The Art of Packing - As Inspired by the French

 

A reader recently requested a post on packing light and it made me start thinking about my own packing skills. I must confess, I am not great at packing. I usually end up taking too many things I don't need and, because I try to squeeze too much into a small carry-on suitcase, everything ends up wrinkled.  I have two trips coming up in the next few weeks, so I decided that this is the perfect opportunity for me to start perfecting my packing skills, and to share what I have learned in the process.

 

Of course, the first place I turned for advice is to my fellow bloggers. I read blogs written by some very impressive women, several of whom are experts on fashion and travel, and they have seemingly perfected the art of the "capsule wardrobe". Reading The Vivienne Files was an eye opener for me in terms of my wardrobe in general, and her posts on packing are excellent. She has an excellent sense of color combinations and how to start with basics and add a few pops of color to make a lot of different outfits. Tish at A Femme d'Un Certain Age also has some great posts on packing - a lot of them are about packing for interesting fantasy trips showcasing fashions, but one can garner a lot of packing advice from her ideas. One of my long time favorites is Mai Tai's Picture Book - I usually read her posts on different ways to wear your Hermes scarves, but she has some pretty savvy packing advice as well. The amazing Vicki Archer who writes French Essence sums up her packing technique as follows:

 

"What goes into the suitcase? That’s the tough stuff to decide and obviously changes depending on destination. Generally speaking, I try and think like a man when I am packing. I have always thought their ability to wear a suit to almost any occasion one of the great advantages of their sex. So that’s what I do…I choose my version of a suit…I pack a jacket, skirt, pants and or dress that is colour co-ordinated and that will take me anywhere. The pieces must be interchangeable and wearable with shirts and tees, flats or heels. My rule is one pair of heels and one pair of ballet flats – this footwear can take me from day to night, from appointment to party. My alternative handbag other than the Longchamp is a small clutch that fits my phone, a credit card and cash. In winter I add a couple of cashmere sweaters, in summer extra tee shirts. Two silk scarves, some costume costume jewellery to glam up the night time and that’s it…I’m done. I have the trench-coat for wind, rain and cold and the converse if I am walking miles. It is not the most exciting or varied of wardrobes but it works well for business trips and those holidays that are on the move and about the sightseeing."
 

What do all these amazing women have in common? They are all either French or living in France.  Leave it to the French to figure out how to look good without overpacking!

 

Because every person and every trip is different, I find that the "universal packing lists" are very hard to follow in practice. Obviously, you will be packing very differently for a week at the beach than you would for a business trip to Europe. However, it seems that a few basic concepts are universal. From all of my research, I have come up with the following tips:

• Make your own packing list and then edit it down to what you really need.
• Color coordinate everything  - select just one colour palette and make sure that all of your clothing conforms to these shades.  So no matter what you grab from your bag it will match something else and you will be able to create several new different outfits.
• Call the place where you're staying and ask the if  they have a hairdryer, iron, ironing board, beach towels, bathrobes---basically anything that's bulky and that you'd rather leave at home.
• Check the weather where you are going and plan accordingly. If the weather is changeable, pack a cashmere scarf to use as a wrap (and also can double as a blanket on planes or trains.)
• Wear the heaviest items so they don't have to be packed in your suitcase.
• Bring scarves and jewelry to accessorize - they are relatively light and easy to pack and can change the entire look of an outfit
• Chances are you can buy anything you need where you are going so there is no need to plan for every contingency.
• Pack Woolite packets and Downy Wrinkle Release - you can rinse things out and let them dry overnight. Wrinkle Release works wonders when things come out of the suitcase covered in creases.
• Don't ever pack something you haven't worn before (especially shoes).
• The cost of having a few things dry cleaned by the hotel (as pricey as it is) may be less than the cost to check a bag.

Please share any tips you may have for packing light. I am about to start making my list for my trip to North Carolina this week. Let's see if I can take my own advice!