I am going on a trip, and I’m taking an Air purifier, Blankets, a Computer, Desk accessories, Electronics, and a ton of other stuff a kid needs for college. I will check two bags full of my son’s things, and might have more in my carry-ons. There’s not much space for me, so I need to be judicious.

While I’m across the pond, I am doing other stuff too. In one small (under the seat) carryon, I need to pack for 3 days of moving him in, Labor Day 3-day weekend at a medium-sized city where they say “y’all”, possibly including a waterpark, 4 days of research at an archive in that southern (ie conservative & warm) location, and 4 days at my parents’. Things need to do double duty.

High temps will be in the upper 70s, lows under 60. There will be AC, but not THAT extreme*. I’m planning to take 4 or 5 toppers: a fuchsia linen jacket, a brightly colored lightweight cotton “kimono”, a black zip-up hoodie sweatshirt, a blackberry or blue hoodie sweatshirt and maybe a cardi, either longish open-weave or blackberry. The paisley and magenta puff-sleeved blouses can also be thrown on over the tank tops.

The coral jumpsuit with botanical print is for the trans-Atlantic flights. Being sleeveless, it’s not a problem in the bathroom. I like jumpsuits for flying (isn’t that what they were first designed for?). They keep me covered no matter which way I contort myself. I’ll toss my black zip-front Champion hoodie over. It is very cozy, the opposite of precious or fussy, and handed down from my son as he grew up, so nostalgic for me.

The miniskirts & shorts are to me what Bermudas/capris/jeans are to others: summer staples that I reach for without thinking about them. I’ve thrown in a bunch of tops that go with them easily, and plan to wear some of those tops to the archive as well. The blue bike shorts work under skirts and as gym shorts.

The crazy blue pants are crazy comfortable, and will work well for get-togethers with friends and the range of temperatures I’m expecting. I’m killing myself to get an easy, laid-back look with them, but that’s the story of another thread. For the short plane ride within the US, I’m torn between them and the floral miniskirt + bike shorts/pink silk top/hoodie/sneakers. I’m expecting to go straight from the airport to the grocery store to a… moonlight picnic for two. A lingerie-esque top under my sweatshirt might be just the thing, iykwim.

Shoes will be gym shoes, flat sandals, cherry-colored clog sandals, and my oxfords. That’s one more than I usually take, because a college friend’s mother seems to be in her final days, I can borrow funeral clothes from my family, but no one has feet the size of mine. The Hees clog sandals don’t go with a lot I’m taking, but work with some things (potentially with new jeans) and could go to the funeral. All are lightweight, very comfortable and broken in, which is good because I will do a lot of walking.

Things I’m on the fence about: white sandals or multi-colored? Blue or raspberry pullover hoodie? If a cardi, then which one? Green silk button-front shirt that basically duplicates the functions of the puff-sleeved magenta one? For the archive, a second midi skirt or the red floral pants or are the ditzy floral and purple skirts enough? Do I want to take a couple grey items (shorts & 1 or 2 tops) for a less summery color scheme?

Photos:
1. The whole shooting match (except for a couple things that are in the laundry—pink silk top with spaghettini straps & blackberry merino cardi)
2. Day-to-day running around stuff: the crux of the problem—for a 16 day trip, the 16 tops (plus pink tank!) and 8 bottoms laid out here would be plenty, but I’m also planning to take a dress, a jumpsuit, and 2-3 pairs of pants. Something’s got to go! The black T-Shirt is most tired. The white one is Kinross cashmere & elevates everything I wear it with.
3. My son and I are in conflict over this top; would it be cutting edge (=good) or too much for the locale? Styling would be very simple: throw it over on with one of the bottoms, put topper on/off all day as temps flux.
4. the silk tank & 1 way to wear it.
5. A grey top to wear with the grey shorts
6. Blouses
7. All possible toppers (except the merino cardi that’s in the wash & the black hoodie jacket because I forgot it)
8. Red pants & some possible tops. Could also do cream-colored lawn blouse or linen shirt with many buttons from pic 6
9. Funky pants & possible tops. Short-sleeved black silk matte button-front shirt to throw on over tank tops.
10. I’m fringing this camp T-shirt from my son to see if it’ll work with the funky pants or jeans
11. Shoes. Need to remove 1 pair of flat sandals
12. Swim & workout gear. Kimono works as coverup for the pool, but not with these shorts. I don’t plan to wear them together, but could sub in plain blue swim shorts. Green bike shorts really should be in the pic with day clothes, because they are far more likely to be worn under skirts than in the gym. Blue bike shorts go both ways.
13. Another gym outfit that’s in laundry now. This top is in pix 1 & 2. I’ll also take simple white gym top to go with skort.
14. Tops ordered to wear with plaid gym skort or the funky pants & black hoodie
15. & 16 Two possibilities of skirts to add for archives. I slightly prefer 16, because the cut is less matronly.
17+ Possible looks for the 4 days in the archive with what I already have out (except different jeans). The Kimono also goes with the purple skirt, but I lost that pic.
25 everything all over again

Now I’m off to have alterations done and, taking a page from April’s book, dropping some things (the blouses, most of the silk & linen) at the cleaners to have them pressed. I’m going a step further and asking him to fold and pack them in my Eagle Creek folder https://eaglecreek.eu/it_de/pa.....edium.html

If you’ve read this far, thank you 1000 times. If you have comments on what must go & what should go, even more.

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*I asked about what to wear at the research center, couched in terms of temperature. The director seems to have understood the question fully. He replied:

And that is a great question about the temp (I probably should include info about that in my emails). During the summer, they do blast the air conditioning and while I'm not sure exactly what they set it on, I can tell you that most of our fellows end up dressing as if it will be cold (sweaters, hoodies, etc.). Now outside things are cooling off considerably here and it will probably be in the 80s by the time you are here (which means there will be a gradual shift in how the building feels). Oddly enough, as we move away from the summer I would say that it is more comfortable inside the building (and doesn't feel quite as cold). 

I will also add that we are pretty informal and most fellows wear jeans and a t-shirt (and have even done their presentations in such). It's entirely up to you, but it's usually business casual for staff, but we are not concerned about what fellows decide to do. Whatever makes you comfortable in the archive.