First, let me tell you what I brought in the way of clothing. If you have been following the blog or our Facebook page, you will notice me wearing the same clothes a lot. Unless you want to be lugging around a giant suitcase, this is just going to be a reality. Pick clothes that are comfortable, work together in several outfits, and aren’t prone to excessive wrinkling. Since I knew we were going to be going through all sorts of weather, I had to be even more selective. Here is an annotated list of what I packed. I’ve included manufacturers where I felt you may be interested. I’m not endorsed by any of them but when they have worked well, I’ll point them out.
Very comfortable, goes with anything
Comfortable as it got cooler, also used for layering
Just a little dressier than a t-shirt
Work with jeans or nicer
Warm weather musts
For swimming, can also be worn as casual shorts
Double as work pants when needed
Can be casual or dressed up
Very packable, not too heavy for mild weather
Can use as a wind-breaker layer on top of jacket
Good layer, light enough to wear under a jacket
Good for lounging in the evening
Great for picking grapes in the sun
1 scarf
1 knit hat
1 pair gloves – Columbia glove liners w/touch
10 pair socks – 8 pair Wigwam hiking, 2 pair dress
8 pair underwear
2 belts-brown and black
1 pair of hiking shoes – Merrell All Out Blaze-waterproof
1 pair black dress shoes
1 pair shower sandals – Nike slides
OK, that’s the bulk of it. You can see a lot of black and grey with a few splashes of color and earth tones. Things that may stick out that you may not see on other packing lists-dress pants, shirts and a jacket. I like to dress up when we go to a nice restaurant or a concert. I may not wear these as often as some of my other clothes but I am very happy when I have them. I also think it helps in not being treated as much like a tourist. Europeans dress up for an event, whether it is a nice dinner or a theatrical show. I like being able to “fit in” when we attend these types of events. I also wear the jacket when we travel from location to location. I think you make a better impression when you get on a plane or train looking decent. I believe you are treated better than if you show up in pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt. Call me old-fashioned but I’m sure it’s true.
