Help needed for a chronic overpacker - what do I need to have all the "right" clothes for a seaside weekend away without taking 3 suitcases?

[castille]

I'm hopeless at this.

Big family weekend away - 12 of us staying on the French Atlantic coast for 2 nights. Must travel light as boot space is going to be limited.

Weather is supposed to be lovely (24 degrees-ish). Nothing particularly glamorous planned, possibly a meal out but the rest is beach, pool and a spot of sightseeing.

What do I need? The queens of cool-casual (aka French SILs) will be there so want to look nice but not trying too hard...

I have just been away for 3 nights in Dubrovnik, temperature 30 degrees plus, and got all my luggage in a very small suitcase, so that we could travel with hand baggage only.

I took:

2 day dresses (one white/one pale blue) with a shrug cardigan to match each one, one dress that went over my swimming costume (in the same print) which was actually nice enough and thick enough fabric to wear as a normal dress and one more dressy dress, again with its own matching cardigan.

I also took a pair of cut off jeans and a long top (short sleeved) to go with it, a pair of white shorts and a pink/white top to wear with those, and two white t-shirts. I then also had a white denim jacket in case I needed one for travelling.

I took 4 pairs of shoes (travelled in my pink converse type ones), two pairs of white flip flip type sandals and one pair of dressy black heels for the more dressy dress. I also had a swimming costume and all necessary underwear.

All toiletries in the necessary small bottles, my camera charger/phone charger, a spare book (carried the one I was reading in my handbag) and - obviously - all underwear.

I had more than enough to wear. Whether it was stylish or not is another matter!

Summer dress, pair of jeans for evening, you can wear these both eveings, and a pair of shorts (or two dresses). A jumper/cardigan/jacket for the evening. A dress for the evening if planning on going out.

Three pairs of undies, two bras ( although I personally would just wear one all weekend ), three pairs of socks. bikini/swimsuit

One pair of travelling shoes, one pair of flip flips, one pair of going out shoes if you plan on going out one evening.

Make-up, sun lotion, hairbrush, book, camera and charger, phone and charger, purse, Ipod/other music player/spare batteries.

4 pairs of shoes!!!!!
I don't own 4 pairs of shoes!
I'd take:
3 pairs of pants
1 bra (eeeuw, can always rinse it in the sink- they do have water in France)
toiletries- in small bottles, paracetomol.
1 pair of shoes
1 cozzie
1 pair of jeans
1 frock (if you're a frocky sort, which I'm not, I'd take 2 pairs of trousers)
2 t-shirts.
a book.

But then I am used to packin for Lyingair flights with their 15 kilo limit and going for 6mths.....

{i wen camping few days ago and took two pair of pants, one pair of thermals, one pair of trousers, one t-shirt, one cardi and one pair of shorts, bikini, flipflops which I wore and trainers for nighttime). I had less that DD and DH each!!!

BecauseIWI - can I take your clothes?

If not, then based on your lists how about:
1 linen dress, 1 denim skirt, jeans, 2 tops/t-shirts, 1 beach cover-up, 1 cardi, jacket

• is that enough daywear for all eventualities and weather or do I need shorts/crops/another skirt/dress too?

Could not help chuckling at this thread as husband & I tour on our motorbike and I'm now used to packing really light. It's strictly ONE pair of shoes plus my bike boots, no handbag just a bum bag I wear on the bike. We buy stuff from Rohan and similar because it packs really small and dries quick. Sadly it is megga unstylish and I do long to have some pretty dresses and sandals to wear but it won't happen. Every single item has to really earn its place! Obviously this is extreme packing but some of you guys are taking more for a weekend than I will be taking to Italy for 10 nights. Not moaning though, just love the biking!