Last Updated on August 13, 2019 by Larissa
Michael has already written a few posts about getting rid of our stuff and how we are going to pack for this year-long trip. Based on our prior travels I’m a pretty efficient packer. (Truth be told, this all started when we were getting ready for our honeymoon almost 25 years ago. Michael watched me preparing a different outfit for every day and declared, “I’m marrying you, but not your luggage. If you pack it, you carry it.”) So I’ve gotten pretty good at the whole mix-and-match wardrobe thing.
This is it for luggage for a year of travel
But I’ve never had to worry about packing for a year so I’m wondering about a few things, like . . .
Will I have the right clothes for every occasion? Probably not. We’re not planning on climbing any mountains or herding yaks on a regular basis so we won’t be bringing clothes for those activities Therefore anything we might do that requires specialty clothing will likely be a one-off experience. So we’ll either buy what we need or make do with what we have.
My more immediate “fashion concern” is whether I will have the right items for strolling around a city, going out to dinner or a light hike in the countryside. I’m packing mostly multi-purpose garments; basic black separates with a few splashes of color here and there. I don’t need to look like a fashionista everywhere I go, but I don’t want to look like something the cat dragged in either.
So my preliminary solution: “accessories!” I’m counting on sturdy pants, shorts and shirts that can take some abuse, with some costume jewelry and a scarf or two to dress up an otherwise mundane ensemble. I’ll also be relying on my “miracle sundress” that I can dress up or down. (Will this be enough? Not sure. Stay tuned for an update somewhere on the road.)
Will I get tired of the clothes I bring? Probably. (Will I get tired of Michael? Possibly.) No matter how many permutations I might try to create with this set of separates, I am bound to get bored with them by week five or six. I am not going to ditch everything and start over, so what’s my plan? Again. . . “accessories!”
In virtually every country I’ve ever visited I’ve found a market or bazaar that sells inexpensive trinkets and baubles. This includes the US where they call it Target. They are not the best quality, but it won’t matter to me, since I will probably replace them in a month or two.
What about shoes? A true woman’s question if there ever was one. This is one topic to which I’ve given much thought. No matter where you are, trudging around in uncomfortable shoes can tarnish an otherwise great experience. I’m bringing shoes that are sturdy (but not ugly—I don’t like ugly shoes), comfortable and can multi-task. After much deliberation, I’ve narrowed the selection down to 4 pairs:
Low-heeled loafers: black patent leather, which will go with everything I wear, closed-toe (for bad weather, and visiting religious sites where open-toed shoes are considered offensive).
Hiking sandals: good for city or country walking, waterproof. I like the ones made by Keen—super sturdy and comfy. (Michael thinks these are kind of goofy looking because of the black rubber cap toe, but I think they have a sort of nerdy charm.)
Flip Flops: I have a pair of Fit Flops, which are really comfortable for walking, will be great for using at the beach or pool, plus they’ll work with a casual dress. I can also use them as slippers
Mid-heeled sandals: (my big indulgence) Let’s face it girls, I can’t go away for a whole year without at least one pair of heels. I’ve tried this pair out; they are comfortable for walking and dress up any outfit just because of the heel (I guess they sort of fall into my “accessories” category too)
The points I make above are based partly from experience and partly from what I think (read: I hope) will work. I will be reporting back from time to time on just how well (or poorly) I planned, and will highlight particularly useful (or useless) items. And no smart remarks from you, dear reader, on seeing me in the same outfit twice!
See you from the road. . . Larissa
Related post: Our favorite travel accessories and gadgets
Click the link to see if Larissa made the right choices with her shoes: review of women’s travel shoes.
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