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Still thinking about what to pack for BlogHer? In the comments on this post, Sassymonkey articulated what I'm sure is a common worry:
We're going to be gone for a whole week because we're heading to Chicago early to play tourist. That's a lot of clothes to pack when you are playing tourist vs not playing tourist. I'm not a good packer. I once, as a child, went away for the weekend and was not informed we'd be going to a wedding and ended up wearing the world's worst outfit ever. I'm still scarred. So I overpack. Always. And yet always forget something rather vital in addition to packing a whole lot of clothes I never wear. Sigh.
You really can pack for more than two days without needing a steamer trunk; it just takes planning. Oh don't roll your eyes at me -- it's not that hard. So whether you're Chicago-bound this summer, or heading somewhere else for a week or so, let's talk about how to decide what you'll take.
Start by making a list of everything you're planning to do on your trip. If you will be combining general touristy things with a wedding or conference or reunion, then include all that. Don't be daunted if you find that your list covers a lot of different kinds of events -- you don't want to get to your destination and realize that you're spending a week at the beach without a single swimsuit.
For example.
Once you've listed what you're doing, think about what you're going to wear. Three rules to follow when you get to this point:
Plan to be comfortable. If you know it will be hot at your destination, don't plan to wear pants for sightseeing, no matter how much you want to look like all those photos of Jackie Kennedy; pack shorts or skirts or little dresses.
Plan to be yourself. If you're not someone who ever wears a dress for day, then don't feel like you need to start now. If you love your shorts, pack them. By the same token, don't take a suitcase full of brand new clothes -- fill in blanks or replace what's not working, but for the most part, stick with pieces that are tried and true.
Plan to get dressed up at least once. It's not hard to pack a really beautiful embellished tee or a simple skirt or something that is a little more dressy than your touristy shorts and polo combination. This is a vacation, after all! Go ahead and celebrate.
What else?
Mix and match. Pack pieces that will work in more than one way: a pretty skirt that you can dress down with Keds and a tee for sightseeing, or dress up with a bright tank and some embellished sandals for night.
Layer, layer, layer. Virginia De Bolt has this very very smart suggestion:
A sweater or a light jacket is a must for the folks like me who are in that stage of life where the blood moves awfully slow. Jeans, capris, really it's all okay, but have something with long sleeves for the air conditioning.
A cardigan or light jacket or pashmina scarf are all perfect options for layering.
Accessorize! Even if you're a jeans-and-tee girl, a really beautiful necklace or a cool pair of earrings can give your outfit a super cool edge.
Finally, the good stuff: Five things I am absolutely packing for BlogHer (and really, these are the five things I pack for pretty much every trip, with the exception of the beach, where I pack only swimsuits and pajamas -- seriously).
1. Cardigan.
2. Pashmina.
3. Pencil skirt.
4. Laptop-sized tote.
5. Pretty flats.
Want a more detailed list? Christie has a great one.
What five things do you always pack? What five things do you always regret not bringing? And next week: Organizing nitty gritty, or how to actually choose your outfits. (Can you tell that I have A System for packing? Because I totally do.
Susan Wagner writes about style at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate. She can pack for a week in less than 20 minutes, but only because she spends weeks obsessing about it beforehand.
