Vacation / Intelligent Packing
To travel light is an art. Last summer, I grasped the meaning, as I prepared for a two week trip with my partner. There had been alarming news circulating concerning European airports struggling with personnel shortage and travellers having to wait endlessly for their luggage.
After a sleepless night, I felt I had to think strategically if I didn't want my dream vacation overshadowed by the possibility of missing or losing my suitcase. By travelling from Lima, Amsterdam, Lisbon and finally Morocco; bypassing a baggage claim ordeal meant I would have to pack smart, so I turned to my carry on.
I started putting together outfits for every occasion, including my son’s 30th birthday dinner at an elegant restaurant in Marrakesh.
I applied the same method I use when planning a collection by being able to mix and match everything to optimize the use of each garment.
Picking fewer colors made it much easier. White, a classic essential for hot summer days, especially for crispy white cotton shirts (can’t live without them), Black, a seasonless matchmaker and Lemon in solid or prints.
For a casual look, I combined Pima Cotton Jersey pants and tops in the above mentioned colors with a matching reversible MATTHILDUR tank top. Comfy, loose Pima Cotton dresses in print or solid were essential to stroll downtown or for visits to museums.
For night, a Jersey overall in Lemon would be worn with a Black Silk blouse for dining or for a drink at the bar. A silk dress for my sons Special birthday dinner with a beautiful long necklace and elegant high heel sandals.
As for shoes, there would be one pair of sandals for evening, one ultra comfortable pair for walking during the day, flip flops for the pool + beach and a pair of sneakers for running and hiking in the beautiful Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Less is more rule seemed to apply wonderfully to packing light, as all garments could be easily hand washed overnight. I would be able to hang them to dry for less wrinkles and if need be; leaving them close to the shower, while running hot water would take care of wrinkles. I admit occasionally using the hotel’s service to iron my cotton shirts for a luxurious feel!!!
I like to remind myself that all natural fibers wrinkle, instead of fighting them is better to accept and put emphasis on the fact that the feeling of wearing them is great!!! Looking back I’m proud of myself, I can’t believe I never missed or was short of anything.
After landing in Amsterdam after a 13 hours flight from Lima and to be able to walk straight out of the terminal while avoiding the hustle and bustle of baggage claim gave me a sense of freedom. As I pulled my compact travelling case out of the airport I felt my vacation had just begun.
