 It's summer and I'm heading north to get out of the heat. My sisters have just arrived after making the 10 hour drive from Phoenix. They walk into my bedroom and find my suitcase open and empty on the floor. I can tell one sister is slightly annoyed by her body language, tapping her toe on the ground, arms folded. My other sister says, well we could go shop at the outlets, I need a new dress....this packing stuff is bound to take a while. They continue to discuss their options on how to fill the next hour. As they're deliberating, I go to my closet, sandwich a group of clothes between my hands, lift them out of the closet and lay them in my suitcase. I grab my make-up case, throw in my swimsuit, shoes, hat, underwear and zip up the suitcase. I'm ready to go. The girls are still trying to settle on a store to shop at. When was the last time packing for a trip was a breeze for you? Packing efficiently is all about great planning. And this happens much earlier than the day of the trip. In fact, my closet is always organized with different groups or clusters of clothes for different occasions. Getting ready on a daily basis is quick and so is packing for a trip! It's also efficient. Who wants to lug around a heavy bag while on vacation? Or pay extra for bags at the airport? Below I give you the magic system for creating maximum looks with minimal amounts of clothing. You will have enough pieces for dressy or casual occasions, warm days, cool nights and 12-15 different outfit options. You may even be able to take that small bag–you know, the one that fits in the overhead on a flight. Which means you won’t have to wait and wait for your bag after you get to your destination. Which means you can start sipping piña coladas that much sooner! Check out the video from Fox 13's the Place or continue reading... 7 Pieces for 7 Days - the clustering system 1. Find a source of inspiration–a pattern of colors in a print, stripe or plaid–to inspire the color scheme of your cluster.  2. Plan for five to eight easy pieces of clothing, at least three top and two bottom pieces that coordinate with the inspiration piece. Ideally one of the tops is a third layer piece. Below, we have a cardigan sweater for chilly evenings and a chambray button up shirt that can be worn plain or as a shirt jacket when needed. Wear skirt to dress up a bit or stroll through a market and pants for casual and active occasions. 3. Select pieces that are basic/classics–simple in style lines and shape. This allows you to create more looks will less clothing.  4. Add on to the group, selecting pieces that go together–will work with at least three, four or more other pieces. Every piece in this group can be worn together. 5. Select pieces that are distinctly different from one another (no two pieces alike) for maximum versatility. 6. Select accessories to go with the clothes, beginning with essential basic accessories first. Comfortable shoes are a must on vacation.  7. Finally, throw in pjs, underwear, essential grooming items, a couple of books, sunscreen and you’re ready for piña coladas! Wondering how many looks you can get from this cluster? So glad you asked! Here are 12 different ways to wear your 7 pieces. Oh and there's only 7 days! How in the world will you choose?
Daphne
3/27/2019 04:14:26 pm
So, I need a little clarification please. Are you suggesting using the swim suit as an actual outfit piece? Because I would never wear the bottoms anywhere other than to the water (ocean/pool) for hygiene purposes. Thank you!
Dani
3/27/2019 04:57:45 pm
Hey Daphne! Comments are closed.
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Dani SlaughImage consultant and personal stylist. Dani is happily married, the mother of 3 charming children, and an Aussie named Josie Wales. Archives
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