Take a load off the luggage

To keep your suitcase light for summer vacation, pack lightweight, versatile clothing such as this cotton one-button cardigan sweater from Banana Republic (bananarepublic.gap.com, $39.99). A cardigan can be worn over a summer dress or with a tank top and capris. (Banana Republic)

ShoeMall Roxy Women’s Cairo Sandal ($48.95) is lightweight and can be dressed up or down.

This photo released by Banana Republic shows a beaded tank in wasabi green. To keep your suitcase light for summer vacation, pack lightweight, versatile clothing like a tank top. (AP Photo/Banana Republic)**NO SALES**

Layering a wrap or sweater over this Banana Republic beaded tank (on sale online for $29.99) can take it from warm daytime to cool evening. (AP Photo/Banana Republic)

Lightweight summer dresses, including Banana Republic’s Slub cotton frock ($69), can go from the beach to happy hour. (AP Photo/Banana Republic)

Banana Republic This Banana Republic cotton smocked skirt in vintage navy ($69) can be paired with low-heeled sandals and a tote bag for daytime sightseeing or with a higher heel and sleek clutch for evening.

Talbots Talbots’ lightweight paisley dress ($139) and T-strap embellished leather sandals (on sale at talbots.com for $79.99) make a big statement while taking up minimal space.

Banana Republic This Banana Republic cotton smocked skirt in vintage navy ($69) can be paired with low-heeled sandals and a tote bag for daytime sightseeing or with a higher heel and sleek clutch for evening.

Use layering items such this featherweight cashmere cardigan in shocking pink by J. Crew (on sale at jcrew.com for $125) to add a pop of color to a simple palette. A cardigan can be worn over a summer dress or with a tank top and capris. (AP Photo/J.Crew)

What's worse than lugging a heavy bag to your summer vacation spot, only to pop it open and find it filled with too many of all the wrong things?

If you pack lightweight, versatile clothing, you can save money on luggage fees at the airport and even hoist your own bag into the overhead compartment. If you're driving, you'll find yourself with room in the trunk for souvenirs.

And, most importantly, the fewer wardrobe choices you have, the quicker you'll be wading into the surf or taking in the sights.

"The less luggage you have to cart around and be accountable for, the more time there is to relax and enjoy what's around you," said Dawn Stanchfield, owner of women's clothing boutique Lily Atelier and Luxe shoe shop in downtown Camas.

Here are tips from Stanchfield and other experts on how to pack light without sacrificing style:

The key, Stanchfield says, is choosing lightweight items that mix and match well.

"Pick a color story where everything coordinates," she said. Stanchfield suggests starting with a base of black, navy or brown, then adding neutrals such as white or beige. For pops of color, she likes vibrant scarves and cardigans.

A light summer dress — in a colorful print, vibrant color or with beading or sequins in cotton or a silk blend — is the top pick for New York-based style guru Mary Alice Stephenson. A short tunic, long maxi dress or something in between can be worn over a bathing suit with flip flops, or with embellished strappy sandals at night.

"You need a summer dress that is beach-friendly but glamorous for going out at night," said Stephenson, whose clients include models Molly Sims and Hilary Rhoda and actress Michelle Monaghan.

Then add a pair of khaki pants or capris. "It's kind of like summer's jeans," says Stephenson. "It's really light and airy."

Also be sure to pack a pull-on skirt in breezy cotton or gauze.

"One great skirt can go so much further than a pair of shorts. Day after day you can dress it up or dress it down," Stanchfield said.

Next is a T-shirt or tank top, basics that come in all colors and prices and can be worn with everything — including those khakis already in the bag.

Pick the best bathing suit for your body, and use it as another item in your interchangeable vacation wardrobe.

Another option is a wrap dress, such as the signature style in jersey from Diane von Furstenberg. It doesn't wrinkle, and feels light and soft, the New York-based designer says.

"If you could only have one thing, you could take the wrap dress," she says. "It will take you to the beach, to visit churches and to dinner."

A sea breeze or a blast of air conditioning can leave you shivering, so pack your favorite cardigan, in cotton or thin cashmere.

"They take up less room in a suitcase (than jackets) and can serve the same purpose," says Karen Herrema of Vancouver, a wardrobe consultant with Northwest-based Holobi.

And a sweater needn't be all shapeless functionality.

"It can be belted over the tank top or worn over the summer dress or worn with khakis," says Stephenson.

Or beat the cold with a thin shawl or pareo, which can cut the chill and be used many ways, from a trendy summer scarf to beach cover-up. "I have a very light cashmere shawl I carry everywhere," says von Furstenberg, who travels often.

While it may be painful to leave some beloved shoes behind, experts suggest wearing your heaviest pair while traveling and packing no more than two others. ShoeMall.com merchandiser Rachel Funk says shoes that make the cut should serve at least two functions, such as sightseeing and going to lunch.

ShoeMall.com, which is based in Chippewa Falls, Wis., says a pair of women's dress or casual shoes generally weighs 1.5 pounds. The site has choices that come in at or below the 1-pound mark.

"Watch out for heavy, wooden stacked heels. And anything with a platform will weigh more," Funk says.

Carry a tote bag that can function as an airplane carry-on and a daytime purse, and slip a clutch or wristlet into it you can use for dressy events, Stanchfield suggests.

Soft silver or gold metallic hues work well for accessories, she said.

"Metallic accessories always look more interesting than plain black or brown," she said. "They look like you put in a little more effort."

Take one necklace in coral or turquoise or chandelier earrings to dress up your outfits. Pack a crushable sun hat.

As for toiletries, Portland-based packing expert Susan Foster says don't bother with the government-approved 3 ounces for a carry-on. She managed to make a 1-ounce bottle of shampoo last her during a three-week trip. She also had three pairs of microfiber underwear that she washed and were dry in the morning.

Belts, especially men's, also pack on pounds, says Alan Krantzler, vice president of merchandising for the South Plainfield, N.J.-based luggage brand Tumi. Choosing one color palette for apparel as Stanchfield suggests allows you to pack one set of leather accessories that will complement everything.

There's definitely a push in the luggage industry to make lightweight bags, Krantzler says, but travelers are the ones who can effect the biggest change.

"People are looking to save one or two pounds on the bag, but they're not thinking about what they're putting in," he says.

If you can't do without denim, wear your jeans while traveling because they're probably the heaviest thing you're taking, Foster says. And consider a summer-weight pair: 7 For All Mankind's lightest pair, for example, is a straight-leg jean in the Bridgeport wash.

It's made from 8.5-ounce denim (a square yard weighs that much), as opposed to the 12-ounce denim used in the brand's heaviest jeans.

Packing can be stressful, but those who do it often have their method down. Von Furstenberg boasts of being the "lightest packer you have ever met."

The clothes she designs are incredibly light, she says, and many of her dresses can fit in a tiny bag.

"I always joke, if you can figure out your suitcase, you can figure out your life," says von Furstenberg, who says she rarely sleeps in the same place for more than three or four nights. "I pack like no one. I always have the smallest bag."

Columbian staff writer Mary Ann Albright contributed to this story.