by Jess Atkins, Stylebook Co-Founder

Here’s how I packed for an 11 day trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in May. I made a visual packing list with Stylebook because I didn’t want to bring more clothes than I needed and I wanted to pack by outfit. Stylebook let me make a packing list with photos of my actual clothes, so I could see the exact outfits I would be wearing on the trip. I loved packing this way because then I was able to get dressed quickly instead of wasting time trying to figure out why I brought the clothes in my suitcase. Here’s how I planned the perfect Japan packing list with Stylebook!

1. Create a Travel Capsule

I started by creating a temporary category titled “Japan” in the Closet feature and moving clothes I was considering into the category. I treated my clothing selections like a capsule and searched my closet for items in a limited color palette that I knew would be comfortable. Isolating the pieces into their own folder made it really easy to create outfits with the outfit editor, since all of the clothing pieces were grouped together. I also tried to pick travel favorites based on my “Most Packed” statistic. Since I’ve used Stylebook to pack before, it automatically tracks which clothes frequently make it into packing lists. You can see my clothing picks at the bottom of the post.

My packing list infographic (created automatically by Stylebook)

2. Plan Outfits

Next, I made outfits in the Stylebook outfit editor based on our itinerary. My husband and I don’t keep a rigid schedule, but I had a rough idea of the places where we would be going. On days when we were going out to performances like kabuki, I aimed for good day-to-night looks. Otherwise, I tried to stay casual, but polished. Tokyoites seemed very fashionable to me, so I’m glad I didn’t wear anything overly casual. Once I made enough outfits in the outfit editor with my choices, I started adding my outfits to the packing list.

Adding outfits and clothes to my packing list; the packing checklist I used to pack

3. Trim The Packing List

Stylebook automatically creates a checklist of the individual clothing items as outfits are added to the packing list. Before I started packing my bag, I reviewed the clothing section of the packing list and removed any items that seemed too similar. Then I went back and tweaked the outfits accordingly. This saved me a ton of space in my bag.

One of my outfits, as seen in Kyoto and inside the app!

4. Checking Off The List

While putting the items in my suitcase, I used Stylebook’s checklist feature inside the packing list. I actually packed over a few days, whenever I had a few minutes after dinner the week before I left. Since I was able to save my progress with the checklist, I didn’t miss anything. The app also has a printable checklist and a Pinteresty infographic option.

Bonus Stylebook Tips

• You don’t need an internet connection to see your outfits inside Stylebook, so you can refer to them while abroad, even if you don’t have wifi.
• After I added my outfits to the list, I opened each one and added it to the Stylebook calendar by selecting the calendar button. Having everything planned out by day helped me figure out if I had enough outfits - and helped me get dressed faster on the trip.

Japan Packing Tips

• Good Socks - I had to take off my shoes a lot - at restaurants, temples, museums, etc. Good socks were essential and it was fun to get creative matching patterns and colors with my outfits.
• Lightweight Clothes - It was hot, but most people weren’t showing much skin. I thought thin layers worked well. Sweat-wicking clothes like my On The Fly pants from Lululemon were perfect.
• Rain Gear - It rained a lot and I definitely needed an umbrella, trench and water-resistant shoes.
• Comfortable walking shoes - Both of my Born shoes were amazingly comfortable for all-day walking and went well with all my outfits. I even experimented wearing patterned socks with mules and was really satisfied with the look.

I hope you found these tips helpful and enjoy your travels! Bon Voyage!

Stylebook, a virtual closet for your real-life wardrobe, will transform how you see your wardrobe and put you on track to wearing a cute outfit everyday!