You’ve all heard “Pack light! Pack light!”
I agree, absolutely. And I think about EVERY single thing that goes into one suitcase or another. I think about its weight, its volume, its versatility, the ease of substituting something else for it, my desire/need for it, the “value” it will add to my trip. I get very analytical as I pare things down to a slim group of “to be packed”.
I end up arriving in Italy with a “small, personal item”, a carry-on rolling bag, and a larger checked bag when I come for a month or more. Milan is one of the Fashion Capitals of the world, and I’m here, with friends, for a month. It’s not like I’m here as a tourist, when and where I won’t be seen by anyone I know, going from city to city every couple of days. I have to/want to have enough variation to be “appropriate”…whatever that is, and to look “decent”.
So, what did I pack?
Generally, I’ve narrowed everything down to black, white, red and a very specific green. That alone simplifies everything. I packed:
- 3 red dresses. 2 have 3/4 length sleeves, 1 is sleeveless.
- 1 black and white sleeveless dress/tunic
- 2 black sleeveless dresses. 1 “young”. 1 “classic”
- 2 skirts: 1 short black, 1 classic floral
- 2 pairs of black pants: 1 heavyweight, 1 lightweight
- 2 3/4 sleeve blouses, 1 dusky lavender “Travel Shirt”, 1 cream silk
- 8 sleeveless tops: tanks/blouses, linen/knit, formal/casual. White, blush, green, red, black (each with a different “flavor”).
- 1 mid-calf pair of “sport” leggings for evening relaxation and under-dress/tunic look
- 2 red-patterned scarves
- Plus underwear and a couple of t-shirts for layering when the weather starts to get cold.
- I wear low boots on the plane, and change into “ballerina flats” upon arrival, with slippers to warm my feet against cold ceramic tile flooring in my apartment.
- I have a “light” black jacket, plus a black rain jacket, and even some silicone galoshes to stretch over my shoes.
- And since I live and WORK here for a month, I bring my computer, an external hard drive, a huge pile of plug and power converters, my pile of physical, paper client files, a few essential office supplies… Things that most “travelers” don’t need to haul.
- I also usually bring my own wash cloths (since they’re not common here), a couple of dish towels and dish rags and an apron (since I always wear one),
- Sometimes I bring single-edge razor blades (for scraping calcium deposits from around the sinks), pliers and screwdrivers for fixing things, Bon Ami for scrubbing, since I’m often renting a “student-grade” apartment that needs a good cleaning when I get there.
- I bring my Melitta coffee filter cone and filters because I JUST LIKE MY COFFEE THAT WAY. Waiting to go out to “The Bar” for a shot of espresso and pastry just doesn’t do it for me in the morning.
- I bring some toiletries (buying others once I get here), basic “First Aid” items, and “In Case I Catch a Cold” remedies.
- And I usually bring a few gifts over with me, then flea market finds on the way home.
Sara Little Turnbull, 1997 (© M. Hoffmann)
Could I pack even less? Oh yeah, probably. My mentor Sara Little used to have her “uniform” and she wore it every day. She’d be aghast at how much I carry. But I’m here for a month, not switching cities every three days, see my friends many times, and carry my work materials with me. It adds up.
A few years ago, I was helping some friends plan their whirlwind tour of Italy. I went over to their house to review their proposed travel wardrobe. They had two giant suitcases out on the bed, and two heaps of clothes. I removed half the pile of clothes, and suggested smaller suitcases. When they returned home, they said “we wish we had carried much less!”
Pare down
Try to eliminate. Try to multipurpose. Pare down as much as you can… and then, even more. ESPECIALLY if you’re going to some place like Cinque Terre or Venezia where mobility is difficult. You’ll be walking up and down narrow paths and staircases, carrying your suitcases, often unable to wheel them along. And if you’re changing locations every few days, you’ll be packing, unpacking and hauling everything repeatedly. Ugh. If it comes to your wearing the same thing every couple of days, so be it. Minimize… and you’ll be glad you did.
(As I write this, some would look at my photo and say “Oh Maureen, you’ve packed too much.” But I KNOW what’s ahead as far as luggage handling, clothing needs/desires, and work requirements. What I pack is appropriate for my month living and working in one place.)