I'm not going to lie: I always pack more outfits than I need for a trip. Always. Being a habitual overpacker is one bad habit that has stuck with me for as long as I can remember. So, when the Swedish clothing brand Ellos [1] invited me on a four-day press trip to Stockholm to celebrate the launch of National Lagom Day [2], I went about my normal ways after reading the invite and immediately started dreaming up 20 different outfits to pack. What can I say? A girl needs options.
Then it hit me — lagom. As Anne Stephenson, senior vice president of Ellos, said, "Life is about finding your happy medium. The message of 'lagom' is to discover peace in the simple things — a mantra that we have adopted at Ellos." I took a second to take it all in. Lagom is the Swedish word for "just the right amount." [3] I decided that I shouldn't wait to get to Stockholm to find my happy medium when I could start right now.
Instead of trying to squeeze everything I owned into my bag, I made it my mission to be resourceful, without sacrificing style. I turned to pieces I love that could transition easily from activities and pull double duty on my trip. Here I was living the lagom life — and I hadn't even gotten to Sweden yet. Read on to see what I packed, and use these hacks to bring a little lagom to your life, too.
Step 1: Create a List
When I go on a trip, I tend to haphazardly create a small list of things I need to pack, but never commit to actually making the time to create a thorough one. For my trip to Stockholm, I started off my creating a list of all the outfits I had in mind. There was a red chunky sweater that was super cosy, a pair of boots that were versatile and didn't give me blisters, and a really cute dress I had been meaning to wear. Keep in mind, your list doesn't have to be fancy, you can even scribble it all out on a piece of paper. It just has to get the job done.
Step 3: Consider the Weather
It's always easy to forget about the weather when you're going on a trip, especially when you're just focusing on what outfit is the cutest. Take a minute to look up the weather for the days you'll be at the destination and add them to the list you created. If it's raining and you don't want to lug a pair of rainboots with you, see if there's a pair of boots you can wear during the day that you don't mind getting wet. Is it going to be windy? Maybe it's a good idea to pack an extra layer that's easy to slip off.
Pro Tip: An easy way to downsize if you're planning on going out at night is to pack one pair of heels that match everything.
Pro Tip: If you end up getting bored of your heels, you can always swap out for your black boots, too.
Step 5: Get Packin'
Now that you've considered everything, it's time to get packing! You'll quickly notice that the number of items you started out with have significantly decreased in size and, in turn, you've found a sense of lagom — at least when it comes to packing.
Here's a list of the key pieces I ended up packed for the trip:
- a denim shearling jacket
- a leather jacket
- a pair of comfy jeans
- a pair of black, durable ankle boots
- a pair of heels that matched everything
Most importantly, don't forget to unwind and relax on your trip!