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How to pack for [your city]

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

As I've been reading/researching recently about moving towards a smaller capsule wardrobe, more and more travel capsules have been popping up on my Pinterest feed, often geared toward various worldwide cities. It got me thinking about what we always recommend people pack to visit us in Colorado, and how that pertains to my own wardrobe. It seems like a great capsule wardrobe has a lot in common with a great travel capsule.

The standard advice here is: layers. Even if you Google "packing for Colorado," you'll find a dozen articles, all of which say basically the same thing: layers, layers, layers. It doesn't even matter which season you're visiting in, as weather can vary wildly over the course of a day. Layers are always the way to go.

Suddenly, it makes sense why I have almost as many toppers as tops! I'm almost always going to have an extra layer with me, even if it's July. I'm also almost always going to want to be able to shed a layer, even in January. This means that my capsule is going to be a little larger than it might be if I lived someplace with a more consistent, mild climate, as I'm wearing more pieces per day.

So, tell me, how would one pack for your location, and how does your wardrobe reflect that?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

Anonymous

No layers in the Summer in the Southeast. Sleeveless all the way. Tee shirts are also good because they sop up the sweat and can be washed after every single wearing.

Last year I didn't even need sweaters during the winter months and nearly half of my sweaters/jackets went unworn. So I am not buying any new sweaters this year. Instead I am buying long sleeve tee shirts.

I am buying one jacket.

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El Cee

Veteran

I think it would be the same advice given for packing for travel to New England. There is a famous quote from Mark Twain that says "If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes." That pretty much sums it up. Like you, I own almost as many toppers as tops... in all different weights and fabrications. It is no wonder that I have a packed closet.

Runs With Scissors

Veteran

I think whether you run hot or cold matters. And what you're going to do during the visit. I live in Houston (hot most of the year, humid all year long) and need layers even when the temps reach 100 because of indoor A/C. Vacationers are usually outdoors more. But if you are in Houston for say, a work convention -- now you are probably dressing like me, as the AC in convention centers and hotels is typically arctic.

I run cold and have lots of toppers that I wear year round, but I'd say someone visiting Houston on vacation (especially in the warm 8-9 months of the year) need only pack a couple (and items that are as easy to carry as to wear). I do this when I travel as well -- I often get VERY bored of my toppers and shoes by the end because I bring very few (whereas at home I love variety in these categories most of all) but I hate checking luggage even more ...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Plaid, denim, birks, and boots.... otherwise known as What the students are wearing! If you want to blend in, at least.

Can you tell I live in a university town?

We're casual here for the most part. We have extremes of temperature, but those extremes do not typically occur within a day. So while light layers are appropriate in the short transitional weeks of spring and fall (and heavier ones again in deep winter, simply to deal with the extreme cold) layering is uncomfortable in the summer, unless you are indoors with AC.

In fall and winter you will need weather-worthy boots. In late spring and summer, you'll need sandals. In fall and early spring, a raincoat and umbrella. In winter, a puffer and thermal underwear and mitts, a hat, a scarf, and wool socks. In summer, sleeveless cotton or other natural fibre tops are your friends, or lightweight tees in linen. Bare legs, bare arms -- everything is hot and sticky!

In short, if you are travelling to my area, you'll need to do what locals do: Watch the weather reports and prepare accordingly.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In my area, it's highly dependent on season and activity. It can vary widely! Which explains why my wardrobe is so large and varied. Or so I tell myself.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My area gets very hot in the summer(triple digits plus) and cold enough to snow in the winter, so where you are going and what you are doing would help determine what to pack. The temp also changes quite a bit over the course of a day (up to 40 degrees), so really you need a little bit of everything!

Diana

Veteran

As others have said the weather is pretty variable in Boston, so it's really hard to generalize. For fitting in, I think suz' plaid/denim/birks/boots works well here too (especially on my side of the river in Cambridge). A preppy element would not go amiss either. However I think it's urban enough with a lot of people from all over that most styles would be ok.

As an aside I am currently in NYC for the long weekend and just packed 3 dresses. But with those 3 dresses I have sandals & oxfords (this is more for fussy foot issues though), and 3 toppers (cardi, denim jacket, rain shell) plus a lightweight scarf because the weather report was so weird for these three days (ranging from sunny in the 80s to threats of torrential rain/wind storms, which so far have not materialized...). We drove so not an issue but it's a good example of how tricky packing can be.....

Barbara Diane

Veteran

During the summer day lightweight clothes and sandals. If the days are 70's you may need a layer at night, if the days are 90's or above, you might not need a layer even at night.

Now it varies between summer clothes and occasional cold mornings and evenings which need long pants and shoes and maybe a sweater.

Winter is long pants with a long sleeve top or a shorter top, and a sweater or polar fleece. If it's colder add a coat, gloves, hat, warm scarf. Raincoat if needed. And shoes or booties or boots. Unless we have a heat spell. Then anything goes. It gets cold for us here, but not real cold, like many of you have.

Spring is often short or 3/4 length sleeves, maybe a sweater, and pants. Crops when it is warmer. More clothing if the morning or evening is cool

Sal

Veteran

It is very temperate here in the Waikato, NZ. There are not many days that you could not get away with jeans, a tee and one layer to take on and off. We have the full range in terms of sun, rain, wind - and it can be unpredictable as to when it will happen.

And it is hard to forecast the weather on a relatively small island, the forecasts are often wrong. Definitely compared to my experiences in the US and Australia where the forecasts were much more reliable.

If you were coming to see me I would advise relatively casual clothes as we are a pretty low key lot, to bring a rain jacket, a swimsuit, good walking shoes - but you would need to bring some party clothes and be prepared to visit lots of cafes and foodie places with me:)

always trying

Veteran

southern California near the beach. in the warmer months it is typically at least 10 degrees cooler along the coast. You can be comfortable in crops and a short sleeve t at the beach, but go 5 miles inland and be too hot. AC is usually not freezing here, but some places if you are sleevless you may want a light weight jacket or sweater. We can have a 3 digit heat wave almost any time of year. But when they occur in the winter months it cools off a lot after the sun goes down. We are in a drought for the past couple of years. But if it does rain it is almost always between late October thru May. But usually rain is not heavy, mostly little showers or drizzle. I do not own an umbrella.

Everything is mostly very casual here. Flip flops, and sandals any time of year, depending on the temp that day. But in the cololer months like December and January mostly it would not be advisable to bring sandals. Otherwise booties are popular and sneakers. One seldom sees loafers or oxfords. Some tall boots in the winter, especially in the rain. Daytime almost never need anything heavier than a jacket with lining like a blazer, or a big cardi. Sometimes a cold spell and if you are gonig to be outdoors at night or early morning gloves and a scarf and a layer under your jacket will be enough.

Jeans will take you almost anywhere, unless you are here for business purposes or something that would require anything dressier. But if you are not comfortable in jeans with temp in the 80's then crops or something like cotton or linen would be best. All year temps vary 10 to 30 degrees from daylight to dark.

Anonymous

I don't agree about no layers in the Southeast. If you step inside a restaurant or supermarket or business establishment, you will be cold without a sweater - even in the hottest summer weather. I take a sweater everywhere I go, and almost always need it.

Style Fan

Veteran

I live in Muskoka which is 2 or 3 hours north of Toronto. It is mostly a tourist area during the summer. People dress very casually. There are also a lot of Yogis and people training for various sports wandering around. In the summer it is very hot and humid. In the winter it is very cold. Then there is everything in between.
In the summer I wear (like most people) a T shirt and light weight pants. Sometimes I wear my Yoga clothes all day. Yes I am one of those. But there are lots of those here. I do wear a short dress thing over top.
In the fall I wear jeans and a long sleeved T shirt. Maybe a sweater.
Winter. Everyone is completely covered in puffers and Sorels. Or gone south.

Staysfit

Veteran

What Suz said! I live in a college town too, with similar climate. Hmm, I'm going to add polar fleece and puffers to her list. We have a lot of that around here!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

High waisted skinny jeans or leggings, flip flops or sneakers, skimpy tops or cold shoulder tees, black knit sundress and sandals. You will blend right in.

Runcarla

Veteran

Port Hope is a picturesque, but tiny community (pop. 16,000 if your count farms and smaller communities within spitting distance) 100 km east of Toronto. Lots of artists, writers, and creative types. It can get very warm/hot in the summer, but cool in the evening due to proximity to Lake Ontario. You would fit right in if you wore a linen tunic over trousers and Birks and a pashmina for the evening.

Winter we don't get the snow that Suz gets, just an hour and a half further east, but we do get cold and wet. Layers, with a warm turtleneck sweater over jeans, a waterproof jacket and duck boots or fashionable wellingtons. Gloves and a beanie. Hole up in Furbies book shop, then go to Queenies for a coffee and sweet, or the Sword and the Scone for an afternoon of board games.

Don't forget to bring something dressy, though! There is always live entertainment at the historic Capitol Theatre within Walking distance of your B&B - either the Carlysle or the Waddell, which both have excellent restaurants for your pre-theatre dinner!

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Joy

Veteran

Just moved to Colorado ,but saw an interview with Florence Muller in today's paper where the interviewer asked her to describe the style of Denver women.
"It's very casual. Women are about the idea of being ready to exercise and are full of energy. You see lots of yoga pants...on the other hand, you go to a restaurant and see young women dressed in a trendy way. The dominant style is bohemian and they do it very well with s dress and boots." I would say she is right on from what I have seen.

rachylou

Veteran

Right now, in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area, our Indian Summer should be beginning. It hasn't really gotten that warm - 72 seemed the high today. But it's warm in the sun. Even I don't need a jacket midday. At night, there's been a sharp wind. I don't think layers are the answer per se. I think you ought to go back to the hotel at about 6 and get your winter coat and beanie, lol.

Stylewise, I'd leave the shorts at home; crops are more what you see. Also, I'd skip pretty brights. Do either pretty or bright, but not both at the same time. Lol. I spent the whole of last night on google, realising you can't buy a church suit in a brick and mortar here...

JAileen

Veteran

I live in a "cold semi arid steppe." Sounds kind of like Dr. Zhivago. What it means is we have 30 degree temperature swings daily. So like Jenn's home town, we need to wear layers in spring, fall and winter. In summer it is blazing hot. Unlike Jenn, we don't get tons of snow.

Our spring and fall are lovely, but are short. Summer and winter are long, and extreme. Our summers feature triple digits, and our winters have snow, at least some of the time. We have plenty of cold temperatutes, just not a lot of snow. We only get 7 inches of precipitation per year, usually in the form of snow.

Clothes you might need depend on the time of year and what you plan to do. I've had people say they don't need a coat in winter. Really? Don't you go outside? If you drive your car you could probably do without a coat. But it you are going to spend time outdoors, you definitely do. I have as many coats as the Inuit have words for snow. Between walking dogs and birding, I can't imagine being without a coat.

Lynn

Veteran

Layers of course, Jenn :))) I am in Colorado also. Agree with the preponderance of athleisure wear here.

Summer

Veteran

Layers and a brolly for the UK!

Helena

Veteran

Jenn, I love these sort of questions! When I lived downtown (Toronto), it was all gray, black and cream, skewing dressy, and weather-appropriateness was generally irrelevant because I could get to and from work via underground tunnels, subway, and then underground tunnels, so I lived in a climate-controlled wonderland and rarely had to deal with weather if I didn't want to. A wool trench or peacoat was sufficient for winter, and dressy boots did the trick for short ventures outside.

Fast-forward to now, I live 30km north in the suburbs, in the wealthy-side-of-middle-class land of Lululemon (which I do not wear myself - I just can't stand the brand) paired with Michael Kors purses (also don't wear one myself) and identifiably-Tiffany signature jewellery (and again ... although I do have a subtle Tiffany bracelet). Things are very casual, winter boots (Sorel) and jackets (Canada Goose of course!) are an essential for winter as we get quite a bit more snow and are a few degrees colder than the city is. Did I mention it's brand-y around here??? However, it's also very friendly and non-snobby and I happily hang with my brand-clad buds in my often-no-name outfits and it's all good. Now that I think of it, there's a lot of higher-lower mixing too, with Joe Fresh and H&M (and Target, when it was around) being equally popular

Tanya

Veteran

I live in the same general area as Janet (Washington DC), and it truly varies based on time of the year and what you plan to do. Like Janet, I also use that as one of the excuses to have a large wardrobe

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

What fun it is to read about everyone's hometowns! I'll respond more in-depth later, as I'm prepping for a holiday barbecue, but I'm really enjoying all these responses!