First, make a list.
I do a Word doc, make two columns, and divvy it up into four categories – the clothes I’ll wear on the plane, what goes in my daypack (or tote), what gets stowed in my carry-on, and the main luggage. The day before the flight, I’ll assemble everything on the dining room table and cross off each item as I pack. It saves me hours of ‘did I remember this? Did I forget that?’ Anxiety I do not need.
This is the winter/spring version – mostly layering options. The only difference between this and packing for Chicago at Christmas is some short sleeves tees (instead of all long sleeves), the cotton/synthetic Chico pants options and how many eyedrops I’m adding. My winter coat is impervious to cold and I figure leggings can double as thermal underwear if it’s in raining and in the thirties/forties – or the Louvre turns out to be frigid – or I can sashay around in cotton cargos and short sleeves if the weather leaps into the seventies. If it’s in the fifties/sixties, I can layer a short sleeve tee over long sleeve, add the hoodie and vest, mittens and hat, wrap the black pashmina around me and go anywhere.
For clothes, use a simple, color-coordinated scheme that doesn’t show dirt. Paris is easy – black and white with, in honor of Funny Face’s Kay Thomson, a few Schiaparelli pink accents.
My philosophy is If I can’t do without it, find a way to squeeze it in. if I might use it, leave it behind. I am more concerned with over-packing than under-packing. If there is something I need that I did not pack, tant pis, mes amis. I’ve heard they sell clothes in Paris.
I always read a People magazine in the airport. Dr Paul Farmer, infectious diseases expert and medical anthropologist, calls it the Journal of Popular Culture. It reminds me of transient nature of life, and not to take things too seriously. Earplugs save the day when those ubiquitous people with cell yell are sitting near me, or a baby on board the plane is having a rough trip. My iPod, ditto. And I prefer to read rather than watch movies on board, so my Nook won’t leave my hands.
black bra
gray winter coat
dot scarf
black pashmina wrap
black cashmere cloche
black knit mittens
Money belt with passport, driver’s license, health insurance info charge cards, cash
with earplugs, eyedrops,
Altoids tin for walking around money and change
toothbrush/paste
restasis eyedrops
Bion tears
People mag
B&W Nook glow
iphone
boarding pass
ipod
Small empty plastic water bottle,
pens, small notebook
lip balm
makeup – blush, erase, lipstick/balm, compact
1 pair gray denim pants (+ 1 pr legging)
1 pink & black stripe l/s shirt
1 pair pink dot socks
Chucks
2 pairs panties
Pink hoodie
crochet hook, circle needles, black cashmere yarn
Small sketchbook + pencils
Ziplock quart
eyemask
Aspirin, floss
watch
Meds: HRT, statins, Restasis, Bion tears x 10
Mac air & Charger
Nook & charger
battery pack & phone charger
camera & charger
ipods & charger
lace up shoes (Cole Hann woven leather/black patent accents and NIke soles)
Black Zala hoodie
Black vest with faux fur trim
Leopard mittens
3 pairs trousers – black sueded denim, gray peg jeans, Chico cotton zip cargo pcket
1 black legging
4 l/s shirts – b&w stripe, black spot, 1 black, 1 pink/b
5 s/s tee shirts – b&w stripe, b&w dot, black, pink, band
3 prs winter socks gray
6 pr spot/stripe
10+ pairs panties Blk, beige, pink
1 pink dot bra
large white sleep tee
dot collapsible mini-umbrella
wolfie knit hat
gray mittens
Trip folder
Sketchbook bag and sketch books – 2 small 1 large
pencil cases x3
Hairbrush
Nylon collapsible Getty bag
Dreft in zip locks x 4
plug strip box, French plug adapter
hair flat iron
Bion Tears x 30
ditty bag
safety pins, rubber bands
comb, brush, hairband
deodorant, mini bar soap, face mitt
nail clippers, hair scissors,
Mini-magnifying mirror bandaids, moleskin
Leave a Reply