Packing it in

Apparently the first semester of a master’s degree is sort of busy, which has not only impeded my “health kick,” but also my contributions to this blog that Jean and Meaghan so diligently fill with clever things.

That being said, welcome to my first post.

This Christmas, my parents and I are going on our first family trip in ten years, along with twenty of our extended family members (which is only a small portion of the clan). Now, I love traveling, but ask anyone who has served as my sherpa in the past five years, and they will tell you that I have no idea what the words “packing light” mean.  Hell, I can barely pronounce them.

This is likely due to the fact that I am a clothing pack rat, and when I travel, I live by this philosophy: better to bring it than miss it.

So, if that is also your philosophy and you too are traveling for the holidays, here are a few tips to keep your luggage under that 23 kilo weight limit.

Weather it

Before you start packing, check the weather at your destination. Seems simple, but it can drastically affect what you need to bring. For instance, if there is going to be any precipitation of any kind, don’t pack anything suede, especially not footwear. Same goes for canvas. Make sure you have one of those tiny umbrellas that fold down to the size of a lipstick tube, also.

If it’s going to be cold, as most of our holiday destinations are, bring your warmest neutral-coloured coat, and wear it during your journey. The beigeness of said coat can be easily spiced-up with bright scarves, which take up way less room than another three coats.

Mix and match

If you’re traveling for six days, you don’t need 11 skirts and six pairs of pants just for good measure; it’s easy to make do with less.

For example, bringing two skirts, two pairs of pants and four tops will make 16 different outfits and a lot less laundry for you to do when you get home. Bringing a few dresses that can be dressed up and down is also a good idea; it means one item of clothing instead of two, and they’re easy to throw on.


Don’t bring two of the same style of shoe. If you need boots, wear them during your journey, and bring a pair of neutral flats. There is no need to pack one beige and one grey pair of shoes. It’s painful to say, but they are basically the same. 


Think very carefully about whether or not you’ll need heels, because they take up a lot of room. This is also painful to say, but when it comes to traveling, the smaller the heel, the better.

Be prepared

Always travel with some kind of outfit that can be dressed up, just in case some kind of spontaneous formal occasion is sprung on you. And always, ALWAYS bring a bathing suit. You’ll be pissed if you’re the only one at the pool who has to swim in her underwear, and a bikini takes up very little room. 


Purchasing things on your trip you could have easily packed is a huge waste of money.

Luggage gets lost. It’s an inevitable fact of life, like taxes and death. So be sure to shove the essentials in to your carry-on, like an extra pair of underwear, a light dress, and anything of value. Lost luggage usually does turn up eventually, but taking these precautions can minimize the pain of waiting.

Accessorize

Jewelry, scarves and belts can drastically change an outfit, and make you look a like the put-together traveler that you are. They take up barely any space, so pack a few that go with the majority of the outfits you’re bringing. 

Scarves are likely the most important of your traveling accessories, regardless of weather, because they are so versatile. They can dress up your hair, your waist, your neck and even your bags. 

As aforementioned, you may need to quickly dress up a not-so-dressy outfit, and layering necklaces over a casual dress or sweater will definitely do the trick. This is also a good way to take yourself from day to night without having to change.

Washability

If you’re embarking on a long journey, it’s a good idea to go under the pretense that you’ll get to launder some of your clothes. Just make sure that you’re not dealing with something that requires careful washing, since you may only have a bathroom sink. An added benefit of this is that most low maintenance items also won’t wrinkle as easily. Cotton, linen and polyester pieces are always a good choice.

Finally, pack your toiletries that are prone to leaking in a hole-free and tightly sealed bag to avoid having to wash makeup remover or conditioner out your clothes. Tide to Go was invented for traveling mishaps, so don’t forget that either. Also, bringing some laundry detergent in a small Tupperware container is a good idea. If you can wash your tights and underwear, you clearly won’t need as many pairs.

Cut back

Once you have gone through all of your clothing and decided on what you think you need, go through it again and cut out the items you know you don’t need.

This can be hard, because there is nothing worse than arriving somewhere and wishing you had “that skirt.” But it hasn’t died; you just have to live without it for a little while.

Cutting back, and then cutting back again is the best way to reduce your load, and less choices mean faster decisions.

Take it from someone who knows a lot about this; traveling light is hard when you have a strong attachment to most of your wardrobe.

Focus, perseverance and self-control must be called upon, and awareness that the reduction in items will not result in a reduction in style is important. While you’re packing, continually ask yourself, “do I really need this?” and even write it on your suitcase if you have to. It’ll be worth its weight in gold, but hopefully not equal to it.

Lastly, don’t pack drunk.

Posted by: Tara (no, seriously)