Packing light is a breeze

As baggage fees keep increasing and airlines keep downsizing the size of allowed carry-ons, packing light is one easy way to save money.

Without gender-bashing, females seem to have a particular problem packing light (this is my gender, so I figure I can say this). Let’s start with what you don’t need to pack. Note that you may want to pack these things, but you don’t need them, and it’s important to know the difference:

• makeup

• hair dryer

• multiple hair styling devices

• multiple pairs of shoes

• multiple outfits of different colors
  

It’s easy to pack a carryon that will pass even the most stringent airline’s size and weight restrictions, including clothes that will last a full week.

First, expect to do laundry every week or so, which is a fun adventure on its own. Then focus on using one base color – black works well in Europe – and match every item in your wardrobe to that item. Use lightweight fabrics that dry quickly and layer well (sorry, denim, you’re out).

A sample week’s wardrobe for a female, beyond the clothes you wear on the plane which will be your bulkiest outfit, might include:

• one to two dryer sheets or essential-oil-infused cloth or paper towels to keep your bag and apparel smelling fresh (things get rank fast)

• six sets of underclothes

• two pairs of lightweight black leggings

• two short-sleeved black shirts

• one long-sleeved black turtleneck

• one long tunic that can double as a dress if you go somewhere fancy

• two tunics to wear over the turtleneck, short-sleeved shirt or on its own

• one black scarf – plain black or with patterns/embellishments that match every other piece of clothing

• optional: a back-up pair of shoes (although several sites recommend taking two pairs of shoes, I’ve only needed the second pair once, and that was because I chose poorly-suited shoes as my primary footwear; this is valuable space in your carryon, even if you roll up socks or other clothing and stuff into it)