How do you select what to take on a trip? Use a color scheme, pack for your planned activities, and don’t take anything with you that you would hate to lose.
You might think that as an experienced traveler I pack the bare minimum wardrobe and personal items for an international trip.
You would be mistaken.
The best way for me to illustrate my packing philosophy is to relate this short exchange I had with a U.S. Customs Agent when I was once randomly selected to have my luggage searched upon my return to the U.S. from an international trip.
He first asked to go through my carry-on:
Customs Agent: “Ma’am, you seem to have everything in here except the kitchen sink.”
Me: “You’re right – that’s in checked luggage.”
Granted, I was coming home from being overseas for a month. Still, I like to be prepared for anything, yet still be able to whiz my way through an airport without feeling encumbered by heavy luggage or lots of it. How do I do it? Here, I discuss how to make decisions about your travel wardrobe and gear, and in “Packing Part II: Packing So You Can Find It When You Want II (For Women)” I discuss how to pack.
1. Understand your own sense of style. Who do you take after? Do you prefer form-fitting clothes or a looser fit? What’s your color scheme? What kind of neckline do you prefer? What about accessories? It helps to know the answers to these questions, not just in life in general, but while travelling: if you know what you look best in (and feel best in), it helps to streamline your packing decisions.
I am in my early 50s, and my style is drawn from, in broad strokes, Coco Chanel (1950s), Audrey Hepburn, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I also once saw a montage in a magazine that summed up French style for the masses and which suits me: a good, white blouse, black pencil skirt, Hermes’ scarf, good sunglasses, jeans that fit, an oversized V-neck sweater (with a white T-shirt underneath), lady-like pumps, and a good handbag (as opposed to several cheap ones). I like a classic look: basic color items (black, white and grey) with a few colorful items mixed in, and that are generally interchangeable. I prefer clean lines with some detailing mixed in, such as a bow or piping. Good style needn’t be expensive: the key, really, is knowing what looks good on you and a good fit. I am a “winter” in the Color Me Beautiful color schemes, so cool colors, such as turquoise blue and white, look best on me.
2. Try to blend in with the natives when you travel. You’ll probably feel like you’re more a part of the locale you’re in, and you won’t stand out as an American (or wherever you’re from). While I can only aspire to be as stylish as Parisian women, the fact that I have my own sense of style helps me to blend in.
It helps to do a little research: When I went to Nicaragua to visit someone, I seemed to draw a lot of attention from the locals. I asked my friend what he thought and he told me, “Women here don’t wear shorts; they wear skirts and dresses. People here think you look like a boy.” I was…humiliated? Embarrassed? Taken aback? I might not be sure of how to describe how I was feeling, but I did know he wasn’t the one for me. I had asked him before I travelled to Nicaragua if there was anything I needed to know about visiting there and he said no, other than it was hot. (This was way before the internet.) This was something he should have told me; clearly, he was not culturally sensitive in a pro-active sense.
A dinner cruise on the Seine River is a very elegant affair. You will want to dress for the occasion.
3. Plan what you will do on your trip, even in general terms, before deciding which items to pack. Since I knew I was going on a dinner cruise and wanted to attend Mass at Notre Dame, I packed a skirt and an acrylic lavender sweater with black piping and bow. I also took a black & white herringbone ¾ sleeved jacket as an alternate to the sweater. I wore the sweater on the cruise and the jacket to Mass.
4. Don’t pack anything you would regret losing. Leave your $300 sunglasses at home and use a cheaper pair: you might save yourself the heartbreak of losing something valuable as well as not becoming a target for pickpockets and robbers. Look nice without being too flashy or too obviously a tourist.
5. Be prepared. Think of how often you use items like a nail file, scissors, heel file, and band-aids. If you use them once a week or more, think of taking them with you.
When I went to the British Isles after I graduated from college, I was one of the few who was really prepared for rain (with not just an umbrella but a foldable rain jacket with a hood) and cool temperatures (Pringle V-neck cashmere sweater and another light sweater). I also carried Neosporin (a guy cut himself shaving and asked for it) and I had plenty of band-aids and Super Moleskin, so I was prepared for foot discomfort after walking so much (others were not). Also, on every commercial flight I have taken except the last one, I have had a bag of Hershey’s Kisses in my carry-on for fidgety children. Long plane rides are tough enough for adults: they are even harder for small children with short attention spans. When I see a child who is anxious or whimpering seated near me, I ask their parents if I can offer them one, and then do just that. A Hershey’s Kiss – which is to say, a distraction – is often just a child needs to take their mind off how bored or crampy they feel. (And yes, I offer them to adults, too, especially parents.)
6. For about two weeks before you travel, keep track of weather (and now, political) conditions to see what is trending. For the two weeks prior to my last trip to Paris, the temperatures had been in the 40s (Fahrenheit), and I knew Paris doesn’t get quite as cold as Washington, D.C. (that is, normally – anything is possible with global warming). I packed accordingly: a warm scarf and several turtlenecks were a must.
7. No matter the trending weather conditions, always pack several items for the opposite or nearly opposite conditions. Since I was going to Paris during the fall/winter months, this means I would pack at least one short-sleeved top, a light windbreaker jacket (an Anorak, which folds into itself, probably the best travel item I’ve ever purchased), and an umbrella.
8. It’s better to layer items in winter instead of wearing one bulky item that would make you feel too hot. I often wear a V-neck sweater with a white T-shirt (which is actually European influence), and in the case of unusually warm weather I would wear a T-shirt alone. Wearing layers also gives me more options.
The Voltage Valet blow dryer weighs just over 1 pound.
9. Be patient when buying travel gear: look for detail and read the fine print. I shop until I find just the right travel blow dryer and locks for my baggage. Also, I have an eye for what packs well after taking many trips.
It pays to read the fine print: reading the travel blow dryer box I discovered I had to buy converters separately.
So, using these nine points, my initial wardrobe choices and travel gear for my month-long trip to Paris during winter were as follows.
CHECKED BAG
2 prs. Black pants (1 from Cache, 1 travel pants)
1 black pencil skirt (for Mass at Notre Dame and my dinner cruise)
Black & White Herringbone 3/4-sleeved jacket (a little dressy)
Black Velvet Chico long-sleeved Button-up cardigan
Black & White striped Ralph Lauren long-sleeved blouse (a little dressy)
Black Jones of New York (Cotton) long-sleeved blouse
Black long-sleeved scoop-neck (Cotton) shirt
Black V-neck long-sleeved Ireland (Acrylic) sweater
Black long-sleeved (Cotton) turtleneck
White Long-sleeved (Cotton) shirt
Lavender ¾-sleeved (cotton/nylon) sweater with black detailing and bow
Black & White striped short-sleeved (Rayon/Nylon/Spandex) sweater
Black short-sleeved (Rayon/Cotton) turtleneck sweater
2 White short-sleeved (Cotton) shirts
Black Anorak hooded rain jacket
Blue Under Armor Zippered jacket
Black Cuddl Duds Long-sleeved undergarment
Grey short-sleeved (Rayon/Nylon) turtleneck sweater (had to take out)
Blue short-sleeved cotton blouse (had to take out)
Black & White Forever Scarf (had to take out)
Black (Velvet) Scarf (had to take out)
Lingerie
4 prs. Black tights
Travel blow dryer
Hair spray
Baby wipes
Scissors
Nail care items
Personal care items not allowed on plane (including laundry soap and fluid makeup)
16 packs of personal Kleenex tissue (10 per pack) (packed in inside zipper, on top of suitcase hardware, as well as several grocery bags and a foldable, plastic shopping bag with handles)
Epsom Salt (had to take out)
Delicates laundry bag
Swiss Army Knife
Leather Fanny Pack
BACKPACK CARRY-ON
3 pairs of shoes (5 prs. socks inside shoes)
Travel bedroom slippers
Pajamas
Sleeping mask
Prescription
Magic Marker (to label food in hostel refrigerator)
Flashlight (to use outside and to navigate in the room without waking up roommates)
AAA batteries
3-1-1 personal items
Small lint brush
L’Oreal makeup remover sheets
Non-fluid makeup items
Foot roller (ball)
Travel books/Travel Diary/Pamphlets on new electronics (phone, camera)
Mademoiselle Paris Black Text Fabric Journal by Papyrus.
Chargers for cell phones, camera
Pens
Umbrella
Hershey Kisses (had to take out)
TRAVEL HANDBAG
Filofax Daily Planner
Sunglasses
Reading glasses
Make up
Camera
Pocket Tissues
Pen
2 cell phones
WORE ON PLANE:
Black Zella (Polyester/Spandex) Yoga pants
Black tights
Black Ann Taylor (Wool) blazer with pockets
Pringle blue V-neck (Cashmere) sweater
White long-sleeved (Cotton) shirt
Money belt w/money and passport
Purple overcoat (Wool) with black detailing (carried in bag on plane to protect it in overhead bin)
Black (Wool) scarf
Black Earmuffs
Black short booties
Earrings, ring, sports watch that could take abuse
I made sure everything was clean, had buttons and no tears. Glad I checked: I had to have a black short-sleeved turtleneck repaired at the neck, two blouses needed buttons strengthened, and my purple overcoat needed to be dry cleaned. (I cook, I clean, I bake awesome chocolate chip cookies and blueberry scones, but I don’t sew.) Everything else looked great. Note that I didn’t take any extra jewelry; I only took what I wore. Many travel guides recommend that you don’t take extra jewelry that you would regret losing.
Since most of my Hartmann luggage I bought for my overseas trip after I graduated from college had bitten the dust – and I didn’t want to take the luggage piece I took to Moscow because it didn’t handle well – I decided to spend less (a lot less!) on luggage and see what happened. In addition, although I knew my baggage allowance with Turkish Airways (a handbag/purse [or “personal item”, which could also be a laptop case or umbrella], carry on [30 pounds* up to 21.7 inches high] and two checked bags [50 lbs. each, up to 62 inches high]), I wanted to do with less. I set out to buy a travel handbag, a backpack to use as a carry-on, and a small suitcase. (*Note: This weight may have changed. See Turkish Airlines’ website for luggage allowance. Click here to convert centimeters to inches, or here to convert kilograms to pounds.)
Hugger Backpack by Baggallini Travel Purse.
I found my travel handbag at The Container Store (Hugger Backpack by Baggallini for $49.00). I love this handbag! It easily drapes over the front of my coat for protection against theft (and is adjustable to fit without a coat), it has lots of pockets that are easily accessible, and is easily cleaned. Perfect!
Next, I went searching for a backpack to use as my carry-on which had lots of compartments, lots of space, was made of durable material, and had zippers that could lock. I found all that I was looking for in a black Ogio backpack at Luggage Center, a local store in my area. The retail price was $79.00, and the proprietor gave me $10.00 off. I was ecstatic: I love all of the compartments and am impressed with the fabric. I looked at backpacks that were twice as much (and more), but this suited my needs perfectly.
Ogio Backpack.
Finally, I found a 21-inch Samsonite rolling suitcase (wheels are included in the length per TSA Regulations) that had lots of space, an expansion zipper for extra space, a fluid handle that snapped in the “up” or “down” position, and wheels that easily changed direction. Perhaps most importantly, it wasn’t black. The price: Just under $80.00 at Marshall’s. Sold! (Image is approximate.) Why don’t I buy black luggage that I have to check? Because everyone buys black luggage! Black doesn’t show wear and tear as a bright color would, and it looks professional and classy. But what happens if your suitcase gets lost and your identification gets ripped off? While I have always known not to purchase black luggage, this was brought home to me when I once returned to the U.S. from overseas and two out of four of my bags were temporarily lost. The airline employee I dealt with told me what helped them locate my bags was that they were “any color besides black.” He said, “You should see our warehouse: It’s nothing but a sea of black luggage.” My Hartmann luggage was beige parachute nylon with orange trim. They had no trouble locating it, even though both of my identification tags got ripped off of one of them.
Samsonite Spinner.
I also bought Voltage Valet travel blow dryer and a 220 voltage converter, Lewis & Clark combination locks for my suitcase and backpack. As I’ve already mentioned, only by reading the blow dryer’s box did I understand that while it stated it was for “worldwide use” it didn’t come with converters. I love the blow dryer anyway. It does a great job and weighs just over one pound.
Before packing these new luggage items, I sprayed all of them with fabric protector even though they all seemed to have been chemically treated already. I allowed all three pieces to dry for 24 hours. While the luggage items were drying, I gathered together my wardrobe selections, travel gear. Read future post “Packing Part II: Packing So You Can Find It (For Women)” to find out how I pack.
Salut!
Image of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” courtesy of Blu-ray. Used by permission.
Voltage Valet Blow Dryer courtesy of Amazon.com, CCBY 2.0.
Hugger Backpack by Baggallini Travel Purse courtesy of The Container Store, CCBY 2.0.
Ogio Backpack courtesy of Ogio.com, CCBY 2.0.
Samonsonite Spinner courtesy of Indulgy.com, CCBY 2.0.
Mademoiselle Paris Black with Text Fabric Journal courtesy of Papyrus.com, CCBY 2.0.
“Elsa’s Picks” from Corporate Travel Safety.com. And they’re all on sale!
How many times has a typical traveler eyed their suitcase in the corner of their hotel room thinking, “Did I buy so much that my suitcase is now over my weight limit? It might cost as much to send things home as it does to pay an overage fee, but do I really need to do either?” With the Balanzza Mini Digital Luggage Scale, you can get an easy answer to those questions. The price is right, and weighing in (pardon the pun) at 3 oz., it won’t take much space in your suitcase.
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Devices. Newly-issued passports and credit cards have them, ostensibly to speed up transactions. Unfortunately, you also become a walking target: you can be a victim of identity theft without your wallet or credit card ever leaving your pocket or purse; all a thief has to do is scan your person from up to 30 feet away. With an RFID Blocking Passport Case, your passport and credit cards are safe, as well as nicely organized. It comes in black ballistic nylon and is also available in black leather for $19.95.
How many times have you been in a hotel room where the air was drier than sandpaper? With the Portable Travel Humidifier you no longer need to suffer. The device fits on most bottles and automatically shuts off after 8 hours.
From a woman’s perspective, this belt looks smart (attractive). Bills are secured inside the fold of the belt. The belt comes in black and brown and adjusts to a 44-inch waist.
I love this handbag! Let me count the ways: RFID blocking pockets for credit cards and passports; two front flap pockets and a locking zipper pocket; an adjustable cut-proof shoulder strap; a rear zip pocket; a locking main compartment; a removable LED light; all in an eye-pleasing design. It comes in 7 colors: black, blue, stone, chocolate, purple, cranberry and olive. See the video for a complete explanation.
The name says it all: The device automatically detects in-bound voltage and converts it to 110 volts, and is safe to use for hair dryers, irons, and other small electrical products. It has a USB charger to charge your cell phone or iPad. It’s compatible in more than 150 countries: the only adapter configuration it doesn’t work with is the 3 round-pin used mainly in South Africa and India.
The Ogon Original RFID Blocking Aluminum Wallet is suitable for men and women, but since it’s pocket-sized and sleek, I’m calling it a gift for men. Comes in three colors — black, turquoise blue, and silver, and you can’t beat the price.
