July 16, 2008
Packing 101
I wish I could say I’m an efficient packer. But the reality is I have to literally sit on my suitcase to close it. When I was accepted to a cultural exchange program run by the National Organization of Italian American Women, I decided to make my first trip to Italy a cure for my over-packing disease. And with the weight limits for checked baggage on airlines always changing (in the downward trend) I had even more motivation.
Having an itinerary of sights, activities and the like, made my first step in the cure a bunch easier. The Sistine Chapel, like many houses of worship, requires visitors to cover their shoulders and knees. So, for that outing I packed white linen pants, a navy blue sleeveless button-down blouse, and a white pashmina to drape over my shoulders. Also on the docket were mentoring sessions with top Italian biz women, for which no jeans or shorts were allowed—I packed my favorite J. Crew summer weight chinos in navy and khaki, a few business casual, yet fun floaty tops from Forever 21 (I love it—never breaks the bank!), and I threw in two cotton dresses from the Gap for good measure.
For the total tourism hits to the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, I packed solid colored, lightweight (and breathable) cotton tees and some J. Crew shorts. My shorts in white, khaki, and olive never fail to mix and match perfectly with any top. Lots of walking requires a comfortable shoe, so I bought Michael Kors sandals with the supportive sole of a Birkenstock, but ooh-la-la chic of a black patent leather strap.
Some tips:
- Placing shoes in plastic bags and at the bottom of your suitcase when it’s standing up mean your clothes won’t be permanently stamped by any icky remnants from your soles.
- Placing plastic clothing liners from the dry cleaner in between your delicates can help prevent unwanted creases later.
- Group like items together: pants with shorts, scarves with pashminas, bathing suits with undergarments, and button-down sweaters with lightweight jackets. This makes organization easier when it’s time to unpack.
- The fewer folds the better—I fold my nicer tops just once in half, limiting lines that need to be ironed.
- Don’t have any pashminas or scarves? We found them in every color on the streets of Rome for as little as 3 euros. You can also find them all over Manhattan for 5 bucks each.
- Even if you’re not tanning at the beach, the sun will find you outside the Pantheon, in front of St. Peter’s Basilica or wherever. Pack some sunscreen. I love Neutrogena's Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 30.
Posted by Lisa at 12:14 p.m.
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