The secret to packing light for a beach trip? Build every outfit around a few wrinkle-resistant maxi dresses that go from sand to dinner. Here's the capsule.

The 3-dress beach capsule

• Beach cover-up maxi — light, breezy, over a swimsuit.
• Daytime printed maxi — lunch, markets, sightseeing.
• Evening solid maxi — dinner with heeled sandals.

Add-ons that multiply outfits

• One pair of flat sandals + one heeled sandal.
• Straw hat, sunglasses, a tote that doubles as a beach bag.
• Delicate gold jewelry to dress any look up.

Why wrinkle-resistant matters here

A dress that comes out of a packed suitcase ready to wear saves you ironing on vacation. Natural, wrinkle-resistant fabrics are worth their weight in carry-on space.