i just got off the phone with a client who is planning her vacation…a short one…the hubby has told her…one suitcase…no more…so she called me and asked if i could come over and help her figure out the wardrobe…and pack it all in one suitcase…
no problema!!
of course…i wish it was me going on the vacation…it seems like it has been forever and a day…les sigh…
packing light can be done…personally…i love having lots of choices…as i tend to change my mind on what to wear pretty much based on my mood, the alignment of the sun…what i ate for breakfast…you get my drift…right? i like having lots of options…which doesn’t make for comfortable traveling…when you are left to lug around lots of luggage…
the first time i really had to think about packing light…was my trip to greece…it was going to be for several weeks…and since we were going to go from one island to another…mostly via little boats…i needed to be able to carry my suitcase with ease…many times…up and down narrow stairs…never in a million years did i think i would survive…but i did…although my girlfriend and i still laugh to this day…because by the end of that trip…we were so sick of looking at each other’s same outfits…we swore we would get home and burn them…
so…here are some easy steps for hassle-free packing…
– jot down each day you’ll be gone and the number of outfits you’ll need…keep in mind the different activities you are planning on participating in…the image you want to project…and the climate of the area you will be visiting…
– once you have this list…use it as your guide…go through each day…assemble complete outfits on single hangers…include all accessories to each outfit…this includes belts, scarves, jewelry and shoes…
– at this point – assess all the outfits…are there too many different shoes, bags, etc? start to eliminate pieces that are not versatile…replace the outfits that need that pair of odd shoes that don’t go with anything else with shoes you are already planning to bring…
– once you have all the outfits complete…pack it all up…the key here is that you have identified and laid out the clothing you would like to bring with you when traveling…you can then use your luggage space most efficiently…rather then stuffing things in as you go…
whether you will be heading out of town in the next few weeks to savor the long…hot days of summer or are looking to master the art of packing for social and business trips year-round…this system offers some excellent strategies…
if you don’t think your closet contains the necessary pieces to give you the style and confidence you want on the road (or at home for that matter)…follow the above system…jotting down the key missing pieces…schedule a shopping trip to pick up these missing items before you leave so you can relax and enjoy your trip without being disappointed with your wardrobe…
or…you can do like my client did…and call me (if you are local) or a wardrobe stylist in your area =)
