Being a suitcase, naturally I'm very interested in what gets packed. Here are my owner's cardinal rules for packing (in her own words).
Look put together; take very little. It's not magic, here's how I do it.
10. That's the number of garments I'm packing.
2 pairs of pants
2 cardigans
3 sleeveless tops
1 pullover
1 t-shirt
1 light trench coat or other outerwear depending on the weather at the last minute.
These items are in addition to what I'll be wearing on the plane.
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| Not exactly where my scarves come from |
Now I'm not really one for shlepping around in over sized clothing and in some countries dressing a little more like the locals (which means making some effort) can get you treated noticeably better in shops and restaurants. I'll be leaving my jeans and tennis shoes at home. I may not always act like a grown up but I'll admit I enjoy dressing like one.
Here are the rules to packing light and maintaining a sense of style:
- Pack only neutrals.
- Every item must be able to be worn at least 2 (but shoot for 3) ways.
- Layer clothing to adjust to changing temps and situations.
- Leave the bulky items at home.
- Opt for scarves instead of jewelry.
- Don't take anything you couldn't stand to lose.
- As much as possible pack fabrics that dry quickly if they get wet; avoid wool and 100 % cotton.
Every item should look great paired with any other or on its own. If you leave your hotel in the morning when it's chilly and are visiting an outdoor site in the warmth of the afternoon sun you need to be able to adjust. Plan on peeling clothes off and then adding them again in the cool of the evening or for dinner.
Layers of thin knits are a better choice than big space consuming items. They also don't wrinkle and are comfortable. Looking great when traveling isn't worth sacrificing comfort for and I believe you can have both.
Scarves can change an outfit instantly and can be worn and used in a variety of ways. They take up little room and make security checkpoints easier to navigate. No one wants to be behind the woman who has to keep taking jewelry off and going back through the metal detector again. I do take earrings but leave them off until I reach my destination.
Anything that goes in my bag is expendable. Nearly the entire wardrobe (with the exception of a pair of black pants from a Marshall's clearance rack) was purchased at my favorite local boutique (Goodwill) and nothing cost me more than ten dollars (those black pants). Many of the scarves I paid less than a dollar for at garage and estate sales.
You want fabrics that breathe and are comfortable. If you spill something on you or get caught in the rain, you will not want something that takes hours to dry.
