Can I do 3 months with hand luggage only

It looks like I will be travelling for around 3 months - and I would like to do so with carry-on luggage so I am not lugging a giant suitcase around... I was wondering if anyone had experience etc of same. The initial game plan is:
Reality is full work outfits will be for about 1/3 of the days and in multiple cities so I need just a few outfits - enough so I have something clean for several days running
Most of the time is writing alone and transit. Again if I plan for around 5 days of clean shirts, I should be able to manage.
Since most clothes will be casual and it will be cold (for me), I am thinking 3 trousers/jeans, 5 tops, monochromatic -so blacks/charcoals/dark purples, a couple of different coloured cardis and tanks, and the my warm jacket and again a couple of colours in scarves.
I will start sorting through my clothes for those that have had a reasonable life already and add in some well priced pieces from a local chain store which have good quality and fit. I would spend $100 max on some tops/cardis etc there. The plan is that as the weather gets warmer, I can dispose of some of these older pieces and/or replace them if I saw wonderful things. Perhaps even mail my wool coat home when the weather gets warmer.
Try the satchel packing approach so that all my work clothes will be in a small zip up container, tops etc which is supposed to reduce space.
These are my initial ideas - do you think this might work? I have about 6 weeks to plan properly.

13 years ago

Mirp

Active Member

You can do it.

Mailing things back is a great idea.

My major concern would be laundry -- how will you do it?

jenanded

Veteran

Laundry - oh yes. I will have laundromat/laundry access everywhere until the last 2 weeks of the trip when it will be hotels and conferences... My husband has a nephew in that city so perhaps I can visit him and/or he might have a laundromat nearby as he is in a residential suburb. I figure 4-5 days of clean shirts and underthings should make clean clothes a possibility. I do have to say that hanging at the laundromat for an hour can be an interesting way to check out the locals I am planning on most accommodation to be homestay types things not hotels...

carolbee

I will be watching this with interest. It certainly can be done for a casual holiday, business travel could be a bit trickier, but it sounds as though you don't need to be super dressy. Check on Wardrobe Oxygen, Allie had a blog on this very topic yesterday.

Jyoti

(website)

You can definitely do it. I find I almost always bring more clothes when I travel than I need. I think you're on the right track with a restrictive colour palette-- that would be my first step, hammering out a few colours to stick to. I would make this the rule across all your clothing for maximum remixing potential. Maybe two or three neutrals, a subdued colour and a bright colour?

Next, make sure all your tops and bottoms and toppers go with each other. You'll likely have a few that don't go with each other, but strive to make as much work together as you can.

For specific pieces, I'd tend towards taking things that can work both for work and casually. I love tanks for this, especially long ones. I tend to wear them tucked into skirts and trousers for work, and then over leggings for casual wear. Basic button down collared shirts are also great for wearing in exactly the same way. I personally am a fan of the chiffon-y see-through ones over a tank, but I know that a lot of people are not into see-through clothing. xD I also wouldn't take jeans unless you can wear them to work. I'd stick to some comfy trousers or skirts that, again, can be work to work or casually. If you don't like leggings, try a pair of slim trousers that are made of a stretchy material. That makes them comfortable enough to wear casually, but they can be dressed up for work.

Scarves and a small bit of costume jewelry is great to take so you don't get bored with your limited amount of clothing. I'd take some wool or pashmina scarves-- they're quite thin, but warm. My other trick for warmth is to take a pair of fleece-lined leggings that you can wear under skirts, pants, by themselves, etc. so your legs are toasty. I don't know how cold you're talking, but I generally pack a warm hat that covers my ears and gloves as well.

Hope that helps! I've become quite good at packing lately. xD

Thistle

If you can do it, you are a better woman than I!

moira

Maybe this will be helpful?

http://seventeenthandirving.bl.....inter.html

Janet

I can barely do a long weekend with just a carry on, so if you can do three months, I need lessons from you!

Caro in Oz

http://www.apartmenttherapy.co.....tly-164798

I saved this:) It isn't business travel but if you swapped some of the dresses for a more business type of dress it could work.

Thank you for advice and links - feeling I really can do this! my temperature range will be 0-30 celcius going from canada to barcelona... can not wait! Will post some pics as I start to pack!

Sarah A

I totally think you can do it! I laid out many of my travel and packing thoughts in the comments here:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ng-capsule

too late to stay up but will check back

ETA: another good place for packing strategies: http://www.onebag.com/

Suz

Wow.

Just WOW.

I am going to take lessons from you. That is all I can say!!

http://outfitposts.blogspot.co.....RSxnh3qmSo

I just found this too. Great visuals (even if it isn't your style).

Yeah... i am learning from your ideas and links...

Hey Sarah A, your formula sounds a bit like what i was imagining. I think i might take a suit and a couple of shells as my base for work and blend the 2 capsules. Thank you for the support!

Mander

I'll be interested to see how you manage -- sounds like quite the challenge! But I'm sure it can be done.

siniestra

i think well in my opinion its great to do that but umm im those type of person that i always go with a bigger luggage don't matter if i don't take much clothes but i know i will be back with more clothes lol (i always do that) even if im outside the U.S in a very small modest country heh

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