How to Shop For a Vacation Without Buying Things You'll Never Wear Again

I'll be the first to admit that I'm entirely guilty of panic-ordering a bunch of things for an upcoming vacation, taking the tags off and wearing them while on vacation, and then never wearing them again. Not recommended, folks. So lately, I've been trying to reform my vacation shopping techniques. While the first technique is to buy as few new things as possible, I've also been making an attempt to be a little more thoughtful when it comes to the things I do buy.

Below, I outlined the three shopping strategies I've been adhering to for recent trips that I actually do need to buy some pieces for. And I'm happy to say that since I reformed my vacation shopping, I've yet to find myself stuck with items that I know don't suit my everyday wardrobe. Scroll for my easy tips and to shop pieces that work for both vacation and life.

When I'm going to Miami, for example, I'm tempted to shop for brightly-colored, printed party dresses that are decidedly more flashy than my personal style is. Instead, I've switched to shopping for pieces that are still appropriate for the location, but that are also appropriate for my more laid-back life back home and other future trips I may take. That said, if your everyday style is "Miami-inspired" (fill in the blank for wherever you're traveling to), then by all means, that's what you should shop for.

If you want to order a few new things for a vacation, my advice is to gravitate toward basics that you're likely to wear over and over upon returning home. But because it's vacation, this is a good time to shop for special basics that are a little more exciting than a white T-shirt and denim cut-offs.

I find accessories to be one of the most important things when shopping for a trip. But I'm not very keen on buying accessories that are just for vacation. I like to invest in the ones that I'll wear over and over. It's okay if they're seasonal and not necessarily appropriate for year-round, like a great straw bag that can double as a handbag or a beach bag.

Next up, 30 pretty swimsuits that are just begging for compliments.