When it comes to weekend getaways in the summer, efficient packing is key. If you and four or five other friends are all loading your stuff into the back of a sedan, you don’t want to be the asshole that shows up with a carry-on suitcase when everyone else is hauling a duffel. That’s valuable space that could be taken up by cornhole boards and the contents of a Costco run on the way out of town.
To get your weekend packing down to just the essentials in anticipation of the Fourth of July holiday, learning to pack items that do double-duty is key. Below, a few stylish summer pieces to wear more than once:
Performance shorts - Rhone, $68
Remember when it seemed like athleisure might just be a “trend?” Thank god those days are over, because performance shorts like these from Rhone are such a game changer when it comes to double-duty style.
If you’re the type to get up early and get a solid ten miles in before anyone back at the house has stirred enough to put coffee on, you might want to bring these shorts.
They’ll work for a workout, or a day spent lazily deciding what to do before deciding that “nothing” is the correct answer.
Dark jeans - Madewell, $128
While I love a man who’s not afraid to wear white denim in the summer, a pair of “can’t afford to make a mess” jeans is not the way to go on a weekend trip. Instead, stick to dark, slim-fit jeans that won’t show the Miller High Life you spilled on them at last night’s campfire.
Unstructured blazer - Bonobos, $450
An unlined navy blazer will pack easily and look as good with a polo as with a perfectly rumpled oxford button down, in case you’re headed somewhere semi-nice both Friday and Saturday night.
White sneakers - Veja, $150
Right now, these Veja V-10s are our team’s favorite white leather sneakers to recommend as a “go everywhere, do everything” shoe this summer. If you want to go against the tide, you could also go with the Royale style from DTC footwear brand Greats ($179), or if you want to downshift into a more casual shoe, these canvas Vans ($50) would be a great option will still look great with pretty much everything you’ve packed.
Twill drawstring pants - Outerknown, $98
Wear these olive green drawstring pants with sneakers and a t-shirt during the day. Then, swap for a button-down shirt with a Tan France-approved French tuck for dinner.
Short-sleeve henley - J.Crew, $35
A slight step up from your standard pocket tee, pack a short-sleeve henley to wear with those drawstring pants, dark jeans, and even to (slightly) dress up the performance shorts.
Madras sport shirt - Brooks Brothers, $80
It’s easy to dismiss madras as something the dad in The Wonder Years wore (or am I the only one for whom they’re inextricably linked in my mind forever?), but guys. If you asked me which a woman would rather see you in this summer, gingham or madras? I’d say madras all the way.
Brooks Brothers offers their dress and sport shirts in six different fits, from slim to “ready to be repurposed as a very large boat sail” so just make sure you’re buying the right silhouette for you when you click add to cart.