In February I took a quick trip to Las Vegas with some of my favorite ladies. Despite the fact that I generally try to pack light, I knew that for this 4-day trip, I needed plenty of options for both me and my friends.

I definitely packed for more than just myself since I knew my friends would appreciate extra options of outfits, shoes, jewelry, and beauty so keep that in mind as you read this post!

Dresses

We were planning on going out for at least 3 nights, so I packed at least 2 fail-proof dresses. I always pack: 1) one black dress as my safety 2) one colorful/unique option 3) 1-2 more unique/risque dresses in case any are too similar to my friends.

CalPak Verdugo Ivory (pictured size: medium), CalPak Packing Cubes Orange

Tops & Bottoms for Night

I've really been loving the two-piece look for nights out. It's not as easy as throwing a dress on, but I love how versatile and unique a two-piece looks can look. Also, it's hard to re-wear a statement dress, but you can always mix and match tops and bottoms for next time!

Left to right: Tresemme heat protection spray, Kiehl's olive oil hair pak, Moroccan hair treatment oil, Kiehl's calendula face wash, Glam Glow youth mud, Dr. Jart sheet masks (water replenishment, brightening infusion, all that contours)

Beauty

I threw minimalism out the window and packed as many beauty products as I could since Vegas is the perfect place to experiment with over-the-top looks.

For makeup, I focused on key items: false eyelashes, lip products, and bronzer/highlighter. Recently I've been obsessed with lip tints and fun lip techniques. My friends and I spent the whole weekend experimenting with different kinds (sparkle, peachy oranges, ombre, you name it!)

I also went all out on key hair products, which include Moroccan oil serum, Tressume heat protection spray, and Kiehl's deep conditioner. These are all important in keeping my hair soft and shiny even after using heating tools.

For skin, I try to make sure to cleanse and moisturize as much as possible. Key items included Kiehl's face wash, Dr Jart sheet masks and Glam Glow exfloiating mask. In Vegas, I used a sheet mask daily to moisturize my skin after nights out.

Shoe bags

Shoes

No matter how comfortable a pair of heels are, I can't wear them two nights in a row. I try to switch and alternate heels every night since different heels tend to pinch and hurt in different ways. For the 3 nights out, I packed 4 nighttime heels: 3 favorites, plus 1 extra safe option in case of unexpected blisters or injuries. My friends also appreciated having the extra shoes to borrow!

In addition, I packed casual sandals, flip flops, and Nikes for day. In the summer, I usually also pack a pair of heeled wedges or sandals for day clubs.

Day Wear

Chic and comfortable outfits for day after a night out is crucial. I stuck to flowy or comfy midi dresses, athleisure, and flowy skirts/shorts.

Outer Wear

I didn't plan on it, but it was much colder than expected in Las Vegas in February. Especially at night, that desert chill gets to you! I wore my parka throughout the weekend when we walked the strip.

Even in the warmer seasons I try to take a jacket just in case air conditioning is too cold in the casinos or restaurants. Leather and denim jackets are my favorite for warmer seasons.

Swim & Accessories

Even though day clubs weren't open in February, I still packed a couple bikinis and coverups for jacuzzis.

I also overloaded on bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, you name it. More sparkles the better! For tips on how to pack your jewelry, see my Top 15 Packing Tips post.

For bags, I used a tote as my carry-on to my flight to fit my laptop and other tech goods, but for the club I always take my trusty crossbody bag. It's important to get one with zippers since in the past I've had people try to steal stuff from me on the dance floor!

For undergarments, I pack strapless bras, generally one in nude and one in black, plus tons of undewear (thongs or seamless). PS - I've found the best ever stickies for backless outfits, trust me. I used to avoid backless tops and dresses but these stickies have totally been a game changer. They stay on despite sweat and are reusable after a simple cleaning with soap & water.

CalPak Verdugo Ivory (pictured size: medium), CalPak Packing Cubes Orange

Packing Cubes

My new favorite packing tool is the packing cube! I used them to organize my clothes by type: one cube for tops & bottoms, one for dresses, another for swim, and the last one for bras & undies. It makes it super easy to find all my stuff. Major plus: the ones from CalPak fit perfectly into their luggage, it makes my OCD sing!