by Emily Johnson
If you are one, like me, who frequently migrates from city to city, country to country, or continent to continent, you are familiar with the daunting undertaking of having to constantly re-evaluate all your earthly possessions. While this act of purging can definitely be therapeutic, the hours wrapped up in consumer self-reflection and nostalgia can be exhausting. Sifting through strewn-about clothes, piles of paper, books read and unread, and the ubiquitous amount of knick-knacks one acquires along the way can be a monumental task. So, unless you are willing to just toss all your belongings out into the trash and start fresh, it's a task that simply must be done.
One of the most difficult challenges of migrating begins in the closet. Being a woman on the move has many benefits, but probably just as many pitfalls, and this is definitely one of them. Unless financial concerns are of no great issue for you and are free to bring anything and everything along with you, the closet conundrum is of great concern. With virtually ALL airlines worldwide decreasing their baggage weight limits and the price and reliability of shipping bulky boxes soaring, one must purge if they are to move successfully without spending a fortune. But wait! you say – I just purchased another pair of fabulous riding boots, and there's currently a sweet sale going on at H&M that calls to me every time I pass it's doors... what's a girl to do?
First and foremost... stop shopping! There will be plenty of time for this when you get to where you're going, but for now this is essential.
Secondly comes the closet evaluation, re-evaluation and re-re-evaluation (inviting a trusted friend along for any of these steps is invaluable, as they are great at forcing you to part with clothes unworn for an extended duration of time, and any other obscure piece of junk you really don't need). If you tend to be a sentimental person such as myself, this is a terribly strenuous process. Having to part with panties that tell a story, that pair of jeans that you LOVE, but are pretty much more patch than jean at this point and the marvelous vintage wool sweater you found for a ridiculous price, can be agonizing. Digging through our wardrobes is like looking back on the fond and painful memories of our past. We can associate a pair of socks with a Christmas spent with our mother, a tank top with a holiday spent traveling with a close friend, a dress worn on a memorable date... and this goes on, and on – I'm sure you get the point. I DO NOT recommend attempting any of these steps while pmsing, after or during a night of drinking, or the day before you leave. Give yourself plenty of time and allow yourself to simply – let go. While packing, itself is an art form, there is only so much one can jam, cram and squeeze into a suitcase. No amount of praying, swearing or fighting with the zipper will help you – there is a limit to how much you can bring, and regardless of how much you try to rationalize bringing that seven year old hoodie you swiped from an ex-lover... you will just have to let it go, even if it HAS managed to sneak its way past the former evaluation stages.
So what gets to come along?
Really, only the best and brightest should make the journey with you. Let's look at shoes: as much as we would love to bring all 17 odd pairs that are lined up in our entrance ways, this is so completely illogical. Let's take a second look: shoes that are beyond repair, un-wearably uncomfortable after five minutes or under $10 – get rid of them! You don't need them and won't be missed. Bring shoes that are unique and un-replaceable, shoes that are versatile and can withstand the test of momentary fashion. Always wear your most impractically-packable boots on the plane and this will free-up a bit of room.
As far as clothes go; I find dresses to be the item with the most 'packability'. They tend to be light and easy to roll, which means you can bring lots of them. Dresses can be worn in various ways; with boots, heals or flats and can be worn sexed-up, worked-up or casual, depending on the occasion – so I say, the more dresses the better. Plus, they are both a top, and a bottom! Tank tops, blouses and tees have high packability as well, but try not to go too crazy and remember that you can find great tanks and tees for super cheap just about anywhere. Jeans are the trickiest as can get extremely heavy! I suggest you limit these to your favorite two and give the rest to a friend in need. Jackets are the same and two usually suffice; a light-weight, stylee one and a longer, heavier one (no mater where you go, trust me, you'll need it and it will make up for the lack of sweaters and sweatshirts that didn't make the cut). The two things I can't stress enough are versatility and uniqueness! Having clothes that you can switch up and wear in different ways will be invaluable to you. And those few pieces you bring along that are super funky and unique brighten up any wardrobe and are well worth bringing along to cheer up a somber, post-move mood.
Accessories are another great must have for the savvy female traveler. Light and relatively easy to pack; scarfs, jewelry and other such wraps, ties and bits of flare not only spruce up a drab outfit, but can also double as great sentimental keepsakes to trek around with you.
Really though, it all depends on what part of the world you are off to and what you think will be the most important things to have with you. If you really can't live without all 17 pairs of shoes – bring 'em, but realize you will have to make other sacrifices along the way. Be creative and try to limit what you can't live without – trust me, purging can be extremely liberating and has a way of not only lightening your bags, but your state of mind and spirit as well. Now only if I could only follow my own advice... then we'd really be on to something.
No comments:
Post a Comment