« A tip about denim colors | Home | Fabulous Festival »
Traveling in style: Part I, Why comfort shouldn’t be the only consideration
By Meg | June 11, 2007
Other posts in the Traveling in Style series:
- Part II, Shoes up
- Part III, The traveler’s wardrobe
- Part IV, Accessories
- Part V, Makeup and grooming
- Part VI, Packing it all
I’m back from my weekend trip, safe and sound. The year is just about half over and I’ve already made over half a dozen trips to visit family where I had to spend at least one night away from home. For two of the trips, I had to fly and pack about a week’s worth of clothing into a suitcase and be careful not go over the 50 lb. limit. If that wasn’t enough, I’m flying to London for a week next month. This will be my first international flight and although I am very excited, I’m rather nervous about what I need to buy and pack before my trip. I’m sure that there are plenty of people out there who have experience and know how to pack efficiently, but this has not been intuitive for me. I have traveled more in the past 6 months than in the previous 6 years, and when I did travel before, I relied on a basic wardrobe of t-shirts, jeans, and a pair of sneakers. For a lot of people, that’s fine, but nowadays I really enjoy showing off my own new style.
Sometimes packing can be overwhelming, knowing what to bring and what to leave behind - especially when there isn’t a clear itinerary. Of course, I want to be comfortable, but there are different levels of comfort. There is “I can go hiking in this outfit” comfortable, and then there is “I can wear this out to a fancy restaurant” comfortable.
My wardrobe must be versatile and it must be easy to maintain away from home. I don’t want to be too hot or too cold, over-dressed or under-dressed. I don’t want to have too few outfits, but I also don’t want to pack more than I need. I definitely don’t want to spend time on my trip ironing or have every little speck of dirt show.
If all that wasn’t enough, I also want to look nice. I want to be able to show off a bit to family and friends whom I haven’t seen. I especially want to look nice in photos, since I think that one of the best souvenirs one can bring home is a photo of oneself. And if I just happened to be discovered on the streets of New York or even just at the airport… well… o.k., in my dreams. However, you never know when you might make a great personal or business contact. A key player in your future might just be sitting next to you on the plane. Now are you wearing a nice, put together outfit… or are you in something that resembles pajamas or gym clothes? I think comfort is very important, but will you be ready when opportunity knocks?
While packing did not start out as intuitive for me, I have spent a good deal of time this year thinking about the subject. I’m always looking for a better way to do things, and this is no exception. Therefore, in upcoming posts I will be sharing some of the tips and solutions I’ve found.
Meanwhile, does anyone here have any good packing tips? Have you experienced any packing problems? Also, do you have any tips for me on what I should, or shouldn’t bring on my trip to London?
Continue to Traveling in Style, Part II - Shoes Up.
Tags: Fashion, Impressions, Travel
Related Posts:
June 15th, 2007 at 12:33 am
[…] Traveling in Style, Part I - Why Comfort Shouldn't Be the Only Consideration […]
June 15th, 2007 at 3:04 am
[…] Traveling in Style, Part I - Why Comfort Shouldn't Be the Only Consideration […]
June 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I usually wear jeans, bring another pair of jeans, yoga pants and a pencil skirt. Then I bring a bunch of tops which I can wear with the skirt or the jeans, plus a tee. I bring a pair of PJ’s. For shoes, just flats or kitten heels, cute sneakers and (sometimes) sandals. Add a dress and (sometimes) a bikini. Then a necklace, earrings and a few bracelets. I don’t wear rings becuase my hands get swollen in planes.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi again, Alli! I love bringing yoga pants. I don’t wear them outside, but they make great pajama pants that I can run down the hall to ice machine in if necessary.