Carrying on our summer tradition, Kimberly and I are taking to the blog to share what we are packing for summer vacation. Last year you got to see Kimberly's capsule wardrobe for her trip to London and Amsterdam. This time around, I am excited to give you an inside look at what I will be wearing during a week in Ibiza, Spain.

Stay Stylish,
M&K

Beach here I come! For the first time in almost 4 years, I am actually taking a lengthy vacation filled with sun, sand, and friends. Where you ask? I am flying to London for 2 days and then heading to Ibiza, Spain for a week. 

Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

I guess now is a good time to let you in on a little secret - I love to help my clients pack for trips, but packing for myself is one of my least favorite tasks. Enter the best styling partner ever. Kimberly generously came over first thing on a Monday morning to not only help me pack, but also create some of my favorite outfits for the trip! If you have a vacation coming up and are feeling a mental block, it always helps to have a fresh set of eyes look over your wardrobe. Often times they will see something that you haven't.

Assess Your Needs

While I typically try to travel light, I decided to indulge myself this trip by ditching the carry-on and packing plenty of options. I knew that I would need outfits that could take me from a day on the beach to a night out. And given our itinerary, I needed at least 2 dressier evening looks. Oh, did I mention that I would also be seeing a lot of DJ sets? So that means comfortable shoes that I can dance all night in.

Make a Shopping List

When I travel, I like to make extensive lists of everything I need by category: accessories, clothes, shoes, toiletries, carry-on items, etc. That way I can check things off as I get them. Even better, when it comes time to pack I already have detailed lists of everything I need to remember. This also helps keep you accountable and not over-spend on items that you don't really need or overpack items that you may not even end up wearing.

Choose Where To Invest

Since San Francisco never has a "real summer" I ended up buying a number of new hot weather items for my trip. Big on my list were swimsuits. coverups, easy dresses, and sandals. I knew I could always put a denim jacket or blazer over a dress in cooler temps, so I felt more comfortable investing in both maxi and midi dresses. I also wanted to leave room to buy some special pieces abroad if I saw something that I just had to have, so I purposely left space for new additions.

I wear a swimsuit maybe 4 times a year, so that was one category where I held back from splurging. Instead I bought 5 moderately priced swimsuits to have a fun variety. Stay tuned to see if they hold up...

Pro Tip: Pack your swimsuits in ziplock bags. It will keep them organized in your suitcase and you have somewhere to stick your wet suit after a day at the beach.

Don't Forget Your Travel Outfit

I am going to be honest, what I travel in may be the most important outfit I prepare for a trip. Especially if it is a red eye or international flight. Comfort is key, so I usually pack a second outfit in my carry-on that I can change into either when it's time to sleep on the flight or during a long layover to freshen up a bit.

For this particular trip, it is a straight 10 hour flight to London. I am always cold on planes, so I wanted something I could cozy up in while still not feeling too schlumpy when I land. I've been in love with my "Female Equals Future" sweater since I bought it. It's super soft, while making a positive statement. For the flight, I've paired it with knit cropped leg track pants, a tunic length black tank, and my new flower embroidered jacket. My white sneakers are comfortable and easy to wear, and I always pack an extra pair of socks in my carry-on to put on once we take off.

Pro Tip: Wear bulkier items (such as a sweater or sneakers) on the plane to free up room in your suitcase.

Here is the complete picture of my Ibiza wardrobe. Stay tuned... next I will be sharing my 5 must-have vacation 5.