The Perfect 10-Day Summer Travel Wardrobe for Women
One of my favorite things about traveling in the summer? It’s sooo easy to pack light. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know that I tend to travel carry-on only, both to save money and for the freedom to move around without having too much stuff in tow.
Although every summer trip is different, mine usually involve a mix of urban exploration and some outdoors adventures—two very different ends of the outfit spectrum—so I tend to pick pieces for my travel wardrobe that are highly versatile, while keeping those two needs in mind.
I also choose clothes within a similar color palette, which allows me to build a 10-12 item, travel version of a capsule wardrobe. It’s my secret weapon to packing light, since I can pack 5 tops and 5 bottoms, and have 25 (not 5) days worth of outfits at the ready.
But here’s a secret: my 10-day travel wardrobe is the same as my 7 or 14-day packing list. With the right combo and a load or two of laundry along the way, this list is all you really need for a warm-weather getaway.
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1 Dress or jumpsuit
Pack one jumpsuit or dress for a cute instant outfit. Although you may be tempted to pack more dresses (it is summer, after all), I personally don’t love packing lots of dresses or jumpsuits because you can’t mix them into more than one outfit the way you can with a skirt.
That said, I do almost always pack this jumpsuit by ADAY that I bought years ago since it’s versatile and made of a travel-friendly fabric that wicks sweat, never pills or wrinkles, and is super breathable. They’ve discontinued this particular jumpsuit, but it’s worth checking their current line to see if there’s anything you love.
5 Tops
For tops, I usually pack one packing cube with:
2 casual t-shirts / tops. Usually I’ll pack my REI Sahara t-shirt and lately, I’ve really been loving the clothes by Australian brand Rhythm. for beachy vacations.
2 tank or crop-tops. I absolutely live in Babaton’s crop tops come summer.
1 “nice” going out top. For this, I usually pack a silk cami by Sezane. Silk is actually a surprisingly great travel fabric and super easy to hand wash at any point.
I always pull out one top to wear en route.
1-2 Sweaters or jackets
For summer trips, I’ll still pack at least warm layer, usually one or two of these. Typically, I’ll wear one while in transit.
Light sweater or cardigan: I like the lightweight, cashmere sweaters by Naadam, since they’re less chunky than many and pack down nice and small. Mate the Label also has some comfy sweatshirts that have become my go-to if I’m primarily wearing it on an airplane.
Jacket: If it’s going to be a bit cooler (especially at night) or I’m spending most of my time in cities, the ADAY Up In The Air Jacket is my go-to. It’s stylish but also incredibly functional, surprisingly warm, blocks wind very nicely, and is odor- and wrinkle-resistant. For more outdoorsy adventures, like a national park road trip, I’ll go for my Arc’teryx Hoodie for a warm layer or my Topo Rain Jacket if I’m prepping for wet conditions.
4 Bottoms
Next, I’ll pack a second packing cube with a set of pants, shorts, or skirts that match my tops, such as:
1 pair of active shorts or leggings: My preference is a pair of yoga shorts with pockets (which is better for hiking than those without) but might opt for leggings if my destination is on the cooler side. Mate the Label and Athleta are two brands I like for active shorts. If you go for a darker color, yoga shorts can also be styled for streetwear.
1 pair of loose pants: I really like the options from Rhythm.
1 skirt: Typically, I’ll opt for a midi or maxi, since those are easier to style for a nicer evening out. The one in the photo is a (now out of stock) collab from Sezane and Farm Rio.
1 pair of jeans or a second pair of shorts: Which one I choose depends on hot my destination is — summer in Seattle is very different than summer in Florida.
Related: Shop my Amazon Travel Essentials
PJs + Undies
Don’t forget these essentials! I love packing my Lunya PJs for summer since they’re lightweight. For underwear, I’ll pack no more than 5 pairs, plus 2-3 bras (with at least one of them being a sports bra).
1-2 bathing suits
Bring 1-2 bathing suits and a lightweight cover up. I usually don’t pack a dedicated cover up, though, since my short + shirt set from Rhytmn works really well as one and dries quiclkly. I like packing these in a dedicated wet bag — just in case you take one last dip before your flight and your suit is still a little damp when you’re packing up.
The bathing suit pictured is by Anemos, which I bought on sale earlier this summer.
2-3 pairs of shoes
One of the easiest ways to add weight to your bag when packing: too many shoes. For summer travel, I will only bring:
Sneakers: I love TropicFeel’s sneakers for summer hikes since they’re breathable, machine-washable, and also designed to double as a water shoe. They’re also not-dorky enough that I’ll wear them around town too.
Sandals: Roam’s slides are my go-tos since I can walk all day in them and they look cute and stylish.
Sandals or flats: I don’t always pack a third shoe, but if I do it’s a lightweight pair of flip-flops OR a pair of nicer, flats or sandals for evenings out (which are easier and lighter weight to pack than heels). I’ll only pack this if I know I’ll need to dress up. Even then, I’ll choose something versatile enough to wear both day and night.
