Great tips here. My one week trips in any weather have: 2 packed shoes and a third one on my feet for the plane. I wear my bulkiest shoes on the plane. 3 bottoms (jeans/trousers), again, one I am wearing so only two are packed. And one of these is not jeans in case I need them for dinner.

Additional items I pack, for warmer weather: I stick to dresses for evening and only bring 3, I wear each one twice (except one is worn 3 times). These can also serve as beach coverups if needed. Short sleeve tops, one for each day. A layering item, one blazer, worn on the plane. One cardigan (they mush better and pack easier). Scarves, get stuffed inside shoes and can also add warmth. One pair of shorts, I run cold and if the shorts get stained I can always just wear a dress on a hot day.

Additional items I pack, for colder weather: I still stick with dresses but I add fleece hose for warmth. (It's funny I rarely wear dresses for my day to day life, but for travel, they are great for packing). I also pack thermals in place of the shorts, to wear under jeans/trousers. I take 2 sweaters (they are bulky to pack) and long sleeve T's (one for each day). And I wear my outercoat AND blazer on the plane.

Also, I never trust checked baggage so in my carry-on is something to sleep in and something to change into the next day (just a top usually).

You know I'm a light packer... I'd wear everything at least 3 times except the hot weather tops if they got sweaty (and of course knickers). I'd use light washable (maybe silk or synthetic outdoor gear) underlayers in the cold weather to keep the top layers fresh. I always take a wrap.shawl for the plane and for cold weather. Since I don't check luggage it can be a challenge!

You have great advise here and I have nothing to add but would just be certain the shoe choices were extremely comfortable and able to get you through the day. I would worry less about style and make sure they were completely functional for walking and sight seeing for hours. Bring moleskin and band aides and Neosporin in case of blisters. (Can you tell I'm perinoid about foot pain and blisters). What a fantastic trip you have planned.

Oh, and don't forget the travel math formula:

(# of tops) x (# of bottoms) = total outfits

So 4 tops and 4 bottoms that match shoudl give you 16 outfit combinations, if all can be mixed around! Nothing should be a stand-alone item that can only be worn one way. And think about items that work multi-purpose. A cardi that can be worn on its own or over something can do double duty. A convertible jacket with zip-off sleeves is also useful. And I want all my travel items to have pockets.

TOTALLY agree on the longer skirt for modesty and bathroom issues.

As an aside, the salwar kameez outfit in India is so practical - it's cool for hot temps, it's modest, it can be used to cover your bare butt for a rural potty stop, the chuni (scarf) can be used for modesty as well as dust and sun protection... really a perfect travel outfit!

Boy, I second the motion for salwar kameez!

After much traveling, I'd bring esp. for Asia:

- one knee length skirt
- one maxi skirt/dress
- one pair pants
- 1 short sleeve button shirt
- one short sleeve knit shirt/tee
- two long sleeve tees
- maybe, just maybe, a dressy blouse
- sweater
- coat
- block heeled flats, good for walking
- tennis shoes
- assorted socks/tights (for cold weather)/undies

And this includes what I'd wear on the plane. Even a 22" suitcase is such a giant pain, esp. when you are moving around from country to country. I'd wear things three times before washing.

Also, I don't care what anybody says about pants for traveling, I totally believe in skirts when it comes to rural pit stops and non-western toilets. Ohmigosh! Ser-i-ous-ly.

I'm so glad you posted this, MaryK! I have no advice to offer since I'm a notorious over-packer, but I love seeing your options and reading everyone's helpful advice. I'm having fun thinking about what I'd pack, but they would probably be all the wrong things.

I'm not averse to doing hand laundry so I do think that way, too. I also like tights, but maybe not control top, fine under lighter weight slacks for added warmth, rather than trying to have heavier pants.

Do you have an idea of how long you stay in each place? As in, are you moving every day, or do you stay 2-3 days in one hotel? That gives more time for drying.

I've not been a big skirt person because it puts me into shoes that aren't my favories for walking, but I can see that they can be much cooler than pants, especially since pants for hot weather need to be so light and cottony and better if loose, so by that time...skirt!

I love your post because I recently travelled, by plan, on just a short 3-day in U.S. and it really made me think which of my existing clothes worked well, or not, for a travel capsule without having to buy new clothes that are "travel" clothes. So I think you're doing great to be this far along for a major long/climate-challenging trip. I found that several simple rayon knit tops--neutrals and a bit of jewel tone--plus a scarf or 2 worked great. Trouble is, mine would be hot in a truly hot, humid setting because they were fitted. So while I agree that wovens can be more of a pain to pack, the right kind of woven tops--maybe collar-less, maybe a cotton blend--can work and be much cooler because of a breezier fit than even cotton knits that cling, and may dry faster than cotton knits.

I second the tip about not taking the cat!!

What an exciting trip! I'm a very light packer - we did a three week holiday to New York (in July - hot and humid), Sydney (by then it was August - cooler, but bright) then up to Port Douglas (warm and sunny), and we had two large suitcases for the four of us.

I worked it out by thinking that I would wear layers in Sydney, so the tanks/sleeveless woven tops under the cardigans would be worn on their own in New York and Port Douglas. We had laundry facilities in both Sydney and Port Douglas, which really helped. Think hard about shoes, as they are heavy and take up lots of room.

So exciting! You have received brilliant advice (much better than I can give...I am now planning on buying some packing cubes for my NEXT trip) but I will just tell you what I have stuffed in my one large bag for my almost 4 week trip from summer to almost-winter temperatures (China and Vancouver in November):

5 pairs of shoes! Yes, it sounds crazy, but I drove myself even crazier trying to cut down on the footwear and I will tell you I have already worn every single pair of shoes I brought and I am not sorry. This is the FIRST trip I have allowed myself so many types of footwear and it has been a godsend. I have a pair of pointy toed black flats for skirt wear and city walking, a pair of athletic Mary Janes for warm weather, skirts, walking heavy sightseeing, two pair of booties (black and light brown), and a pair of athletic sneakers in leather. I am SO grateful for these choices. Full stop. Worth every inch they are taking up.

Bottoms in the bag:

1 pair print cropped pants (wear with booties in cool weather/ flats in warmer weather)
1 pair skinnies
1 black jersey midi skirt
1 taupe jersey knee length skirt
1 pair of shorts (unworn so far)
1 below knee denim skirt

Toppers:

1 fuchsia knit jacket
1 black waxed denim moto
1 trench
1 rainproof anorak in pink
1 grey cardigan
1 striped cotton boatneck sailor sweater

Tops

1 pattern long sleeve
1 white button down
1 orchid button down
1 denim shirt

1 sleeveless black T neck modal
2 layering Ts (white, grey)
1 layering T-neck (fuchsia)
1 short sleeved striped top

2 scarves: leopard print, and your magic scarf (it's MAGIC!!)

4 layering tanks/ camis
1 athletic shirt that doubles as PJs
undies, including silk undies that double as PJs
leggings
tights
socks

Somehow I got it all in. I have worn almost everything already, one way or another (layered under/ over, etc.) And we are doing laundry.

Have a wonderful trip!!! And send us pics!

Oops! Add a grey jersey cowl neck dress and a black jersey dress (both layerable) to that list!

Mary, I haven't read the comments so pardon the repetition. You CANNOT re-wear a top in hot and humid weather. Sometimes you have to change twice a day. I know that neck of the woods well. The weather is relentless. Some areas have extremely cold a/c, and some areas are just as hot as it gets.

So, unless you can do laundry, rethink your hot and humid weather capsule.

For the cold weather, you can re-wear stuff at least a couple of times.

Oh - and add 2 sleeveless woven tops to my list!

Angie's right, of course. I am not travelling in super hot weather where I would need a greater assortment of tops. Fortunately sleeveless and short sleeved tops pack down to almost nothing.

My bigger challenge is the colder weather. Those items take up more room. But as others have also said. you can re-wear the items more often, even tops, before doing laundry.

What Angie says is true for hot and humid and tops... I am acclimated to hot and humid. I don't ever feel a real need for twice-a-day showers and a change of clothes. Not that acclimation is the final word - my born-in-the-West-Indies father always took morning and afternoon showers.

I would still bring only what I said, tho, because I am also a shopper. There ain't nowhere I'm going without coming back with more clothes, LOL>