear clothes that let you move about comfortably. Before you shop for this vacation, do a bit of online research about how the locals dress--you can learn what they know about the climate and lifestyle and you won't stand out too much while you're there. You don't need to give yourself a whole wardrobe makeover, but you may appreciate seeing some details, like what kind of jackets they are comfortable wearing in their locale.

Bring

• Comfortable shoes: More than any other item of clothing, you'll want to have shoes that let you walk everywhere. Bring two pairs, in case one pair gets wet. Sneakers make excellent sightseeing shoes, but you may want boots if you're going someplace cold. If you want a dressier alternative, women may like to bring a comfortable pair of flats, while men may prefer loafers.
• Casual sightseeing clothes: The shirts, pants or shorts you wear will depend on where you're visiting and what you'll be doing there. As you plan your itinerary, make notes about what you would want to wear there. Museum on Monday? Bring nice pants and a button-down shirt. Hiking on Tuesday? Make sure you have jeans or sturdy shorts and a tee shirt. Plan for each day of your trip.
• Jacket or Sweater: Remember to research conditions beforehand, but always be prepared with at least one jacket or sweater in case of inclement weather. Give yourself some layering options with your other clothes. Remember that if you are visiting religious sites, like cathedrals, you'll need to wear clothes that cover you well. Bringing sweaters or wraps gives you something to throw on when you go inside and easily shed when you go back out into the sun.
• Dinner clothes: Bring an outfit or two that will let you go to restaurants where you can sample the local specialties. Again, this means planning ahead. If the local specialty is fish and chips or deep dish pizza, dressing for dinner would require more casual clothing than if the specialty is fine wine and lobster.
• Shoulder bag: Women will want to carry a handbag that holds enough essentials for a day of sightseeing. A shoulder bag lets you wear your handbag across your body, warding off purse-snatchers who are looking for tourists.

Leave at home

• Wrinkly clothes: Some packers have tricks for keeping clothes smooth, but if this type of folding seems like too much of a science, avoid packing clothes that wrinkle heavily.
• Fancy shoes: Whether it's figuring out a new city's train system or walking a country lane, you'll be on your feet quite a bit. Preserve your fanciest shoes by leaving them at home.

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