What to pack for a trip or extended stay

[LoveMyBoots]

Los Angeles and Las Vegas are MUCH warmer than Michigan. If you've grown up in Michigan then you'll probably think it will be t-shirt and shorts weather. LA sees some rain but Las Vegas is even drier and hotter.

I would suggest to bring all light clothing that you can layer and one nice warm coat jacket. To avoid looking like a trashy tourist, esp. in Vegas, this is my personal advice: nothing that has brand names or ironic wording, no sweat shirts or sweat pants, no uggs, nice shoes aka no sneakers. Anything that makes you look like you're dressed more for the gym or errands is a dead give away that you're a tourist. BUT that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel comfortable in whatever you wear.

 

[á la Balenciaga]

bring a cardigan just in case it gets cold. but don't come looking like you're going to Alaska.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I grew up in Michigan and usually spent Christmas in Texas. If it was 20 below at home, in 20 degrees I'd go outside in just long sleeves and it felt like paradise I thought Texas was much, much flashier than Michigan, so you should get that & more in LA and Vegas. You could always get the lay of the land when you get there and buy clothes as souvenirs. Vegas is a great place to shop ... so is LA. There may not be anything in a MI wardrobe that will make you look like you really live in LA or Vegas

 

[softgrey]

i pack a big bag full of stuff...
i'm not backpacking and staying in hostels anymore these days...
so, since i'm only taking my luggage from my house to the airport and from the airport to the place i'm staying...i see no reason to pack light!...
i pack lots of stuff---multiple options and layers because one cannot predict the weather or the dress code...

a couple of comfy shoes and a roomy bag are a must---
but i also bring heels and an evening bag...

part of the fun of traveling/being on holiday to me is dressing up...
because that's one of the things that i really enjoy...
and when i'm on holiday i have plenty of time to relax and get dressed and wear what i like...



*i never listen to those travel 'experts'...
they are all completely useless imo...

 

[mundodabolsa]

i pack a big bag full of stuff...
i'm not backpacking and staying in hostels anymore these days...
so, since i'm only taking my luggage from my house to the airport and from the airport to the place i'm staying...i see no reason to pack light!...
i pack lots of stuff---multiple options and layers because one cannot predict the weather or the dress code...

a couple of comfy shoes and a roomy bag are a must---
but i also bring heels and an evening bag...

part of the fun of traveling/being on holiday to me is dressing up...
because that's one of the things that i really enjoy...
and when i'm on holiday i have plenty of time to relax and get dressed and wear what i like...



*i never listen to those travel 'experts'...
they are all completely useless imo...

this is exactly me too. say, if I'm going to a city for five days, you better believe I'm wearing the five favorite outfits in my wardrobe at the time. I'm not going for simplicity for packing's sake. I'm breaking out my favorite shoes and accessories and jackets and going all out.

especially since at home, I'm working, and my work requires certain clothes. if traveling for fun and not work, that's when I can be creative with my clothes.

I'm not going to wear the same thing over and over again on a trip just to pack light, I do the repetition at home. and who wants to spend time while on vacation hand-washing things in the sink of the hotel anyhow??

 

[pinkpolo]

Travelling to Hong Kong & Taiwan

Hi! I'm going to Hong Kong & Taiwan in March for about a month. What should I pack since I do have the tendency to over pack? Will the weather be hot already that open toed sandals are necessary and no jackets (or long sleeves in general) required? I know it sounds weird, but sometimes, I hate wearing sandals, especially flip flops while exploring the city because I feel my feet is too close in contact with all the dust + dirt. So if anyone could recommend a stylish yet functional shoe, that would be great!

Also, I know that things are (relatively) cheaper there so I could just buy everything there. But sometimes, I don't like doing that because when I come back to the US, I wonder why in the world I bought this crazy print dress when I typically wear the black/greys/navys. Plus, I do favor quality over quantity now...

Thanks in advance!

 

[YoninahAliza]

^I can't advise you on what to wear weather wise since I've never been to HK and Taiwan (you lucky girl!) but I do suggest laying out your clothes before you pack them into a suitcase. I always pick out a few pieces that I know I want to bring with me and then work around that. Try and plan a few outfits but also make sure that some of the pieces can be mixed and matched.

And your complaint about wearing open toed shoes doesn't sound weird to me at all... I'm the same way. I'm not too keen on wearing open toed shoes in cities because of the dirt and because people could step on them while on crowded subways (ouch!). Have you considered wearing oxfords? Or you could wear boat shoes, keds (they aren't that bad looking now days), Toms, or sneakers (which I know aren't that fashionable but sometimes comfort is more important then fashion). It really depends on your personal style. Keep in mind how much you think you will be walking too. You don't want to have sore feet from wearing shoddy shoes. Maybe try Zappos because they have a wide variety of different types of shoes. Hope that helps.

 

[pinkpolo]

^Thanks for all the great suggestions! I know I'll be walking a lot so I need something comfortable but still go with my outfits. Typically I'm a leggings + oversized sweater type of girl so sneakers will be a no go for me. But I'll check out the other types of shoes. Thanks again!

 

[dumbfairy]

I don't think there is a swimwear thread? Or I couldn't find one.

Does anybody know where I could purchase retro-style swimwear? I go on holiday in 7 weeks and I own one bikini,but my body has changed since I purchased it and it just makes me look more curve-less and slight than I am. I'm not a skimpy swimwear kinda girl. If anybody comes across a high-waisted bikini please let me know!

 

[falsecontender]

I'm going travelling in September (a while yet) but I can only take a backpack which I'll be sharing with my boyfriend. I'm going to travel along the Baltic coast for roughly 10 days, weather in that period seems to usually be warmish and not too heavy rain.
We'll be doing simple activities like walking around the towns, perhaps doing a roof tour of Stockholm but lots of staying in hostels/cooking own dinner and I'm sure we'll be visiting pubs a few times.

I have extreme overpacking issues, I can barely pack for 3 days at my boyfriends without struggling on the train with it.

So any tips?

 

[Melisande]

I'm going travelling in September (a while yet) but I can only take a backpack which I'll be sharing with my boyfriend. I'm going to travel along the Baltic coast for roughly 10 days, weather in that period seems to usually be warmish and not too heavy rain.
We'll be doing simple activities like walking around the towns, perhaps doing a roof tour of Stockholm but lots of staying in hostels/cooking own dinner and I'm sure we'll be visiting pubs a few times.

I have extreme overpacking issues, I can barely pack for 3 days at my boyfriends without struggling on the train with it.

So any tips?

I'm really good at packing light, but sharing a backpack for a ten-day trip seems a little challenging!!

In such extreme cases, what I'd do is rely on handwashing: Divide your clothes in two parts: stuff that you wear directly on your body and needs to be changed every day (Tees, panties, tights, socks, whatever.), vs. things you layer over those. Take just enough of the first stuff that you'll need while whatever you handwash is drying out. So basically, for any length trip, two or three of each should suffice including what you're actually wearing. The rest, you don't need to wash while on your trip, so you can wear a pair of jeans and a cardi and very comfy shoes, and pack a skirt or small dress you can just ball up, maybe a pair of ballet flats and another cardi if you like. Other than that, I take a sack of jewelry and rely on accessories for variety. Oh, and don't pack pajamas...sleep in things you can also wear outside. If not naked

This method makes life so much easier for me on the road...for my recent 10-day business trip to London, I had one large suitcase half empty, including three ball gowns and matching shoes (suitcase filled on my way back ) while a colleague brought...THREE suitcases! And I still didn't wear everything. Make sure you have a small bit of powder detergent or even just soap with you (Ive been known to use shampoo in extreme cases!), that whatever you take is comfortable and often-worn...especially NO new shoes...and that they all can be styled together.... Also, better be too warm than too cold, at least for me.
A friend of mine relies on lace lingerie for trips because they dry fast, which is a brilliant idea. Anything that dries fast and doesn't crease...lace, poly, gauze, ...

I love dressing up as much as anyone, but on a trip I hate lugging around heavy suitcases, and i get annoyed with each piece of clothing I end up not wearing . Sorry for the over-practical and un-romantic tips. HTH

 

[Lolaa]

I used to overstuff my suitcase but in the end I would only wear a couple of items anyway. So I think I've finally gotten better at packing light.

A great pair of jeans is important and can be worn on many occasions (day, night and on the plane) especially if it's dark wash.

A nice coat (or blazer, depending on the weather), lots of underwear, a second pair of pants, pajamas, a scarf and a couple of tops/sweaters and that's it. I don't pack a lot of extra shoes because I never wear them, but a second pair of flats will do.

Plus, my skincare essentials and a few jewelry and that's it. It may sound like a lot of stuff but I only need a small suitcase.

 

[falsecontender]

I'm really good at packing light, but sharing a backpack for a ten-day trip seems a little challenging!!

In such extreme cases, what I'd do is rely on handwashing: Divide your clothes in two parts: stuff that you wear directly on your body and needs to be changed every day (Tees, panties, tights, socks, whatever.), vs. things you layer over those. Take just enough of the first stuff that you'll need while whatever you handwash is drying out. So basically, for any length trip, two or three of each should suffice including what you're actually wearing. The rest, you don't need to wash while on your trip, so you can wear a pair of jeans and a cardi and very comfy shoes, and pack a skirt or small dress you can just ball up, maybe a pair of ballet flats and another cardi if you like. Other than that, I take a sack of jewelry and rely on accessories for variety. Oh, and don't pack pajamas...sleep in things you can also wear outside. If not naked

This method makes life so much easier for me on the road...for my recent 10-day business trip to London, I had one large suitcase half empty, including three ball gowns and matching shoes (suitcase filled on my way back ) while a colleague brought...THREE suitcases! And I still didn't wear everything. Make sure you have a small bit of powder detergent or even just soap with you (Ive been known to use shampoo in extreme cases!), that whatever you take is comfortable and often-worn...especially NO new shoes...and that they all can be styled together.... Also, better be too warm than too cold, at least for me.
A friend of mine relies on lace lingerie for trips because they dry fast, which is a brilliant idea. Anything that dries fast and doesn't crease...lace, poly, gauze, ...

I love dressing up as much as anyone, but on a trip I hate lugging around heavy suitcases, and i get annoyed with each piece of clothing I end up not wearing . Sorry for the over-practical and un-romantic tips. HTH

Thanks for the tips, I plan to pack slowly over about two weeks to get everything just right. I'll prob try and sleep in my boyfriends t-shirts because we'll be going with a bunch of his friends otherwise I would drop the pajama idea all together.
I used shampoo to wash the feet of my tights on a weekend trip to Paris once so it won't hurt to do that again I'm sure I'll sort it all out and get the packing just right.

 

[Melisande]

You're most welcome, and thanks for the "karmae" to those who sent them...

I forgot one important tip: I have this amazing Zucca dressy dress that balls up but NEVER creases, never stains, and that dries in an instant. I usually pack this in case I ever go to dinner or a concert. I'm constantly on the lookout for something else like it but never succeeded.

Also we musn't forget the high-fashion light-packer's HG line, Issey Miyake's Pleats Please. It's not to my taste, but for those that like it, all the better.

http://www.brookandlyn.com/blog/?p=3372

 

[dumbfairy]

So,I got a job as an air hostess! And from now on I'll need to keep a small case packed at all times for when I'm called away on short notice. What essentials should I have packed that won't take up a lot of space,i.e things that can multitask.

 

[YoninahAliza]

^Oooh... that's so cool! Congrats! I always thought it would be a fun/interesting job to be an air hostess.

Obviously pack a few pairs of undergarments, travel sized cosmetics (check out http://www.3floz.com/ they specialize in beauty products that are 3 ounces or less and have some pretty great brands), a pair of pj's (or maybe an overlarge shirt that you could fashion into a dress with tights or something?), a light weight jacket (or cardigan depending on your preference), etc.

I'd suggest looking at your closet and picking out a few basics that you already know you can mix and match. Like for example, if I was packing this light I would include a navy and white striped boat neck shirt, a wrinkle free skirt, a pair of lightweight pants, and another shirt or two that go with both the skirt and pants. Also, it's probably better sticking to one color palette (like grey/blue/white and then one pop of color, such as a lemony yellow, if you like) when traveling this light. It makes it so much easier to mix and match. I hope these ideas help a little bit.

 

[lucy92]

I don't think there is a swimwear thread? Or I couldn't find one.

Does anybody know where I could purchase retro-style swimwear? I go on holiday in 7 weeks and I own one bikini,but my body has changed since I purchased it and it just makes me look more curve-less and slight than I am. I'm not a skimpy swimwear kinda girl. If anybody comes across a high-waisted bikini please let me know!

try omo norma kamali. its a high end line. very retro and very flattering. you may also find some swimsuits at modcloth.

 

[dumbfairy]

Thank you so much YoninahAliza! I'm usualy a pretty good packer,but knowing what to pack for what could range from one night to a few weeks away in a tiny case is terrifying! Definetely going to invest in an oversized shirt and I hadn't even thought about a colour pallett. You really have helped me! I'm so excited to start! I start my training in 2 weeks time,eeeek!

Also a massive thank you Lucy,I hadn't even thought of Modcloth,even though it's a website I love! I have now found my perfect bikini,which I should get in time before I go on my holiday

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Congratulations on the new job! I assume you'll be wearing a uniform for work, right? What kinds of things do you think you'll be doing in your downtime?

I would go to your equivalent of The Container Store and get containers you can use for shampoo, etc. I wouldn't want to be paying the big bucks for travel sizes if I were traveling all the time. Alternatively, you could buy one of each & then refill them. Not sure what the hotel will provide--anything decent? Is there a standard one you'll be staying in?

Hairspray seems like a challenge ... certain things you probably want to test to make sure they work OK

Will you have to meet carry-on standards?

 

[britt]

Congratulations Dumbfairy! I am a flight attendant too!

As for packing for your new job it depends on what kind of destinations you have. You should have one large suitcase and one cabin bag. I only carry the essentials on the plane with me, foundation, powder, mascara, perfume, small hair product and lipstick, the rest goes inside my big bag so it doesnt need to comply with 100ml rules. Everything in my large suitcase I change all the time depending on where im going. the only things I keep in there are pjs and a bikini, and I take jeans with me no matter where I go. It doesnt take long to throw in some stuff before you leave.