The 36-Hour Vacation Wardrobe—Exactly What to Pack

Yes, I'll admit it, I've always been an over-packer. I'm the guy that goes on a day trip with a rolling suitcase (jam-packed with items) plus a duffle. But on a recent overnight getaway to Palm Springs, I decided to test myself by bringing only one small tote after getting inspired by one of my colleague's recent capsule-wardrobe packing lists. As I packed for my two-day, one night retreat, I began assembling my tote with one key point in mind: think about the itinerary and only pack what you need.

So I did exactly that. I stayed at the beautiful Sparrows Lodge (a rustic retreat featuring only 20 cool rooms, a communal barn, firepit, and more). First up, given that the hotel also had a pool, I knew one swimsuit I could hang dry and rewear was necessary (normally I would've brought two swimsuits—one for each day). After hanging at Sparrows Lodge during the day, next up would be drinks and libations at the Parker's newest spot Counter Reformation.

I wanted a dressed-up but cool vibe, so a pair of trousers, unique button-down, leather jacket, and clean white sneakers were key. (This outfit would also work well for nighttime activities afterward). While I would be leaving the next afternoon, a day of exploring Palm Springs was inevitable, so a simple sweatshirt, T-shirt, and the same pants and sneakers from the previous day would suffice.

And that's it—a simple yet stylish clothing assortment for my 36-hour trip. Shop pieces inspired by this wardrobe.

Heading to Palm Springs? Make sure to check out Sparrows Lodge:

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.