Christmas day is creeping up on us and not only does that mean I’m running out of time to wrap presents and drink hot cider, it also means that in a matter of days I’ll be hoping on a plane, headed for a week in New York. I wanted to share some tips on how I pack for a winter break, since for some reason I find the process a lot harder than packing for a beach vacay.
Perhaps it’s the fact you need twice as many clothes, or maybe it’s the pressure of being organised over the holidays, but I take a very methodical approach when it’s time to pack for a winter break, and it goes a little something like this.
Suss out your needs. Is it going to snow? How cold is it going to be? Have you got any formal events planned? Will you be hitting the gym? Before I even think about pulling my suitcase out I sit down with my laptop + a notebook and work all this out. I look at the weather forecast for the duration of my trip (and often historical reports from that period of time too) so I know what kind of conditions I’m packing for, and I list what I’ll be getting up to. For this trip we’re expecting icy cold conditions, the possibility of a little snow and ice, and we’ve not got anything formal planned but perhaps a couple of nicer evening dinners. Doing this prep work gives me a really clear idea of what I’m going to need before I get in my wardrobe and overwhelmed.
Wash everything. Before I start actually packing, I like to get all my laundry done so that everything I own is in my wardrobe. That way I’m not left hunting round the house for a missing jumper, and I can see everything. Sometimes I forget about pieces of clothing and seeing them hanging in the wardrobe gives me a little outfit inspo. Also – it doesn’t hurt to have all your washing done before you leave for a trip, so you only have to worry about washing the contents of your suitcase when you’re home, not everything else you own too.
Make a list. And seriously – check it twice. There’s no use just throwing clothes willy-nilly into your case, that’s how you end up somewhere with 50 pieces of clothing that don’t match. Start with a few pairs of bottoms, for this trip I’m taking two pairs of jeans, a simple skirt I can wear in the day or evening, and a pair of leggings for the plane. Then work out what jumpers, tops and shirts you can pack that work with everything, so you have the maximum number of outfits for your trip. My general rule for a weeks trip is one plane outfit, three bottoms, four different tops, one evening appropriate outfit + a few accessories to mix it up a bit. I never worry about repeating outfits on winter breaks since 9/10 they’re hidden under your coat anyway!
Think long and hard about your base layers. I always take a few extra pairs of socks on winter breaks, nobody wants to stay in cold wet socks after getting caught in the snow. I tend to only pack one pair of thermal leggings for a week, but I’ll take three thermal tops (I know if I get sweaty it’ll be on my top half!). If you’re going to overpack in any department, make it hats and scarves, there’s nothing worse than being cold! Also, pick up a few pairs of Primark’s microfibre lined tights, you can slip them on under jeans and you’ll be so cozy!
Be pragmatic about footwear. Your new suede boots might look fantastic and be super comfortable, but are you going to wear them if it’s -5 and icy out? Probably not. Accept that you’re probably not going to be making any big fashion statements with your footwear, and pack sensible, grippy shoes. For this trip, I’m just taking a pair of comfy trainers and some warm snow boots!
Be generous with skincare. Cold weather + travel are both hard on the skin, so consider taking a little more skincare than usual, or sticking with the same routine you use at home. That way you’re less likely to suffer a mid trip breakout, or come home with skin dryer than the Sahara.
If in doubt, opt for layers. Think thermal tees, cosy knits, loose cardigans, warm scarves and warm coats! I tend to always take two coat options for trips, one cosy, thick, waterproof option, and one smarter, warm wool one, in case I want to look a little more polished.
Do you have a method when packing for a winter break?