The first time I studied abroad (seven years ago), I opened up my suitcase the night before my flight, collected all my favorite items of clothing, and haphazardly added them to the pile. I ended up with a bunch of nice items but very few actual ‘outfits’ and very little possibility to mix and match.
On the Road, originally uploaded by academichic.
This time around, I like to think that I’m more mature and travel savvy and that I can do a better job predicting what I will need in order to have a practical, versatile, and attractive wardrobe for my research year abroad. I’m also starting the packing process now, since I am getting my condo ready to sublet and will begin placing my clothing in storage during the coming weeks. All of the literature on How To Pack Successfully will confirm that an early plan and a thought-out list will ensure an efficient move. With E’s and A’s input, I compiled my plan of attack.
Look for it after the break…
The Plan:
- I have made several columns by category and listed my essentials for each category; pants, skirts, dresses, jackets, shoes, tops, running clothes, and accessories.
- I am packing mostly solids, since they can easily mix and match, and only adding a few patterned items as a bonus.
- I am letting my accessories do the talking: patterned scarves and boldly colored shoes can easily change the look and register of the same clothing combination.
- I am not packing many winter (bulky) items, but will layer my summer, spring, and fall clothes for added warmth in the colder months (to use same items year round).
- I will not ship anything but will only take with my what I can personally carry and fit in my allotted suitcases.
The List:
Coats/Jackets:
- black winter coat
- rain coat
- brown cord jacket
- black cropped jacket
- navy short sleeved jacket
Pants:- dark wash skinnies
- blue jeans
- black jeans
- navy cords
- dress trousers
- black jean capris
- black walking shorts
Skirts:- black dress skirt
- black linen skirt
- brown jersey skirt
- jean skirt
- green cord skirt
- 1 floral skirt
- black jersey dress
- black rayon dress
- grey jersey dress
- khaki shirt dress
- brown print jersey dress
- teal jersey
- polka dot dress
Tops:- tees in various solid colors
- coral cowl neck top
- white button down
- green button down
- black vneck top
- burgundy surplice top
- brown sweater shrug
- purple cardi
- blue cardi
- red-orange cardi
- navy cardi
- tan cardi
- navy sweater cape
- gray sweater
- green sweater
Shoes:- brown boots
- black boots
- yellow pumps
- grey wedges
- black rushed flats
- damask flats
- orange gladiators
- black flat sandals
- green loafers
- red wedge sandals
- running shoes
- green pashmina
- pink pashmina
- grey pashmina
- various lightweight patterned scarves
- brown woven belt
- black woven belt
- red-orange belt
- canvas belt (my jeans belt)
- various skinny belts
- jewelry (not pictured)
(Not pictured: running and work-out clothes, bathing suit, undergarments, sleepwear.)
The Method:
I have been a firm believer in the rolling method for the last seven years, but having recently discovered the bundle method (which E. uses successfully), I am torn between these two approaches. I will try both and post an update on how they fare against each other. Do you have a preferred method? Have you tried the bundle method on a larger suitcase (rather than on a smaller carry-on bag, for which it seems to be designed)?
My Secret Trick (well, not so secret anymore…):
A fantastic post. Where will you be studying?
Thank you for this! I’ll be spending a semester abroad next spring and have been trying to figure out how to pack ever since I made the decision to go. This is fabulous!
undergradfab.blogspot.com
I think it all looks good — the only suggestion I might have is to squeeze in a lighter or brighter jacket if you will be wearing business-wear very often.
And I love the bundling method — I used it to pack for my trip to Italy a couple of years ago after researching many options and am a convert for anything larger than an overnight bag. I do still use the roll method for weekend or overnight packing.
Good luck!
I am BEYOND IMPRESSED at this well-thought-out plan of attack, S! And I think your plan to utilize shoes and accessories to keep things fresh is really brilliant.
Unrelated question — did you cut the straps off your black sandals? I have the same shoes, and the back straps are driving me crazy. How did you do it?
Thanks, all!
@Jane – I’m going to Munich and can’t wait ! :)
@Mary – how fun! Where are you off to? I’m glad I could help, I wish I had researched this more when I went abroad as an undergrad, it would have saved me lots of trips to H&M to fill in the many gaps in my wardrobe.
@simply.femme – thanks for the tip! I will actually be doing research on my own for the most part, so I think my actual professional engagements will be pretty limited, thus the reliance on a few key pieces to get me through it.
@Catherine -yes, I did cut them off! I LOVE those sandals but the back straps kept sliding off once the elastic gave a bit and it was driving me insane (is that the problem you’re having?) So I just took scissors and cut the straps as close to the footbed as possible. I did that last summer and have worn them a ton since, no one’s the wiser. (You can even see it in the picture, if you look closely) ;)
Love this post! I’m going to be a dork and actually save it, because I’m no good at packing and I could use the inspiration later this summer.
Thank you!
Wow, what a good post and even better packing!
This is fantastic! I wish I had read it before I stuffed all my clothes in 2 suitcases for my volunteer year. The bundling method is definitely going to be my next packing experiment.
Do you try to prevent wrinkling when packing dresses? I’m taking several with me for a graduation next weekend, and am wondering if rolling is a good idea.
Thanks for sharing!! I am a horrible packer as I usually do the grab and stuff method at the last minute when packing for vacation. I will definitely be more logical before my next trip!
I also am leaving this fall for a year (possibly two) doing research abroad and have been working on my packing list as well. this post looks like a good set of guidelines, but my biggest dilemma is paring down my handbag/work bag collection, since I have a bit of an addiction. Technically bags don’t count as part of the outfit, I guess (though I would argue that they do!), but I’m curious as to how many you will be bringing with you.
I am a fan of the bundle method (though I call it flat packing), where you lay every item as flat as possible in your suitcase and fold as little as possible – I find the less you fold the more you can fit in.
I’ve just come back from the US, and found that luggage restrictions have changed on some carriers – don’t go over 23kg per suitcase as they charge you for it – so even if you can fit more in, they will charge. It’s better to have an extra bag.
You are so organized – this is an awesome post!! I was just in Munich in April (my first visit there) and I must say they have the best shoes (and selection) I have ever seen. They’re not shy about their shoe obsession either coz they seemed to have an endless array of shoe stores and the best display windows were all shoe shops in the town center. I couldn’t resist and bought myself a pair of lovely black flats that I adore and have worn them so much since I’ve been back. I am sure you will add to your shoe collection while ur there ;-)
Oh, and don’t forget – you’re going to want to go shopping!
Thanks so much for this post, I’m bookmarking it. I’m leaving in September for my first time abroad (doing a semester in Caen) and this post will definitely help when I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to find appropriate clothes.
Never mind travel, this is an awesome capsule wardrobe even for those of us not going anywhere.
How about you just sell the whole lot to me, and then use the proceeds to buy new when you get to Munich??
;)
Thank you for this wonderful post. I’m going for a 3 week holiday in July, and I’m using your tips:) Thank you.
Thanks, everyone, for your continued comments and tips!
@M – I didn’t include my bags because that’s one place where I have simple needs: my REI tote for books and day trips to the library, one of my purses for everyday errands, and one evening clutch. Shoes are much more of a vice for me. Good luck figuring out your packing!
@Struggler – that’s quite the offer! Oh, all the shopping I could do in Munich…so so tempting! ;)
Also, as a general update: E. and A. have told me that I need to swap the khaki shirt dress for my orange cord one and I think they’re right:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/3378411189/in/set-72157612580944904/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/3410197485/in/set-72157612580944904/
They convinced me that although the khaki’s a neutral, the orange one would work layered over most of my dresses and skirts that I’m packing too and would make for more stunning combos, and I think they have a point.
Glee! I’m floored with gratitude at finding such a comprehensive plan of attack for packing. I’m a foreign English teacher, currently in Korea for a year, and my first round of packing wasn’t as grandly thought out.
I’m preparing for Thailand next in just a short time and I can’t wait to be this organized so I can avoid another long year with only statement pieces and nothing to pull them together!
Regarding packing: have you considered those travel-size vacuum space bags? I used those and was able to double my bounty.
Good luck!
I love this post! I’m excited to see how you put all the pieces together, because mixing and matching my wardrobe is something I still have difficulty with, and your blog has definitely helped. However, you all have more clothes than I do, so seeing your outfits from limited choices will be so fun and interesting!
I was wondering though, how are you planning on packing your jewelery? I think you said you’re bringing some, I have yet to figure out a way to transport it without tangling and breaking.
This is such a great post! Your choices look great and I can really see how you will be able to use accessories to change these basics up quite a bit.
I wonder if you could talk some more about the process by which you chose your year-abroad wardrobe. I think it might illuminate a lot about the process of building a wardrobe in general. That’s something that I struggle with, and as a freelancer who is also a mama I don’t find the advice in fashion mags and style bibles to be very relevant to my lifestyle (I just don’t need a pair of slingback pumps in a neutral color, I really don’t). Clearly you have made very thoughtful packing choices based on your individual lifestyle and activities. So I’d love to hear more about how you figured out what your basics are, how many of each type of garment you would need, how you arrived at a balance between neutrals and colors (I think E. and A. are totally right about the orange vs. khaki shirtdress, by the way), and how you identified other items to fill in with in order to cover other occasions that your basics might not work for.
I am currently in northeast Europe doing my dissertation research. I had to pack for three seasons — winter, spring, and summer. Layering warm weather clothes for the winter wasn’t an option for me because it’s quite cold here — and the archives reading room was freezing — so I really needed to have wool sweaters AND long underwear. I also had to bring a heavy winter coat, spring wool coat, and trench.
That said, I had A LOT to pack yet wanted to limit my luggage and the various packing methods weren’t sufficient to get everything into my suitcases. A friend recommended compression packing bags. I bought Eagle Creek bags from REI. They were a life-saver! Because the clothes take up so much less space after being compressed in the bags, I was able to fit everything into my suitcases. Of course, everything was horribly wrinkled when I unpacked — but that’s easy to deal.
Hallo!
While following this blog since several months, this is the first time i really need to comment your post. I was so surprised to see the well-known seats of the german regionalzüge in your american fashion-blog! And even more surprised that the landscape in the window just seems to be a quiet little village between Munich and Salzburg that is VERY similar to my hometown….
Are you going to do researches in Munich?
Here’s a very cute vintage-fashion-blog from an also munich-homebased girl: http://www.dottisdots.blogspot.com
greetings from my university-office
Isa
Haha, Isa, you’re good!! You nailed the train and area right on! This was taken last summer on the Regionalzug going from Salzburg to Munich, just as you guessed! I spent two years studying in Salzburg a while back and I will be in Munich this coming academic year, so last summer I took my fiance there for a little trip and to visit friends – I love Salzburg and Bavaria and cannot wait to be back there! And I actually had come across DottisDots, thanks for the tip though! Great minds think alike ;)
Also, I am thrilled by all your thoughtful comments and questions! I will definitely be doing a follow-up post once I pack and will show how I will pack jewelry (don’t have a good system yet) and purses and so on.
I have used those air suction bags before, I used them on my winter clothes since they are so bulky a few years ago but I don’t remember why I wasn’t happy with them. I think it’s because they broke after the one use and weren’t that cheap. But maybe I should reconsider?
Also, the other S. – great questions! Planning a year long wardrobe is like creating a capsule one and I will think about all your questions and make a post with some answers in the near future! Thanks for the great food for thought!
Thanks for all these tips! While I won’t be spending a year abroad anytime soon, I do have limited closet space – this post is getting me thinking about what my essentials are and what clothes should be my priorities in the small space I have.
This is such a fantastic post – you have a great approach to packing. I completely agree with the idea that one dress and a handful of (smaller-to-pack) accessories creates so many different looks. I can’t wait to hear more about the packing and the moving and the studying abroad – how exciting!
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natural fibers like wool are still the best for winter clothes,-,
Wow, I am so glad that I found your post! This is the first page of suggested packing guidelines I’ve found that actually seems realistic to me. I am leaving for a year in Greece in less than a week and was starting to panic because I had no idea what I should take. And the suggestions for transforming a single piece with accessories are great for someone like me, who has a ton of shoes and scarves but no idea what to do with them most of the time!
I’m so glad you posted this! I’m studying abroad in Paris for a year and I had no idea how many types of clothing to bring. Found this blog and it really helped my packing process.
when buying winter clothes, i always chose wool because i love the feel of it~’-
i like to wear cotton and wool winter clothes, they are the best in my opinion.:*
am already preparing to get my winter clothes because winter is coming fast again. i could already feel the winter breeze;*-
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This is a great post, I am preparing to pack for 3 months study abroad for school. I love your white flats! Where are they from?
Thanks for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic.
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