Why It’s Classic To Pack LIGHTLY!
Plus, tips on how to ACTUALLY do it.
Are you a chronic overpacker? I know many people struggle with putting together all the items they need for a trip. My sisters used to go through their closets, picking out multiple options for each day, curious if one outfit would appeal to them over another in any given moment. For some reason, I’m just not built that way. I have never been one to overpack. I prefer to have my outfits picked out for me for each day that we are traveling so it’s one less thing I have to think about.
When I think of the hyperbolic overpacker, I picture a woman going on a weekend trip with four or five suitcases filled to the brim. Maybe she’s carrying a little dog in her arm (or maybe I’m just thinking of one too many chick flick villains?). And of course, it’s funny. What could any person possibly need in 48 hours that could fill that many bags?
On the other hand, when I think of a classic woman going on a weekend trip, I see a compact suitcase or weekender bag on her arm, limited but useful. Why is that? Why is packing lightly actually a very classic thing to do?
Well, there are a few good reasons.
It’s Low Maintenance. The kind of woman who can do things gracefully under pressure and is amenable to spur of the moment spontaneity is lovely. But in order to do those things, she has to be low maintenance. A high maintenance woman would panic over all the things she can’t live without, even for 48 hours. A high maintenance woman would make it impossible to live life in the moment because everything needs to be meticulously planned out to her specifications. A high maintenance woman, in short, is hard to have fun with.
Being able to pack lightly is indicative of a low maintenance woman. She doesn’t need three outfits for one day. She doesn’t need four different curling irons. She knows what she needs to make herself look and feel her best and is able to pack it easily and readily. And what could be more classic than a woman who actually knows herself?
It Shows A Collected Mindset. Have you ever been around someone who panics about packing? Throwing things into suitcases, bringing way too much stuff “just in case,” and freaking out about every little thing is definitely NOT classic. But packing lightly shows that you have a collected mindset. You are able to calmly recognize what you truly need to bring with you and put it together with purpose. Instead of treating packing like an overwhelming obstacle, you are able to put packing in its rightful place in your mind – a simple task that’s not that serious!
It Means You’re Not Vain. A lot of the time, packing heavily has at least a bit do with vanity. If you are constantly worried about the way you look, you’ll overpack to compensate. Paring down your packing shows that you are traveling for the experience, NOT the pictures or the compliments. Vanity is not a classic quality, but being present is.
Now that you know why it’s classic to learn to pack lightly, I thought I would also share a few small ways you can ease into the practice.
Shoes. For shoes, generally the most you would need to pack is three: sandals/boots (depending on the season), heels (preferably nude or black that can be worn with any fancy outfit), and sneakers (so you can exercise while you vacation). If you are packing more shoes than that, recognize that you are doing it because you want to, not because it’s a necessity. I am currently traveling and initially was planning to bring two different pairs of heels for different events. Then I realized – I had a pair of nude heels I could wear with any dressy outfit and would save space and weight in my luggage. Done and done!
Makeup. This used to be my weakness. I used to pack WAY too much makeup when I traveled - I brought different foundations, different eyeshadows, different lipsticks. It was, simply, too much. But nowadays, I can fit all of my makeup into one small bag (which I now take pride in!). So my advice is: if it doesn’t fit in one makeup bag, don’t bring it. I bring one of every product instead of multiple versions. And at the end of the day, no one is going if you’re wearing a different foundation from one night to the next!
Clothing. When it comes to clothing, packing pieces that can be worn multiple times or in multiple different ways is the best course of action. For the trip I’m currently on, I brought five dresses, three of which I plan on wearing twice! Another option is to bring one pair of jeans and multiple tops. Mixing and matching prevents you from looking like you’ve worn the same outfit twice (if that matters to you).
So, ladies, pack lightly to be classic. And thank me later when you aren’t breaking your back lugging around a huge, heavy suitcase!
Quote of the Week:
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas Edison
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Welcome to Classically Abby!
I'm your resident #ConservativeInfluencer, cultural commentator, opera singer, fashionista, makeup artist, and wife with a classic take on the modern world. Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to see how! And together, let's be classic.
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