Packing List: Winter Weekend Getaway

I usually loathe packing, probably because I tend to overthink and pack way more than I need. Surprisingly, I had a fairly easy time packing for this trip. Last year, Jon and I decided to start gifting each other trips for our birthdays instead of tangible gifts. We both love to travel and experience new things, and have found that our favorite gifts have always been experiences. This year, we headed to Belgium for a winter weekend getaway to celebrate Jon’s 30th.

We planned to hit up the Delirium Tremens Brewery outside Ghent (Jon’s all time favorite beer) and then spend Saturday night in Brussels for a nice steak dinner and drinks. On Sunday, I split from Jon at the airport and headed to Zurich, Switzerland to meet one of my best friends for two days.

I think because the weather has been SO cold, it was a little easier to packsome weekend getaway outfits. I always stress about trips because I want to make sure that I’m wearing my chicest outfits (there will be lots of pictures, of course), while still keeping in mind what I’m going to be doing. This trip was going to be a lot of sight seeing and a few casual nights out on the town.

I’ll walk you through what I packed below. Hopefully writing about my packing will make it easier for me to pack next time. We’ll see…

Xx, Kelsey

TWO PAIRS OF JEANS & THREE SWEATERS

I was going to be gone for a total of four days, but one of them was a travel day. I tend to re-wear my travel clothes to save space. Packing for this winter weekend getaway, I brought two pairs of jeans (one black and one dark wash) and three sweaters. This ensured I would be warm while sightseeing around Belgium and Zurich.

MY TRUSTY BLACK TURTLENECK

I wrote this post a few weeks ago about why you need a black turtleneck in every weight. A black turtleneck is essential on any weekend getaway packing list. I brought my mid-weight black turtleneck because it’s perfect for a night out. I planned to wear this for dinner and drinks to celebrate Jon’s birthday in Brussels, but it’s also easy to mix and match it with other items in my bag for a girls night out in Zurich. It’s such an easy piece, and the black makes it look more elevated while still staying warm.

ACCESSORIES ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

In all honesty, I knew that the majority of the time on a winter weekend getaway I’d be bundled up in my coat.  While packing for the weekend, I decided to put more effort into accessories. This meant bringing an extra small cross-body purse, a different scarf, and two hats in order to change up my look. It actually took a lot of the pressure off my weekend packing list to focus on accessories more than the clothes I’d be wearing under my coat. I knew with a variety of accessories I could change up any of my looks. This is a trick I’m going to need to apply to my future packing.

EASY MAKEUP

I know that I don’t have any crazy formal events happening on this trip, so it was important that I only pack the essentials when it comes to makeup. My weekend packing list for winter included an easy eyeshadow palette and a Clinique chubby stick in amp’d up apple that can work for cheeks and lips, as well as some Jimmy Choo perfume that is under 4oz for my flight to Zurich. I also packed Rusk Elixir Mist shine spray, since my hair has been so dry in this cold winter weather, and a few other everyday essentials like my Kiko volumizing mascara, Kiko face powder, and Nars bronzer.

Michael Kors large Saffiano crossbody | Henri Bendel West 57th passport cover | MAC Pro Longwear concealer | Power bank | Urban Decay Naked Lipgloss | My favorite MAC lipstick in Creme in Your Coffee

CLOTHING DETAILS:

White sweater is several years old, but found a similar tan sweater | Banana Republic feather touch turtleneck (one of my all time favorites!) | Gap black distressed jeggings | J. Crew Factory toothpick jeans | Similar blush scarf here and here | Michael Kors large Saffiano crossbody | Asos baker boy hat | J. Crew leopard belt | C.C. black hat with pom pom |  MIA Teddy combat boots | Chinese Laundry white Finn boots (my favorite for giving a bundled up look something extra!) | Nikon 1 J5 camera (perfect when I don’t want to lug my big camera around while travelling)