Don’t Leave Without These 30 Essentials for your Summer Packing List

1. Light Tops

Basic t-shirts, tank tops, flowy camisoles, white button-downs…you want light, breathable tops that will keep you cool throughout the day. I recommend fabrics like cotton, rayon, linen, polyester, and merino wool in light colors (with the occasional fun-colored top).

Keep your top collection simple so that you can mix and match it with your bottoms, shoes, and cardigans more easily. It will also keep your suitcase light!

2. Shorts

A summer packing list isn’t complete without a pair of shorts or two! I’m not a fan of denim shorts but I can’t deny that they go with just about everything.

For something more comfortable, I can’t recommend paperbag shorts enough. The material is light and it doesn’t constrict your thighs. They also look more elegant and dressy!

I’m also a huge fan of skorts, especially because they can prevent peep-through accidents by covering your buttcheeks! That’s something I always worry about wearing dresses or skirts.

3. Skirts

Skirts are the perfect summer staple because they let your legs “breathe” during the hot months. Wearing them is also an easy fashion hack that elevates your outfit and makes you look effortlessly feminine. You can wear a flirty wrap or ruffled skirt with floral patterns, paired with a solid-colored top (and a denim jacket on chilly nights!).

Or you can opt for a versatile mini (or A-line) black skirt to go with any top (especially if it’s patterned).

If you plan to visit some of the churches in Europe during the summer, get some skirts that fall below the knee! They will not let you enter if you show a bit of leg or if your shoulders are covered.

When I went to Rome and Vatican City in my early 20s, I wore a dress above the knee. Luckily they had stalls selling long wrap skirts outside, so I had to get one to wear over my dress if I wanted to go inside St. Peter’s Square.

4. Sundresses

I love a good sundress for the summer; you can easily style them during the day with sneakers and a hat, or dress them up with some cute sandals.

Like skirts, sundresses are the ultimate lazy girl fashion hack. Unlike styling separate pieces, you just have to throw them on! Well, I do recommend pairing it with accessories and jewelry to complete the look.

5. Shirtdresses

A shirtdress is pretty self-explanatory. Unlike sundresses, they are more casual, but that doesn’t make them any less stylish! They are a tad less girly (nothing wrong with that, it just depends on your taste). I personally love them, as they have a classic/timeless feel (and I do like being girly, but not overly so).

Shirtdresses come with a collar, buttons, and a belt. You can find them in different fabrics, colors, patterns, skirt lengths, and sleeve lengths. They go well with a pair of white sneakers or loafers.

6. Swimsuits

What’s a summer without a few bathing suits, especially if you’re going to take a dip in the beach or pool?

Even if I don’t end up swimming wherever we stay, I like packing my swimsuits for peace of mind. I’d rather have them with me than waste my time (and money) shopping around for new ones while I’m traveling.

Plan to pack at least 3 bathing suits for your summer getaway!

7. Swimsuit Coverups

Coverups are great for styling swimsuits with no extra effort, and they offer protection against the sun (especially if they have UPF). If you feel self-conscious about your body, swimsuit coverups give you that sense of security.

Also, if you’re heading to the hotel from the beach or pool, it won’t feel as awkward walking around!

8. Light Pants

You don’t need to wear stiff denim jeans to enjoy your summer strolls. Opt for lightweight wide-legged pants in breathable fabrics like cotton, twill, linen, or silk.

They are so versatile in different settings. You can rock them as a part of your street-style attire on a city break, day or night. Be sure to balance the fit out with a more form-fitting top!

And they are perfect to wear for road trips and flights, making you comfy without looking frumpy.

9. Light cardigans/raincoats

Just because it’s summertime, doesn’t mean you should leave the cardigans or raincoats at home. You can still experience chilly nights and mornings. Some destinations around the world have unpredictable weather during the summer, including random rainstorms.

I remember vividly during my Rome trip, it was scorching hot, but on my last day, there was a heavy rainstorm that lasted half an hour. I was stuck in a Ferragamo shop during that time.

Better to be safe than sorry!

Cardigans and raincoats can also help elevate a basic look, making you look more chic 🙂

Also, if you’re going to Europe and you plan on visiting some of the churches, they will only let you in if your shoulders are covered up. Another reason to come prepared!

10. Sneakers

No matter what kind of activity you’re doing during the summer, having comfortable sneakers is a must. Don’t even think of packing heels to Europe; the cobblestone streets aren’t made for them, and long walks in the will cause pain, redness, and blisters all over your feet.

Look for sneakers with extra cushion for comfort. I personally love Nike Air Force 1s because they have that cushion on the soles and they run large, so people with wider feet can wear them. My feet are narrow while Cecilio’s are wide, and we have a pair each!

We also love Allbirds sneakers. The soles are made with their signature SweetFoam®, a bouncy material that contours your feet to the shoe. They are also made with Brazilian sugarcane, a renewable resource!

11. Sandals

Sandals are one of my favorite shoes to wear during the summer. They come in different styles and you can pack multiple pairs without taking up much space in your bag.

Also, when you’re at the beach, you’re bound to get sand all over your body and feet.

12. Water Bottles

You should always be drinking as much water as possible, but it’s even more important during the summer when you’re sweating and getting dehydrated.

Rather than wasting money constantly buying water bottles (which are also bad for the environment), bring a water bottle that you can constantly refill. Nowadays, there are water fountains that spout water downwards for your water bottle (especially in airports).

You don’t need the Stanley Cup; they are bulky (which isn’t travel-friendly), expensive, and I bet they’re going to be “out of style” in a few years!

13. Clear Handbags

When you’re going to fairs, concerts, and venues, a lot them are going to require you to wear a clear bag. I’m not a fan of the rule, but they want to make sure that you’re not sneaking in stuff.

The California State Fair requires visitors to have a clear backpack or handbag upon admission. Same with the Sutter Health Park (where the Sacramento River Cats play, and where the Oakland A’s will be playing for 3 years before their move to Las Vegas).

When Cecilio and I went to a River Cats game for a summer date night, I didn’t bring a clear bag. They wouldn’t let me in so we had to walk a few blocks back to our car in the sweltering August heat to put my regular handbag in the trunk, and then walk back to the entrance. Always check the venue website beforehand!

14. Sunglasses

Another accessory to complete your summer fit, sunglasses also protect your eyes and the skin around them. Did you know that your eyes can also get sunburned? Sun exposure increases your risk of cataracts and eye cancer. Look for sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays (most of them do).

And no, they don’t need to be expensive either; one of my favorite pairs is a $10 Jessica Simpson pair from TJ Maxx.

Polarized sunglasses are nice to have since they help with the glare, but they don’t necessarily protect your eyes. It’s just an option.

15. Hats

Aside from it looking super cute and adding a finishing touch to your summer outfit, a wide-brim hat offers extra protection for your scalp, face, and even shoulders. I recommend looking for a hat with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection).

UPF is basically the SPF of clothes, except that it measures the amount of UV rays that will penetrate into the fabric in a fraction format.

Look for a hat that is light and packable. If you’re flying you can even wear it in the airport or get a hat clip to attach it to your purse.

This hat has been one of my summer essentials since I purchased it last year. It is UPF 50, foldable, light on my head, and goes well with all of my sundresses!

16. Reef-safe sunscreen

If you can only have one thing on your summer packing list, let it be sunscreen. Particularly, reef-safe sunscreen. Every bit of sun exposure emits UV radiation, increasing your risk of skin cancer and aging.

You’re going to want to look for a Broad Spectrum sunscreen (which means that it offers UVA AND UVB protection).

UVA has longer wavelengths, penetrating deeper into the skin, causing aging and wrinkles. UVB, on the other hand, has shorter wavelengths and while it doesn’t penetrate the skin as much, it causes nasty sunburns.

If you’re going to be swimming or doing other water activities, you’re going to want a sunscreen that doesn’t harm the coral reefs. Your sunscreen needs to have physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both ingredients are reef-safe, but the former needs to be non-nano zinc oxide (larger than 100 nanometers).

Non-nano zinc oxide is better for marine life, as the nano-particles can easily be ingested by reefs, which causes internal damage. It also doesn’t penetrate our bloodstream, since we do not know the impact it has on our health.

17. Aloe Vera

Are you prone to getting sunburned? You need a bottle of aloe vera in your summer packing list!

While I rarely burn, the few times I have it wasn’t pretty and it felt horrible. When I went to Maui, my mom, sisters, and I rented a cabana by the pool. I laid outside the cabana to talk to Cecilio on the phone so that they wouldn’t hear my conversation.

Bad idea. The next day, I had the worst sunburn of my life on my shoulder blade, which would not stop itching and peeling. We went on a Road to Hana tour with a bunch of other people on the bus, so I could not scratch myself whenever I wanted to. If I had brought some aloe vera, I would’ve gotten some relief in between the pain and itchiness.

You don’t even need a full-sized bottle; a small one you can chuck in your carry-on will suffice!

18. Tinted Moisturizer/BB Cream

Ditch the full-coverage foundations in favor of lightweight tinted moisturizers that allow your skin to breathe. Tinted moisturizers and BB creams provide some coverage, giving you a fresh-faced look without feeling heavy. And since most of them have SPF, that means you get extra protection from the sun rays.

I love the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer; it gives a radiant finish and it’s not too sheer. It covers up my spots just enough and feels light on my skin. If you’re not ready to get a full-sized one, you can try the mini versions.

19. Liquid/Gel Blush and Bronzer

I love wearing cream/liquid/gel blushes, as they give you a natural-looking flush. Wearing powdered blushes tends to look cakey during the summer, and it feels uncomfortable. As much as I adore cream blushes, they’re likely to melt under warm conditions.

For those reasons, I recommend a blush and bronzer in liquid or gel form! I love Rare Beauty’s liquid blushes. They come in vibrant colors for summertime and melt into your skin. There’s so much pigmentation that you only need a dot, and it’ll last you a long time.

20. Lip Balm/Gloss with SPF

Lips are a part of your skin, and they need to be protected just as much. Get a lip product with SPF to prevent sunburn and peeling (burning hot weather can cause that!). Plus, nothing feels better than smooth, moisturized puckers!

Consider getting a tinted lip balm or gloss in fun shades of red, hot pink, or coral to match the summer vibes and sunkissed skin (if you’re a dude, you can stick with clear balms).

For clear lip balms and glosses, you don’t need anything super expensive; Aquaphor’s lip balms are solid and super moisturizing. This lip balm featured has SPF 30 (make sure to look for that, because their standard balm doesn’t have them).

21. Detangling Comb

To me, summertime means long dips in the pool, lake, and ocean. Which also means tangled hair. No matter what your hair length or texture, having tangled hair is painful and annoying.

Aside from conditioning products, always have a small detangling comb in your bag or nearby with wide tooth comb to help un-knot your strands without damaging them or causing split ends.

22. Beach Bags

When you’re spending all day by the ocean or the lake, you need a large beach bag to hold your towels, water bottles, handbags, snacks, electronics, and a change of clothes. Don’t get a small bag with no pockets; opt for a larger one with multiple pockets on the outside, making it easier to organize your stuff and not get lost.

While canvas tote bags are the most common ones, there are more bags now made with mesh, which is designed to keep them sand-free!

23. Beach Towels

You’ll need multiple beach towels in your summer packing list. An extra large one for lying on the sand, especially if there is more than one of you. And then smaller ones to wipe away water and sand.

Look for Turkish beach towels made with cotton, because they will dry quickly, not shrink, and take up less space than other types of towels. You can even use them for other things like as a blanket or a sarong!

24. Water Shoes

I know water shoes look dorky, but hear me out; when you’re walking on a rocky beach, you’re going to wish you had them. There’s nothing more agonizing than your feet stepping against sharp objects.

Sometimes I like going to the beaches in Lake Tahoe during the summer. Some of the beaches are sandy, but there’s one particular beach, Zephyr Cove, where it was completely rocky. It was hard for me to walk around even in the lake, and I wish I had water shoes.

You only need to wear them when you go in the water; when you’re trying to take photos, swap them out for some cute sandals!

25. Beach Umbrellas

Beach umbrellas aren’t the easiest to pack, so I would only recommend them for road trips and staycations. I can’t recommend them enough because they will protect you from nasty UV rays, especially because most of them have UPF.

Whether you burn easily or not, it’s essential to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer as much as possible. Plus, an itchy, peeling sunburn is enough to ruin your beachy vacay!

You can get an umbrella that doubles as a tent, or one that attaches to a beach chair.

If your destination is far away, there’s a likelihood that you’ll find shops renting out beach umbrellas, chairs, and hammocks.

26. Portable Phone Chargers

Sure, portable phone chargers aren’t just limited to summer. But when the sun is shining and you want to go out to explore and make memories, you’re going to want to capture it all on your phone. The concerts, fairs, beach getaways, excursions abroad…I recommend having 2–3 portable phone chargers with you in case one of them dies while you’re using it.

27. GoPro Hero

If you’ve ever seen those kickass underwater shots of someone snorkeling with wildlife, epic videos down the zipline or while biking, it was likely shot with a GoPro. They are tiny cameras made for thrilling adventures. A lot of these activities require you to be hands-free, but there are accessories you can buy along with the GoPro to strap onto your head or chest.

They are already waterproof, so you don’t need housing!

If you’re not ready to spend hundreds, the Akaso Brave is a more affordable option at a third of the price of a GoPro.

28. GoPro Selfie Stick

When you’re not strapping a GoPro onto your body, it’s recommended to attach it to a selfie stick. It prevents you from dropping it (or someone snatching it out of your hands). It also makes it less awkward to use when taking selfies or photos in general.

I’d recommend getting a waterproof selfie stick if you want to go underwater to swim, snorkel, or dive!

29. Waterproof Phone Pouch

If you don’t want to shell out money for a GoPro, then you can get a waterproof phone pouch that you wear like a necklace since it comes with a lanyard. At around $20–$35, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck!

Don’t worry, the water will not seep through. The lock is completely secure and snaps shut.This waterproof phone pouch is IP68 Certified Waterproof, making it completely resistant to dust and water and can float.

It’s also touch-sensitive, making it ideal so that you can take all the epic underwater photos and videos you want.

30. Portable Fan

No matter how hot it is wherever you are, you can find relief with a portable fan (and of course, lots of water). This portable fan comes with two speeds, so you can use the faster one to cool off more.

The running time for this fan is around 14–21 hours, so you can it all day if you need to. At 4.7″ tall, it is compact and easy to fit in your handbag. It’s USB-powered, so you can charge it anywhere, including to your portable charger featured above!