November 27, 2011

How to Pack

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Packing for a trip. If you are like me, this is one of the most dreaded fashion situations you can face. I’m really hoping someone will invent a way to teleport your entire closet with you wherever you go. In the meantime, here are my tips, tricks and past mistakes in hopes of helping you become a better packer!

1. Brainstorm.
On my recent trip to Europe, I spent at least two months planning my outfits in advance. That might sound excessive, but I was visiting a climate that was very different from the one I live in, wearing shoes I never wear (flats) and I also wanted to come up with cute outfits I could use as blog posts. ;-) You may not need as much planning as I did, but I still think that doing some initial brainstorming can really help with packing. Write down outfit ideas for your trip in the days and weeks leading up to your trip. Use inspiration photos and fashion blogs to get fresh new ideas.

2. Check the weather.
Leading up to your trip you’ll want to be checking the weather on a fairly regular basis. I recommend checking online, but also asking people you know that live there or have been to that region at the same time of year. I am notoriously bad at packing correctly for the weather. On my recent trip to Europe, I underestimated how hot Rome would be despite having checked the weather a gazillion times. If you are unsure of the weather or visiting multiple climates as I was, I recommend bringing an item from either end of the spectrum (both a warm coat and a pair of summery sandals, for example) *just in case.*

3. Pick your shoes first.
So… where to begin? With your shoes, of course! My #1 packing tip is to start with your shoes. These are by far the biggest and bulkiest items in your suitcase, so I always start there first. Often, I will pick either black or brown shoes and stick with that same color theme for the whole trip. Another tip: wear your bulkiest pair of shoes on the plane (both directions) to save room in your suitcase.

4.  Pick your jackets next.
The weather research you do will help determine how heavy and how many jackets to bring, and I recommend picking them next since they are also one of the bulkiest items in your suitcase. Use the shoes and jackets as a guide, and then only pack the smaller items (tops, bottoms, dresses) that go with them.


5. Layer it up.
Even the best meteorologist can't detect quick weather changes, so whenever possible I suggest packing outfits that have varying “stages” like the one above, that you can be adjusted based on how cold or hot it turns out to be that day. This can also be a helpful way to pack if you are traveling from one very hot climate to a very cold climate in the same day, or if it's warm during the day and gets much colder at night. Try packing a cardigan that can go under each jacket you packed and/or a scarf or gloves that you can add to your outfits.

6. Pack full outfits.
To ensure that I don’t pack a single item I won’t use, I like to try everything on and pack full outfits, rather than bits and pieces. This method might not work for everyone, but it has been a huge space saver for me. (Bonus: if you take the time to snap a photo of each outfit, you can look back at the pictures to help you remember what's in your suitcase and choose which outfit to wear while you're on your trip!)

7. Reuse, reuse, reuse.
I try not to pack anything that I won’t wear twice, even on a short trip. Try to think of packing as a fun puzzle and challenge yourself to come up with a way to re-wear any given item more than once.

8. Evaluate.
At the end of packing, I recommend going through everything and do three things: 1. Count how many outfits you have. Make sure you haven’t packed too many outfits, or not enough. 2. Imagine as many scenarios as possible (museum, church, mountains, dinner) and make sure you have head-to-toe look for every occasion. 3. Pick which outfits you will wear on the plane in both directions.

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A Packing Case Study: What I Packed for Europe


My recent trip to Europe was 16 days, 7 flights, one train ride and three countries (England, France and Italy). This is everything I wore (minus two outfits, those photos were unfortunately erased). I packed: 


Three pairs of (cute) shoes.
  • My super-comfy flat Bakers boots that I’ve had for a year.
  • A new pair of Michael Kors loafers. I must’ve tried on 50 pairs of flats and these were by far the most comfy!
  •  A new pair of boat shoes. These are a great alternative to sneakers since they have a cushy rubber bottom like sneakers but are much cuter (in my opinion).
  •  My gym shoes. I had planned to work out at least 3 times, but only wound up wearing them once, on a run through the streets of Milan. I would consider leaving these behind next time, but then again that run was one of my favorite highlights of the trip, so it’s a tough call!
Four jackets.
  • Trench coat. (didn't use it, not pictured)
  • Wool navy coat. (worn 4 times)
  • Camel blazer. (worn 4 times)
  • Tan leather jacket. (worn 4 times)

Five bottoms.
  • Dark skinny jeans. (worn 2 times)
  • Black skinny jeans. (worn 2 times)
  • Camel wool skirt. (worn 2 times)
  • Red cords. (worn 2 times)
  • Striped skirt. (worn 1 time)

Seven dresses.
  • Light pink ruffles. (worn 1 time)
  • Polka dots. (worn 1 time)
  • Gray t-shirt dress. (worn 1 time, with leggings on the plane)
  •  Camel t-shirt dress. (worn 1 time, with leggings on the plane)
  • Sweater dress. (worn 2 times, not pictured)
  • Olive dress. (worn 1 time)

Eight tops.
  • Graphic tee.  (worn 1 time)
  • Blue collared shirt. (worn 2 times)
  • Plaid collared shirt.  (worn 1 time)
  • Striped t-shirt. (worn 2 times)
  • Mustard tank top.  (worn 1 time)
  • Red silk blouse.  (worn 1 time)
  • Leopard blouse. (worn 1 time)
  • Polka dot blouse. (worn 1 time)

One purse.
  • I brought one, large purse. It was big enough to stuff full on the airplane, but then small/lightweight enough to wear cross-body style while sightseeing. It usually contained a bottle of water, snacks, maps, and the usual stuff (wallet, lip gloss, sunglasses) for sightseeing.

Tons of accessories. 
  • The right statement necklace can dramatically change your look, but as I discovered they are also very heavy, so choose wisely when packing these. I wore my heaviest necklace (Stella & Dot Jacqueline) three times on this trip.

What I packed but didn't need: 
  • My trench coat (planned to wear it over the pink ruffled and polka dot dresses). It was much hotter in Italy than I thought it would be and I didn't need it.
  • Four cardigans/sweaters that I packed "just in case." I really overdid it on this part. I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold, and overall I just really thought it would be much colder than it was in Italy and France. I wish I had done even more research on the weather beforehand to avoid this! I also wish I had considered the other end of the spectrum - a super-hot day, and packed a pair of flat sandals. These would have really come in handy in the 100-degree heat in Rome!
  • I packed an "alternate" outfit at the very last minute that I didn’t wind up needing. I wore the other pieces, but not the cargo pants. Those were wasted space in my luggage!


























Other packing tips for Europe:
  • Since I was checking a bag, I felt free to stuff it full. This was a mistake. It wound up being over 50 pounds, which meant I was removing items at the airport and putting them into my purse. Which then meant I was carrying the world's heaviest purse on and off the plane. We also opted to take public transit to and from the airport most of the time, which resulted in my lugging my own 50 pound suitcase up and down stairs all over Europe. Choose wisely.
  • Historical places like churches will make you cover your legs and arms when you enter. Since it was 100 degrees in Italy, I wore a breezy skirt and tank top and just covered up with a scarves (see photo above) as I entered the church.
  • I packed my straightener, but not my hair dryer since hotels usually have those. You will need converters for anything you want to plug in (like your phone charger) so make sure to pick those up before your trip.
  •  Don’t forget the snacks. I brought a jar of peanut butter that saved my life on a super-early flight. Nothing was open yet so that became my breakfast.

What are your best tips for packing?

71 comments:

  1. Great post, awesome suggestions! You're making me very excited for my honeymoon - which is still 8 months away! I'll be coming back to this post. :)

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  2. Wow..this post is super helpful. Thank you for sharing your tips. I will definitely need this guide for my upcoming trip 

    Petite Little Girl

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  3. Love this post, so helpful! I had a trip to Europe last year (Germany, France, Belgium, England), and I didn't plan my packing at all. I ended up doing laundry and packing the day before. BIG MISTAKE! My suitcase was overweight when I got to the airport, so I had to leave stuff behind with my friend. Then, it was so hard lugging with the heavy suitcase when we traveled from country to country. Plus I bought souvenirs and did other shopping, so when we were travelling back, I had to get another bag and pay USD$50 for it at the airport check-in. I learned my lesson the hard way. Next time, I will pack wayyyy in advance. Wish I had this post as a guide back then ;)

    Janell
    www.fashionableyoubyj.blogspot.com

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  4. I love this guide! One thing I always pack in my suitcase are loose dryer sheets. These keep my clothing smelling fresh on extended trips.

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  5. This is so helpful J, thanks! I'm spending two months in Europe (England, France, Italy, Switzerland, as part of a gap year) this spring with my best friend, and the process of packing for that kind of trip is daunting to say the least. I'll be bookmarking this post for sure!

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  6. There has been a lot of speculation about if you are still married or what the situation is. Regardless, we as your readers just want to know the truth. I'm sure it gets annoying with everyone asking you all of the time but
    you chose to write this blog about your everyday life and fashion. It feels like you are being fake by hiding it from us. I'm not trying to come off mean, I just wish you would let us know what is going on. We are all here to support you through whatever path you take. Please don't take this the wrong way and and please let us know the truth, we all just wish the best for you and we will give you all of the virtual support we can.

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  7. Love this idea, thank you!!

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  8. Janell, I have had made SO many packing "mistakes" it's not even funny. All you can do is learn from them for next time. And maybe have a good laugh about it once you get home. ;-)

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  9. Thank you for sharing your point of view! I don't mean to come off as "fake", and that breaks my heart a little because I think if you met me you would think the exact opposite. I'm always happy to talk privately via email (or in person), I just don't feel that I can talk about it publicly because this is a situation that I share it with another person and their entire family, and I really want to be respectful of them. Honestly I don't know how to handle it, and don't have any plans for handling it yet. Just taking it a day at a time at this point! Was hoping we could talk fashion in the meantime because it's my favorite thing to do. And most of my posts don't concern my private life anyway. :-) 

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  10. Great comments and tips!! I am the same...need tons of time to plan my outfits & I take photos of them all. I thought I was the only one that did that! :) I was a chronic overpacker so it's helped me a lot! I especially love the idea of sticking to the same colour theme for the whole trip as a way to cut down on luggage. THANKS!!!

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  11. Great Tips! I went to Italy a few months ago so I can relate to carrying a large bag around the city and on/off the trains!  When I travel, I usually bring a light weekender bag. Vera Bradley & LeSportsac makes some cute ones! The bag is my back-up bag (for things that don't fit in my checked bag..i.e shoes, souvenirs..etc) and is also my travel bag for all the things (water, snacks, magazines, laptop, travel pillow, jacket, camera...etc) that I need while I'm on the plane. 
    www.petitetherapy.com  

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  12. Thank you for replying to this post. I'm sorry if this got to you the wrong way, I was just trying to express my concern as a fan of yours. I completely understand that you don't want to offend any members of family or your former partner. However I feel that other fans just want to be informed of what is going on. You don't have to go into detail, what you said just know is perfectly fine. It takes time, we all understand that. We care for you and want to help you grow. You always have a way of amazing me everyday I look at your blog. I wish the best for you now and moving on in your future. Thank you for handling this the way you did. You are truly one of a kind.

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  13. This was so perfect! I am definitely a pain when I travel, I have at least 4 or 5 bags with me, and wear only half the stuff I brought! 

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  14. Every year for the past 10 years, I have gone on a family vacation for a month to somewhere tropical and therefore I have very little experience packing because, well, when on vacation in a tropical location, you don't need much else than a swimsuit, flip flops, and a cute coverup!  I've never in my life checked luggage!  So that means a months worth of "stuff" in a carry-on!  So I'm planning for a vacation to Tampa Florida to visit some friends with my boyfriend and I'm super nervous to be packing a real suitcase!  Thanks for this, J! 

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  15. Jessica, I totally hear you on this! My past 3-4 vacations have all been tropical, so that could be another reason why I planned ahead so much for Europe. Glad I could share what I learned with you!

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  16. one tip I have is to roll all of your clothes into cylinders and put them in ziplocks (with the air pushed out) before packing. I find this saves room and it also serves as a great way to keep your dirty clothes from mixing with your clean ones :)

    -Veronika

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  17. I am the opposite end of the spectrum packer. I just returned from a 10 day trip to Italy and I packed a total of 9 pieces of clothing and only took one light carry on bag and my purse. I did laundry at the mid-point of my trip so I always wore clean clothing and was able to mix and match my pieces to create new looks. IMO, I'd rather under pack than over pack. Unless you're going to remote locations, you can always purchase something you're missing while on vacation, which I always enjoy doing anyway. In fact, on this trip to Italy, I replaced the black boots I was wearing. I brought one pair of boots and one pair of sandals. My boots were on their last leg, so when they got water logged in Venice I found some beautiful Italian made boots, bought them and pitched my old boots right then and there. Functional souvenir! 

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  18. I love this and wish I could fly by the seat of my pants like you do!! Since I was hoping to get 14 days of blog posts out of my trip, I couldn't wear things twice like I normally would have if I wasn't blogging. I also try to stick to a $100/month budget, so I wouldn't be able to just buy new boots like that. Gotta love it. :-)

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  19. This is a great post!  Well done.

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  20. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just subscribed to your blog via Google Reader and this post came just in time! I'm heading to Rome in January for a month and have no idea what to pack, so thank you! I want to look cute but still be comfortable as I'm sure we'll mostly be walking. 
    Two questions - where did you get your boots and the gray dress you wore in the collage (the fourth picture from the left) 
    THANKS again :)

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  21. I too love J's posts and fashion advice, I follow her on facebook and read most of her tips and posts.  However, this in no way entitles me or anyone else who follows her to any personal knowledge about her.  It is a fashion blog, not her personal diary.  She loves sharing fashion tips and has created a blog about that.  If there is anything we as her fans are entitled to it is simply great fashion advice, nothing more!  I am not trying to be a jerk, but J has a right to her privacy.

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  22. Great tips, J! I always start with shoes, too, and stick with one neutral (black or brown) as the base for all outfits. Definitely makes it easier to coordinate your pieces! If I'm going on a long trip (10 days or more), I always find out if the hotel has its own laundry facility. If it does, I plan to do one load and pack fewer outfits.

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  23. *S.U.P.E.R.*-informative and VERY helpful post, J, even if my only traveling is flying to............ periodically visit my family for a week in Texas!!    Thank you so much----(and also your very helpful Commentors, too!)----for these really *Practical* Packing Tips!!

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  24. Just a couple of tips as someone that has traveled a lot....roll up your clothes before you pack them, that way you can fit more in your bag if you're taking a small one.  I only ever travel with a backpack,  It is so much easier than lugging about a suitcase especially if you're taking public transport a lot!

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  25. Wowsa...that is a LOT of clothes for 16 days! I learned real quickly that lugging a 50 lb suitcase on cobblestones and up/down stairs is NOT fun. I now travel with a small carry-on and a backpack. Last trip to Europe was 19 days....we just did laundry twice (which was a nice adventure in and of itself).

    I also don't try to be fashionable when traveling. I opt for comfort when I know I"ll be sightseeing for 8-10 hours a day. I pack neutrals that will go with everything :-)

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  26. GREAT tips J! You covered it all! I will definitely come back to this when planning a trip!

    www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com

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  27. I agree with everything a million percent.  Even for w two or three day trip, thoughtful packing can make all the difference in how much I enjoy my trip.

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  28. I don't understand why people want to know your private business.  Your private life is private.

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  29. Great ideas for travel packing. I travel a lot, and like you, I pre-plan my outfits and require that everything be worn at least twice, no extras or just in case. As you discovered, adding extras doesn't add value - just weight to the suitcase.

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  30. Thank you for the tips! My dream is to vacation in Europe someday. Tool a trip to Niagra Falls, Canada a last month ago and very unhappy about my packing choices! Really enjoying your blog! I just came across this a few weeks ago by luck!

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  31. Lol, I'm glad I'm not the only one who packs wrong for the weather!  I went to Egypt in January and froze the entire time!  My only additional tips would be weigh your bag before you leave so you don't have a nasty surprise at the airport (also, leave room for suvenirs on return), and I took 2 purses, one huge one that was my carryon and a very small one that I used for sightseeing.

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  32. Great post! 

    Can you provide links to any of the clothes or shoes (or similar items)?

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  33. Thanks Andrea! All of these outfits were posted in "regular" outfit posts as soon as I returned. They were posted Sept 4th, and then Sept 21 - Oct 1. Hope this helps! Feel free to ask ?s about any of the specific items you see!

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  34. The whole purpose of this trip was to take outfit photos and do research (I'm writing it off for taxes) so being fashionable was my #1 goal! :-) I understand what you are saying though, that's not everyone's goal on vacation which is totally fine too!

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  35. So glad I could help Maddie! (and welcome to the blog!) My boots are the Bakers "Tate", I got them a year ago, and the gray dress is from Lamixx (an Etsy store). Hope this helps!

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  36. This. Is. Genius. I'm planning a trip to Europe this Spring and I've been doing a lot of searches for good packing recommendations, lists and tips. This is so much better than everything else I've seen. Amazing.

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  37. Great ideas! I used to travel on cruises a LOT so I learned to pack!  I usually had very heavy bags and yes, I wound up lugging them across the entire airport parking lot nearly to catch the ship's shuttle bus.  I got smart and started ROLLING my clothes for packing.  Yes, lay them out, fold then roll.  They seemed to wrinkle less and I had much more room in the suitcase.  Yessiree, instead of a 50 lb suitcase I was able to squeeze in another 20 lbs!!

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  38. Do you by any chance know which brand the luggage in the photo is?! I am on the lookout for a new hardside set and love that color!

    Thanks - and obviously thankyou for the wonderful packing tips :)

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  39. Sorry, I'm not sure. :-( I got the image through a Google search so I'm not sure if they still sell the luggage on Amazon anymore, but I would check there! 

    Glad you enjoyed the article!

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  40. J - thank you sooo much for doing this (and in such great detail, too!)  I know we all struggle when packing for a trip - I will be saving this to my desktop so I can look back at it!! :)
    I definitely follow the shoe tip and try to re-wear things (over Thanksgiving I brought a couple different tops to wear with the same skinny jeans, oh and layered a sweater over the same button-down I had worn to change up the look!)  That way I'm saving space for any new treasures I might find ;)

    http://somethingoldmeetssomethingnew.blogspot.com/

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  41. I'm with you, Sara!  I would say that J's blog is an "every day FASHION" blog - and honestly, fashion has nothing to do with any person's marital status.  I understand "your readers" concern for J's happiness and well-being, but whether or not she is married really and truly has absolutely nothing to do with this blog.

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  42. Thank you for taking the time to write this post! What an excellent and thorough how-to. I will be referring to these tips when packing for the upcoming holiday travels.

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  43. J...I have been following you for a while now. I admire your sense of style and even have your "how I wore my navy blazer" pics hanging on my wall for reference. I needed it when I bought a navy blazer. :-) But this by far is THE BEST POST!! It is so informative and inspiring. I am always trying to learn how to pack lighter and more efficient. I am definitely an over packer! I hardly wear anything I pack. Over my last few trips I have gotten better but this will be so helpful on my next trip. And I plan to go to Europe next year so thanks for the packing guide. Kudos to you!

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  44. Yay! I'm so glad you found this post useful! I am by no means the best packer in the world, so was hoping by sharing mistakes I could help you guys from making them too. Have a great time in Europe next year!

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  45. Im going to Greece and Italy in May with my school and this will help a lot! Thanks!

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  46. Planning our trip to Italy (that we bought from the live auction at Wine Women & Shoes) and all of this information is very helpful....Diane

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  47. Hey J! Thought I should let you know, I am using this guide to pack for an upcoming trip in the States (I live in London). It is truly helpful, and I have found it so much easier rather than throwing some clothes that 'match' is a suitcase and hoping for the best! Live and learn I guess :-).  One tiny question: I find I need to pack an extra 2-3 'nicer' tops for going out in the evenings - did you face a similar situation and how did you manage it? 
    Thanks!
    Keep up the good work!

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  48. Kiki, so glad you are finding the post useful! For the most part, I was very casual on my trip to Europe and didn't do any nice dinners or anything. I think a couple nice tops could easily be inserted in to your suitcase though - just pair them with a casual bottom like the camel skirt or striped skirt I wore several times (above). You could also bring a statement necklace with you that will make something more dressy than it is! 

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  49. WOW!!! Thank you so much - I'm American but live in another country, and am planning on a vacation to a nearby Caribbean island in 2 weeks!! I'm such an over packer, so this was great to read thru!! If a fashionista like you can pack for 16 days in Europe that well, than I can too lol ... even though I hate it :) Thx!

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  50. So glad you liked the article! Have fun on your trip! :-)

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  51. Thank you for helping!  I always have issues packing.  You are such a great person for giving wonderful advice!

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  52. J - I am obsessed with your bag on this trip! I would love to buy it...can't find it anywhere! You mention that it's It's In the Bag...but I am unable to find it. HELP! Want to be a happy, stylish traveler!!!

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  53. Terri, the bag is by Melie Bianco and the style name is Angela, color is Saddle. So I would Google "Melie Bianco Angela" and see what you can find that way! Good luck!

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  54.  I also start packing weeks in advance for my annual Italy trip. Skirts/pants are more important than tops - as is probably true for most woman. I can easily (and happily) buy a blouse or t-shirt but it's hard to get the right fit for bottoms.  This year I will save space by not packing so many tops and making sure I have enough bottoms to rewear. Thanks J. LOVE this post.

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  55. Hello. I just found your blog and I love your approach to style. I have a question. I'll be studying abroad in Rome next fall, and I was wondering, with your outfit choices did you ever feel tourist-ey or underdressed in Rome? I don't think you look tourist-ey at all in your pictures. In fact, I think you look great, but I'm just trying to gauge how Romans dress, since I've heard they dress fabulously. Also, any Rome-specific tips you have on what to wear? Your response would be appreciated!

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  56. Thank you Maria! I thought Rome was pretty touristy. I was, of course, hanging out in the tourist areas and it was also 110 degrees while we were there. But it seemed to be the least fashionable European city we went to for that reason alone. I saw tons of dressed-down tourists and not a ton of fashion like I did in the other cities. For that city, I would recommend planning for warm weather - that was the biggest mistake I made! Bring sandals, breezy sundresses, and then a scarf to throw on when you enter churches. 

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  57. Love the tips and the outfit inspo! Thank you so much for posting this, I will definitely be using my new-found knowledge for our European honeymoon in July!!! :)

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  58. I like to get my jeans fix on trips, since I'm not allowed to wear them at work.  After matching jeans and tops at home, I pack them separately (jeans folded together, tops folded together) after making a cheat sheet of which jeans go with which top.  This has helped me immensely.

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  59. So glad I found your blog! Best breakdown of how to pack for Europe that I've found. I am wondering, did you wear a money belt or similar hidden pouch on your travels? I am planning using one for my upcoming trip, but am not sure how it will work with the dresses I plan to wear. Any insight would be great!

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  60. I just got back from my honeymoon to Greece and was able to fit everything for almost 2 weeks in carry on bags only. Of couse on the way home, I checked the biggest one since we accumulated souvenirs, but I was so proud of myself to keep things to a minimum and still look super cute and stylish. Thanks for the tips!!

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  61. Where did you get your camel wool skirt?  I have been looking for one just like it!

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  62. That skirt is from J.Crew about two years ago! 

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  63. I had the same thing in Viënna (Austria). Thought it would be chilly but turned out to be really hot. Lived in the 2 dresses I brought, only in the evenings the other clothes came out of my suitcase. And to think that I líve in Europe. I thought Viënna would be colder than Holland, because of the height (mountains and all..)

    During my last holiday I packed my suitcase with certain outfits in stead of just clothes. Came in really handy, I only had 1 stack of clothes with me. But it were 8 days in Turkey so I only needed dresses, tops and skirts/shorts, the lightweight kind. I could have packed a carry-on, easily. But I didn't of course. I trew in an extra pair of shoes and some other stuff I didn't really need, since I took only half of the weight I was allowed.

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  64. I found your post the most helpful and I had been searching on the internet for how to pack for 2 hours. I am studying abroad in Italy in a small town in Tuscany but the program takes me all throughout Italy starting in Rome. I no you said it was hot, I was just wondering what month you went? I am going from the end of January to the end of April, which makes it so hard to pack because I have to pack for two seasons. Arriving in the winter and then leaving in the spring, this is my predicament! And I am the worst over packer in the world!!

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  65. It's amazing how the blazers (esp the navy one) look totally different in each picture due to the accessories you used. That's one of the (many) things I need to learn.
    This is a great packing guide and if I ever make a long trip to Europe, I'll definitely use it as reference. I rrecently went to Puerto Rico and the nights were chillier than one might think for a tropical island. Thankfully, I'd anticipated this (I lived there 10 years) and packed two cardigan/sweaters. So take note everyone: winter nights on Caribbean islands tend to be chilly; pack accordingly.

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  66. Rachael, I was in Italy in early September and it felt like summer was still in full effect. Layering is going to be your friend for switching seasons like that. Try not to take too many heavy coats, but instead wear 3-5 layers at a time. That's what I do. ;-)

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  67.  Italy will still be quite cool into April. You'll need at least one good coat and pair of boots and some lighter outerwear for April or if you head south. There's a lot of weather variation between the north and the south.

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  68. Cara, it was so long ago I honestly don't remember - I'm thinking it was most likely Hot Tools? I brought a handful of converters for electronics, and used the same for my straightener!

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  69. I'm a little tardy to the party on this post, but you've basically saved my life. I'm going to Europe for a month in two months, and I've been panicking! Thanks for posting :)

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  70. I'm headed to Europe for 14 days in May and am so glad that I came to your blog directly today so I could open your video tour of your closet and stumbled upon this post in the process! I am soooo excited that I am not the only neurotic person who is thinking about outfits 2 months out! ha ha! I also am a weather wuss and feel like I have to pack for both ends of the weather spectrum ! Traveling to Germany, France, and Southern Spain, so I have to be super creative! I'll be scouring your blog for more great tips! XOXO much love from So Cal!

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  71. Haha, I loved the end of is post, peanut butter saved your life. My husband is allergic to peanuts and I always try to tell him how many time this same trick has saved my life too! We are not alone! Thank you for the post, even though I'm late to comment as well, but it is just what I needed for my trip to northern Maine where a heavy snow storm is suppose to hit! Chia seeds and green tea bags kept in my purse have saved my life a time or two as well.

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