Layers and traveling

rachylou

A question for everybody: When you're traveling or just out and about, and are in a layering situation - what do you do with your jacket when it needs to come off? Just hold it? Tie it around your waist? Carry a big bag?

I find this to be a great dilemma.

7 years ago

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from skylurker

skylurker

Veteran

have an escort boy carry it for me ?
No, for real, I just hold it, but I will carry a short/lightweight jacket in that situations, not a trenchcoat for instance, that would be too cumbersome.

ETA : if you're terrifically chic and poised like Angie, you can drape the jacket on your shoulders where it will stay put looking fashionable.

7 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

When I'm traveling I usually carry a tote I can stuff a layer into, or if it's a puffy coat, I wear it.

7 years ago

Anonymous

If it's not too heavy, sometimes I drape it over my crossbody purse. If I was doing something more rigerous, I would potentially wrap it around my waist.

7 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

If I'm out & about, I will drape the jacket from my purse (I tend to use the long shoulder strap). If I'm traveling, I usually have a backpack in which I stuff my jacket.

PS: I travel sporty and casual

7 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I only travel with a backpack. In the past I sometimes took a messenger bag or handbag big enough to hold my layers, but I really prefer a backpack now. Especially because I now own this super lightweight Tom Bihn Daylight backpack which can be packed down small into a carryon. It holds a lot and still looks nice and sleek with a low profile in crowds. It's great.

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

If I am out and about I carry it. When I am travelling I stuff it in my bag. My layer is usually a cardigan so it stuffs well.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I don't carry one most of the time . I'm driving I'll leave it in the car or I'll carry a big bag and a lightweight so I'll put the light weight in my bag. I do dress in layers for warmth. I use arm warmetd cut from leggings or,socks. I try to find other ways not to wear them. My favorite are light weight cocoon sweaters or wrap sweaters capes or arm warmers.

7 years ago

Helen11

Veteran

Hah! I thought I was the only one with this question, living in the tropics and not understanding winter dressing! I that you just had to carry it and try not to leave it in the train....

I have recently learned a little bit, see upcoming travel capsule post : )

7 years ago

El Cee

Veteran

When I am "out and about" I am usually carrying a large tote of some sort, so my wrap can often be rolled up and put in my bag. When I am traveling, I prefer a small backpack or crossbody bag -- so the wrap usually ends up around my waist. But I really love Skylurker's idea of an "escort boy". Are hubbies and escort boys interchangeable? Probably not. Hubby is not fond of carrying my stuff.

7 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I tie mine around my waist! But I am a slip, slop, slap Aussie.

7 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

I carry a soft large zippered bag where I can pack my jacket. If space gets tight I use space bags in the large bag. That will fit most of what I need but if I overdo it the large bag can get heavy.
If it's a cross country or longer trip I take a small bed sheet for the flight and a light blanket too, each in a ziplock with air out (similarly to a space bag). I like to shlepp my stuff, that's why I found a bag that is lightweight and fits a lot.

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I either just carry it or stick it in my purse (which is usually at least somewhat roomy). I also usually have a reusable shopping bag in my purse so I can use that to hold things as well.

I don't know how you all get them to stay draped over your purse strap... I have lost jackets and scarves that way.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Diana - sometimes I've actually tied it to my purse (think gear rain jacket, so thinner jacket)

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is what totes are for.

It's harder with an actual coat or structured jacket but even then I have been known to fold it up and put it in the tote. I wish I could develop the skill of draping it casually open on my shoulders, but this does not work for me so well. Especially when holding a bag.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA -- another option is to go into a bathroom and start taking off the INSIDE layers, which presumably stuff into a bag more easily.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I tie it around my waist. That's why I like jackets more than vests. If I'm flying I always take my Patagonia Nanopuff jacket which stuffs into one of its own pockets, and then I can fit in my purse. It's not great if it's really cold, though.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I drape it around my shoulders.

7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I second Astrid's rec for a Tom Bihn bag! I use my large Cafe Bag every. single. day.

To answer your question: depending on the size of the jacket, I either stuff it in my bag, or drape it over the bag, sometimes tying a sleeve around the shoulder strap to prevent it from slipping away on me.

7 years ago

Carole

Veteran

I just got back from a trip and wore my trusty waterproof jacket daily as the weather was unpredictable, one minute raining the next hot and muggy. It's so lightweight and compact that it was easily rolled up and stored in my tote...next trip were taking a backpack, though, so DH can haul everything around instead of me:)

Eddie Bauer

MacKenzie Trench Coat

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7 years ago

danskogirl

Active Member

When traveling, if that outer layer fits in my bag, I put it there. If not, I tie it around my waist (I travel casual).

7 years ago

Eliza

Veteran

Depends on the coat. I have a lot of small, lightweight ones for travel. One raincoat came with a tiny zip bag that I can hang off my handbag and is very wrinkle resistant (Cole Haan-Nordstrom). Others are silk bomber style jackets and I'm not willing to ball them up as they would need dry cleaning before the next wear. I throw those on my shoulder or drape them folded in half over my forearm for a short jaunt. Sometimes, I am just too hot for a few minutes.

7 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Depends on the jacket and the location. I've used all of the above methods at one time or another.

Recently, since I do a lot of walking and really hate shlepping a big bag around, I've become enamoured of Sea To Summit's fold-away packs and bags. They are palm-sized when folded away, yet unfold into a good sized, light-weight backpack or tote bag when needed. Very light, but very strong. I can stuff one into my jacket pocket, hang it on a crossbody strap, or tuck it away inside my bag--it's that tiny.

http://www.seatosummit.com/pro.....;o3=378-36
http://www.seatosummit.com/pro.....;o3=377-36
http://www.seatosummit.com/pro.....;o3=380-36

7 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I mostly just hold it, occasionally drape over my shoulders.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Gaylene, I forgot I had this foldup back pack. It's handy for lightweight things. I definitely hate carrying things.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Thanks so much for your answers everybody! I easily loose stuff, always want hands free, and struggle with bigger, heavier bags. I really like the idea of draping over the shoulders, but the jacket always slips. I think I need to look into lightweight crossbody fold a way shoppers/small backpacks and maybe a granny chain to keep my jackets tied to me or my bag (Angie, why don't your jackets slip off?!)

7 years ago

Anonymous

I have been known to be a sloppy waist tie-er

Exhibit A:

7 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Rachylou, you should definitely check out one of those Sea to Summit bags. The company maintains you can haul up to 280 pounds in the shopper, yet the backpack/shopper/cross-body bags all stuff into the same teeny package. My eyeglass case is twice the size!

ETA: Angie has magic shoulders.

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

Usually tie around my waist (thank goodness for Brooklyn, Jaileen, and Diane!) - and sometimes slip around the handles of my purse. It can be a problem.

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Hmmm....all of the above. If I'm in the airport I usually have a large tote or pack, so coat, sweater and/or scarf does get shoved in there. but I general if I'm out and about, I will tie just about anything around my waist (yes even a blazer). And sometimes I admit, I'll do the preppie sweater over the shoulder thing.

7 years ago

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