#packing light

My first trip since creating a capsule wardrobe was to New York City over Thanksgiving weekend. Out of my four neutrals, I chose navy and gray and packed two sweaters, five shirts, two pairs of pants, one skirt, one pair of leggings, one pair of shoes, one set of long underwear, and pajamas in an Away carryon.

It was cold (21° F when we landed at LaGuardia at about 1 pm), so I also took my never-been-cold-yet Lands’ End Squall parka, gloves, and a hat (not pictured). I like it a little cool when I sleep and chose a knit pajama set rather than flannel or fleece.

I learned a long time ago on a trip to Paris that even mild weather feels much colder when you’re outside for extended periods of time. Knowing we would be walking to and from the subway every day as well as around the city itself, I followed the advice of travel pundits everywhere, packing layers and wearing the bulkiest on the plane. The plan went something like this: 

Day 1: long underwear top and bottom, long-sleeve tee, corduroy pants, quarter-zip mock fleece, navy ankle boots (not pictured), and outerwear on the plane and touring that afternoon.

Day 2: repeat with clean socks, underwear, and t-shirt. Switch shoes unless rain/snow.

Day 3: Ibid.

Day 4: long underwear top, red tee with jeweled neckline, gray cardigan, gray maxi skirt with black leggings underneath, and black shoes, dressing for church services during a gospel tour of Harlem.

Day 5: Whatever was left over and clean, probably ditching the long underwear and possibly packing the parka as it would not be nearly so cold arriving home.

All the tees, sweaters, and pants mixed and matched (okay, the red tee and blue fleece was a bit of a stretch), so I had flexibility to choose what appealed and adjust for the weather since it warmed by about 25 degrees over the weekend. My primary reason for taking the fleece was in hopes it could serve as a jacket once the weather warmed, which worked well. It was too cold to sweat, so I was able to rewear my long underwear without washing it by hanging it over the bed rail to air out overnight. (No, it didn’t stink. Yes, I checked.) I was sometimes hot inside or on the subway but was easily able to peel off a layer or three.

There comes a time in the life of every traveller when you need to pack light. This may be for many reasons: for example, that you are going to a dark place, that you have a need for public visibility, or simply because you have been vouchsafed an excessive quantity of light and need to take it to an appropriate disposal venue. Although there are some common factors, the strategies required to pack light differ by the type of light that you are packing. We therefore present our five-part guide to packing light below.

1. Since fire was first stolen from the dogs, mankind has cogitated about the best way to transport firelight. Taking it with you on a long journey can certainly increase your warmth and/or comfort. Perhaps the easiest way to transport firelight is to be literally on fire. However, this method has certain disadvantages in terms of personal safety. As an alternative measure, try being metaphorically on fire. Your fellow travellers will probably thank you for choosing this method. They may even clap.

2. The best type of light for taking into dark places is that derived from the torches of rescue parties. You can mix in a little light from a calm dawn if you desire a greater sense of solitude. This light may be held in a closed hand, sealed in a bottle, or carried on the back of a co-operative firefly. Although it is much more easily obtained, try not to adulterate the mix with the light of oncoming trains.

3. There are certain precious lights that stay in the memory, and that you may wish to preserve. You will likely encounter these in the field, and so a portable storage mechanism here is a must. For example, you may wish to hold on to the light of the Arctic's white nights, or of that sunset that one time over Venice's lagoon. Interestingly, these lights are already stored at the back of the brain, where they are recycled into the idea-light that shines over the heads of people who are thinking new thunks for the first time. If you can find a way of accessing this facility, you may not even need to pack extra equipment. We have had considerable success with this method by utilising an idea-o-tron, which gently jiggles humans with a caffeine solution until new thunks come out.

4. As consumers of light who are familiar with cartoons will be aware, treasurers are obliged by the law of the high seas to fill in any spaces in chests, caskets and coffers with concentrated light. This light is usually obtained by careful squeezing of the afternoon sun in a suitable juicing apparatus. The process produces a high-stability light which may have a lifetime of many centuries, allowing the light from ancient hoards to shine as brightly as that from the bathroom suites of the nouveau-riche. We do not, however, recommend that you travel with this light unless you absolutely have to. Treasure-light is a Class I dragon risk. It is not permitted on scheduled flights, even as hold baggage, and most shipping companies will also refuse to carry it. Perhaps the safest way is to travel unobtrusively on foot with the light in a cardboard box and plenty of anti-dragon spray.

New book review up on Packing Light by Allison Vesterfelt aka Ally Fallon

Check it out over on the blog!

The Essential Carry-On 🧴👜

POV: You’re trying to pack light for a 48-hour getaway but your skincare routine has other plans. There is something so deeply relatable about the struggle between "minimalist traveler" and "I need every single serum I own." 🕊️✨ It’s giving "prepared for any skin emergency" meets "I don't care about the baggage fee." Imagine trying to fit your life into a weekender bag while your shelfie demands its own zip code. ☁️💎 Whether you're heading to the coast or just a staycation down the street, if the glow isn't coming with you, the trip is canceled. In a world of travel-sized samples, we’re out here carrying the full-sized energy because compromise just isn't in our vocabulary. Pack the bag, take the trip, and never apologize for your 12-step commitment. 🎀🧴🩰