Top 5 Tips for Packing for Summer
Hats!
At the risk of sounding like my mother, the first and most important thing to pack for summer trips (and really just to have) is a hat. Now, you might say, well I’m not a hat person. You just haven’t found the right kind of hat yet! If you’re thinking, ‘no Maggie, really I’m not a hat person,’ consider scarves and sunglasses. Not only are all three of these things fun accessories, but they also protect you head and face from the sun! I’m a big fan of a floppy brim, straw hat, they go with everything. Mr. C. prefer’s baseball caps and duck hats (I hate the second choice but I love him so there we are).
Consider Others
There are tons of lists of what to pack for summer. Pinterest is overflowing with them. They’re great, but consider them, without taking them as law. Some, in my opinion, have you packing much more than you need. Others might not fit your exact trip style or locale (please do not wear stilettos where there may be cobblestones). Using these lists as inspiration certainly, but make sure to take your personal needs into account and be ruthless about what you NEED.
Check the Weather
This relates to the above point about taking personal needs into account. It is always important to check what the “summer” weather is in the place you’re traveling to. You can do this via Google early on in your planning. Summer for me in VT is usually humid, 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and about 50/50 sunshine and rain. Summer in the south of France is dryer but hotter and much sunnier. These locales require different packing lists. Also, when you get about a week away from your trip, check what the actual weather is supposed to be (accuracy taken with a grain of salt). Perhaps there is a projected cold snap or heat wave, or it’s rainier than normal. Adjust your packing accordingly.
Sunscreen
This is along the hats line but you should always always not only pack but wear sunscreen in your summer travels. Those of us in the northern climes and those of us heading to beachy places especially! Not wearing sunscreen for a day on the Cape will not give you a nice “base layer”. You will become akin to the resident lobsters. I know this.
Linen
Linen, a type of cloth, is everyone’s best friend for summer clothes. It is lightweight, dries quickly, and wrinkles just enough for that casual summer vibe (this is a lie, it wrinkles easily so ROOOOLLLLL when packing). Shorts, dresses, slacks, tank tops, suits, jackets, all work in linen and give you a classy, Mediterranean vibe. Bonus, if you’re a crafty person with a sewing machine, it’s a fairly easy material to work with so you can make your own summer wardrobe.
