Travel packing; keeping it light
I love to pack well, taking just enough things for variety without taking too much. One tip is to pack with weight in mind. see below…
Never leave with your luggage packed to full capacity unless you know you will be offloading something at your destination. Allow space for picking up unique local offerings from the place you visit as locally made fashion is always sooo tempting when you’re bored of what you’re wearing or don’t have time for clothes washing!
Wear your heaviest and/or bulkiest clothes on the flight so you don’t need to pack them.
Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, you’ll need twice as many tops as you do bottom garments. Tops require more washing and are more visible so you’ll tire of them quicker. If you add in a lightweight cardigan it will help you to layer according to weather and give you additional outfit options.
Pack according to a colour palette. Choose, for example, three neutrals and two accent colours that co-ordinate well so that everything is interchangeable. You might choose olive, cream and caramel with red and coral accents. Or if your colouring is cooler toned, you might go for charcoal, white and navy with mint and pink accents. If you’re not sure what works best for you, consider a Colour Analysis.
When packing, roll rather than fold your clothes. You’ll emerge with fewer creases in your clothes at the other end and you’ll be able to fit more in. You’ll also be able to find what you’re looking for more easily.
Don’t waste space by having your shoes sit empty in your case; stuff them with something like socks to save space. Plus they’ll arrive in better shape than if they sit empty as they won’t be squished.
Ensure any gym clothes you take are versatile enough to wear on other occasions too. For example take leggings you can wear under a dress / tunic top in a very fine cotton like those Captain Robbo make. They are a good choice as they also roll into a tiny space and weigh nothing at all. Consider a tank you can wear with a skirt, shorts or jeans.
Look for toiletry products you can use in several ways. This will reduce your load as toiletries are weighty. Examples are jojoba oil that will work in your hair and as a face/body moisturiser or a hair conditioner that you can also use for styling.
Travel sized toiletries are great but don’t buy the ready made. They’re convenient but not good value so get a small collection of reusable travel bottles and dispense the exact products you need yourself. They’re more sustainable and you can re-use them for years.
Do you definitely need your hair appliance? If you’re travelling for business, there’ll be a hairdryer at the hotel, and if you’re holidaying at the beach you could change your hairstyle while you’re away and give your hair a break. If you must take one, invest in a travel sized one.
A large and substantial cotton scarf is invaluable and versatile. You can use it as a wrap, a sarong, a modesty cover for visiting religious buildings, as sun cover or even as a towel if you get stuck. They also add a bit of interest to your outfits if you find they’re on repeat for just a little too long! Ditto small accessories such as earrings and necklaces.
If you’re heading somewhere cold, or feel cold when flying, either a cashmere / possum merino wrap or a lightweight down-filled jacket are ideal. They both compress really well and weigh very little. They can also act as pillows if you tend to sleep while flying. But try to ensure your choice is ethically sourced, particularly in the case of anything down-filled.
If you’d like to read more about travel packing, see here and here. Happy holidaying!
Note: this is adapted from an interview with freelance journalist, Pilar Mitchell, for an article originally commissioned by Jetstar