This weekend I’m heading to Puerto Rico for a week so of course, I have to put together a capsule wardrobe. Here’s what I’m packing for Puerto Rico, La Isla del Encanto!
It’s going to be my first time ever on the island. So I might as well tell you now that there might be a LOT of posts about Puerto Rico coming up this month. You’ve been warned!
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The reason for this trip, which is serving as El Hubo’s and my only real vacation this year, is a family reunion on my father’s side.
The last time my father’s family got together like this was nearly 20 years ago in Orlando, Florida. We had a mini-reunion when my grandmother passed 2 years ago, and that’s what sparked this trip. We actually had a great time together despite the mourning.
With what happened to my dad last May, this trip is all the more important.
I’m packing as light as possible, despite being there for an entire week. The 40 of us will be split between 3 large houses and there will be laundry facilities, so I don’t have to pack for every single day.
In fact, I only plan to take 3 days worth of clothes.
The current temperature in the Caribbean is hot. Old San Juan is clocking in at hot but the weather app says it feels like super hot. With rain! My curls are going to have a frizzy field day. I don’t care. Such is the benefit of being over 40!
So it’ll be super hot and wet. Fabulous! That means clothes that are made of lightweight breathable fabrics. Think cotton, rayon/modal, linen, etc.
Here’s the clothing breakdown:
- 1 dress (plus undershorts)
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 3 tops
- 1 bathing suit & cover-up/dress
- 1 pajama set
- travel outfit (to wear there and back, usually includes leggings)
- 5 pairs of underwear (I ALWAYS overpack underwear)
- 2 pairs of shoes (1 worn while traveling)
The dress I’m leaning towards is the red cotton Kimmy, though I love my black & white cotton Kenedy for tropical vacations. It also works great as a cover-up for the pool!
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Seamwork Kimmy -
Seamwork Kenedy
Shorts will definitely be my blue Lander shorts and a denim pair of Old Navy ones that I just finished mending.
Both of these are the type of color and fabric that work well with any top.
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Blue zip-fly Lander shorts -
Old Navy Denim Shorts
The 3 tops could use some narrowing down. My options are:
- Black cotton gauze Loretta blouse
- Olive ribbed cotton/rayon knit Samantha tee
- Floral cotton gauze Franki top
- Rusty cotton floral Daisy blouse
- Green cotton eyelet Ogden cami (hacked with a shelf bra)
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Seamwork Loretta -
Laela Jeyne Samantha -
Wearable Studio Franki -
Sinclair Patterns Daisy -
True Bias Ogden
I need your help! Which of these am I packing for Puerto Rico??? I can only take 3 but there are 5 here. Help a girl out…I will say since one of these doesn’t require a separate bra, that’s already a bonus for super hot and humid weather! But the rest? Please help me pick by leaving a comment down below!
I don’t worry about accessories or jewelry when I travel, unless I have to dress a certain way (like a black-tie gala). Especially for vacations like this, I’m taking one purse and jewelry I wear every day: my Fitbit/watch and wedding bands.
So with 1 dress, 2 pairs of shorts, and 3 tops, that’s at least 4 days worth of attire without repeats. That means doing laundry on days 4 or 5 and then recycling mixing and matching outfits. Easy peasy!
When I started putting together my packing list for Puerto Rico, I didn’t have any intention of only wearing handmade clothing. But somehow it worked out that way! And the only thing I’ve made so far for this trip is 90s-style undershorts for the dresses.
I kind of expect it to stay that way. No sense in trying to rush through a project and stress me out right now.
Back in summer 2017, I decided to focus on making more tops and that’s certainly worked out! I now have more than I need for a tropical vacation.
How do you pack when you travel? Do you need multiple outfits a day or do you mix and match sudoku-style? Let me know in the comments and PLEASE help me pick the 3 shirts to take!
I love packing posts. I am a light packer, but this is definitely a few items less than I usually take on a trip! It’s totally doable though. That said, I would take the coolest (temp-wise) tops. So for sure the Ogden. I would probably take two of the woven tops instead of the knit – they will be cooler to wear. I’d probably take the two short-sleeved ones, though that elbow-length-sleeved one is very pretty. Have a great time!
I know I’m kind of taking it to an extreme this time around, but it’s also an exercise in limits! I want to leave room for anything I might bring back (like fabric!).
Oooh vacation! I am a bit jealous you can do laundry š I’m agonizing over what to take on my vacation where we’ll be at a resort with exorbitant laundry fees. I vote Loretta, Daisy and Ogden š I did read a tip about packing tide pods for some easier in-room laundry since yes, it is HOT and there will be sweating. Have so much fun!
We did that on our honeymoon! Even brought a clothesline in case our hotel bathrooms didn’t have one. It was great!!
Thanks for voting!