Ask Angie: Traveling in Style

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I'm going to be going abroad next semester; I'm going to Ireland and I'll be gone for about 6 months. During that six months I'll also be traveling all over Europe, so I'll be spanning all types of climates because of the time of year and the places I'm going (January to June, Ireland, England, Italy, France, Turkey, etc.). What is the best way to attack packing considering I need to bring all this with me on the plane? I have a large closet and thus I've filled it with lots of clothes so the idea of cutting it all down to get overseas is terrifying and overwhelming. I'm also anticipating coming back with more than I left with, naturally. I've seen "packing travel tips" posts around the Internet but they are all geared towards a vacation which is shorter and within one climate so it's really not helpful to me.

13 years ago

General

6 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Kari

Veteran

This is an archived post on Academichic from one of the bloggers on that site who was packing for a year abroad - I think that her strategy of choosing very versatile pieces was so smart! http://www.academichic.com/200.....#more-6450

13 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Oh, and here is the post specifying which clothing items S. took: http://www.academichic.com/200.....ar-abroad/

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great link, Kari!

ETA: I recently travelled for one month in varying weather conditions. True, this was a trip and not a semester abroad, but since I was engaging in many different activities I faced some of the same issues. I got what I needed into one suitcase. I brought an extra carry on bag just in case I filled it but didn't need it. Here's a link to one of the threads: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....y-vacation

13 years ago

Anne Boleyn

Active Member

What really helped me with packing for each year in China was limiting myself to a number of items (35, chosen and enforced rather arbitrarily), choosing a color palette (so creating outfits was easier), pinpointing the sorts of items I gravitate to on a regular basis (so, for me, skirts over pants), and strictly limiting shoes and outerwear (as long as they covered all occasions and I had at least one shoe that could be worn with each outfit).

Keep in mind the kind of items you're likely to buy (for me, scarves, tights and shoes) and go lighter on those - bring with you things that are harder to fit or would be too expensive to buy on short notice abroad.

Once I started actually packing, I was also limited to the size of my luggage, and thus culled items then too.

This is what I brought with me this year: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n_uZ.....acking.png
I definetely brought two sweaters I don't wear much, and two skirts I've gotten too fat for, but other than that, I packed well haha. Plus it's a good idea to bring various sizes since I usually lose weight in the spring.

Yep, that's basically all my advice! Good luck - studying abroad will be so much fun!!

13 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I don't have too much advice regarding your question, but girls have you sorted out by now anyway.

Where in Ireland you are going?

Your plans sound wonderful, and I have no doubts you'll enjoy discovering Europe. However, I'd recommend that you travel through Ireland too sonce you'll be tehre anyway, it is breathtakingly beautiful country and the people are the kindest. I used to live in Dublin for 2.5 years, but we made sure we used every opportunity to see the countryside - that *IS* real Ireland and we have wonderful memories from those days.

13 years ago

Mander

(website)

Veteran

If you can, try to keep your luggage minimal. When I moved to the UK for school I brought way too many clothes that I didn't wear much, and ended up buying things that were more in tune with local fashion (and climate!). Ireland is pretty damp and chilly, I think, or at least compared to Colorado (where I grew up), so you will probably want to skew toward cooler weather clothing.

I will say that if you are tall or have long legs, or are plus sized, you might be better off buying jeans in the States. Maybe it's just because I am cheap, but I have found it a challenge to find good jeans in the UK -- they are frequently way too short, and I am only 5'8"!

13 years ago

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