What to Pack for a Short Break

Section: Dressing for the Occasion - Blog

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It's always great to enjoy a break and get away from it all. But men being men, we never really know what clothes to bring. Gone is the time when an extra t-shirt and a pair of socks would suffice and while you still need to pack light, what exactly should you bring?

Factors to consider

Deciding which clothes to bring for that weekend away, all depends on three main factors:

Weather – Will it be cold or hot? Is there much likelihood of rain?
Culture – If you’re planning to visit any historical sites, do they have a dress code for tourists?
Your plans – Probably the most important factor of all. If you’re attending a formal event or wedding, then the hiking boots can probably stay at home.

A good tip for local customs and weather is to check out the site What to Wear on Holiday.

The clothing checklist

Ideally for a typical weekend break you’ll want to pack the following clothing:

Your custom tailored blazer or sports coat of course! – We may be a little biased on this front, but we’re sticking to our guns by saying that a smart jacket is a must pack item. Whether it’s for a romantic evening meal or a day out enjoying the sights, a tailored jacket fits the bill nicely. But if you're going away for a wedding, then an entire suit is going to be a must.

Two pairs of shoes – It’s highly unlikely that you’ll feel comfortable sipping a scotch at the bar in a pair of runners. So pack a good pair of dress shoes that compliment your jacket for evening or smart casual wear and leave your more casual shoes for shopping.

Chinos and jeans - Neutral coloured chinos and dark blue jeans can be matched to most almost any blazer or sports coat. They can be used for both daytime and evening looks adding versatility and can be easily rolled up to take up less space. 

At least two shirts – It stands to reason that if you’re bringing a tailored blazer or sports coat then your shirt must be packed too. But shirts need not only be for the evening. Combine an open collar shirt with your jacket and a pair of chinos or jeans for a complete smart casual look.

A sweater – This, of course, depends on the weather at your destination but if you have the space for it then pack it anyway; you never know when the weather might turn.

A couple of polo shirts – Not essential items but try to remember that Murphy’s Law (anything that can go wrong will go wrong) loves to strike at times that we least expect. So pack one or two polo shirts as your get out of jail card in the event of spillages.

A tie – Now this item is entirely optional and depends not only on your plans but also the look that you are trying to achieve. The truth is though, that a tie takes up the tiniest amount of space in your luggage, so why wouldn’t you pack one just in case?

Now we’re going to go right ahead and assume that you’ve got the underwear side of things all figured out. However, if you’re still looking for some style tips for that next long weekend away, why not take a look at our Montagio lookbooks for some inspiration?