Packing light as a female and not dressing touristy

Don't bring the jeans. Really, don't. Not if you want to pack light. Bring a simple pair of black pants that you can wear to the museum, for a day in the city and to the opera. Bring a nice shirt for the opera but that you can still wear on other days. I'm sure you can find an outfit that would fit a day of sightseeing and a night out.

Even though it seems excessive you will want your raincoat. I went to Europe during a heat wave, but was there for almost 4 weeks. Mid-way through it got cold and rainy. I had to buy a sweater and umbrella. The umbrella didn't even last the rest of my trip! Could you pack slacks and a multipurpose light sweater that would do double duty as a way to keep warm, but also dress up the slacks? That way you wouldn't have to pack a blazer, which would take up more space than the sweater.

I pack 2 pair of black cotton blend "docker" type pants, several cotton blend T's (long or short sleeved, depending on season) and either a "big shirt" that doubles as a jacket/blazer and a large scarf. The scarf dresses up the Ts and/or the big shirt. In cooler weather I take a sweater that can layer with the Ts- it also does nicely with the scarf for dressier events. All my colors coordinate-I pick one of these- red, cobalt or purple- and the scarf's print has them all.

I'm with Toni on the large scarf suggestion! While I generally hate 'em they beat taking a bulky blazer. Or what about a Pashmina? Multipurpose. A shirtdress? Simple black or navy dress? Folds to nothing.

Scarves and inexpensive costume jewelery can go a long way to dress up an outfit and take up little space! That and a few extra touches of makeup with your hair up can really take your look from daytime travel to a night out on the town!

I don't think sneakers or boots will cut it though. Not for a night at the Opera in Vienna! Could you squeeze in a pair of stylish but comfortable flats? Some that you could wear again for casual or instead of slippers?

I'd scrap the Jeans or limit them to one dark pair. Try some of those wrinkle free black or navy pants like the ones from Gap. I think they are great to travel with and are rather inexpensive. I also like the Cargo/Paramedic Pants from Marks Work Warehouse. I love the extra pockets. Just don't get the actual Paramedic ones b/c they have scissor hold straps which look goofy unless you're EMS on Duty!:)

Just when I had my bag almost packed! I'll be in London/Paris for two weeks and decided to be comfortable so I'm taking 1 pair of brown cords and 1 pair of jeans. All the shirts can mix/match with brown/white/pink. I originally didn't want to wear jeans and, heaven forbid, be seen as a tourist, but finally decided that comfort was more important. I even bought some brown tennis shoes today (another thing I wasn't going to do). I can understand not wearing jeans to the opera but I've read here that the theatre in London isn't so dressy (I could wear the cords maybe?). I just want to look nice but be comfortable - and not offend anyone.

Diana-
Cords will be fine for the threatre. If you're going on a Friday or Saturday night, I think it might be a bit more dressy - but if you pair it with a nice top you should be fine.

Alayna - grab yourself a couple of pairs of slacks that are wrinkle-free and a couple of nice tops that won't wrinkle too bad and leave your jeans at home. They're heavy and bulky. If you had a really dressy blouse and a nice pair of slacks and shoes, that means you don't have to take the blazer for the opera. Think business causal - but for a meeting or something. Not quite job interviewish.

Alayna, have you packed up all your stuff in your suitcase/backpack and tried walking around Boston for an hour with it (especially over the cobblestones and up a few flights of stairs when you get off the T)?

I've seen your other posts and know you are insisting on lugging your laptop with you - but jeans, boots, sneakers, blazers? All this stuff is very heavy. Add to this the weight of your toiletries, guide books, general reading material & throw in another pound or two for souvenirs you'll buy & you get the jist.

Unless you are hiking, ditch the boots. I'd also say nix the sneakers & find a pair of dark flats that offer good traction & support-you can wear them to the opera & you can wear them with jeans. Compression bags don't make your suitcase any lighter - they just help you squish down heavy, bulky clothing. I also think they are lousy - I used them to pack my ski pants and fleeces for skiing in Colorado and they developed leaks and the bags were useless.

Hi Alayna: I think a nice pair of black pants that could serve both for daytime sightseeing, and nighttime opera-going (with a nice top or nice accessories) would be more versatile than jeans. But if you live everyday in jeans now, and think you'll wear them there, go ahead and bring the. I just don't think another pair of pants only for the opera makes sense.

Also - don't bring the blazer. You'd be better served with a simple long-sleeved black pullover top or light-weight black sweater or some simple top that could be dressed up with inexpensive costume-jewelry necklaces or scarves. It's all in the accessories. (Also, you don't mention whether you're going to be bringing tops besides T-shirts. It may get cold if you have nothing but T-shirts, so a lightweight sweater or pullover top would come in handy there.)

And if your boots are relatively nice black ones that could pass for one night of opera-going with black pants, I wouldn't bring another pair of shoes just for opera night.

for travel, i always think black, thin, and cheap. stores like walmart and kmart have lines similar to chicos travelers that fold up to nothing. a tank and pants or tshirt and long skirt in these fabrics work for almost everything if you wear appropriate accessories. and i always take one pair of jeans--you can wear them again and again unless you are a terrible slob.

We have friends who live in Vienna and who do not dress up to go anywhere - the opera included.

If you are comfortable in jeans, take them. I would rather be in jeans than most other trousers/pants.

Two reasons not to pack jeans.

First, they are heavy and take up a lot of room in your luggage. For the weight and bulk of a pair of jeans, you could pack two lighter pairs of pants (or more).

Second, they take forever to dry meaning they will cost an arm and a leg to launder. I love cotton shirts and jeans at home but cotton loses it's shape when it's worn and only regains it when you machine wash and dry. Better to take a light-weight, non-cotton, dark-colored pants and shirts that can be dressed up or down, and pack, wash and dry easily.

I am also a mostly all jeans person (when I'm not working). But I did take a pair of khakis to Europe with me. I also bought a pair of Mary Jane looking flats (Earth brand - Ivy style) and they are way more comfortable than any other shoe I own - tennis shoes included. Check out the shoe threads for other ideas too (Keens, Merrels, etc). I also packed a couple shirts that weigh almost nothing and can be smooshed and packed whichever way and they are fine. They have a dressier look; one was a peasant type top. I took a couple camis to wear under them. I then bought a pashima in London -a souvenier and very practical. I would also rethink the boots unless you are hiking.

Hmm. Well unfortunately the only thing I own are jeans and a pair of dressier looking dickies. I've heard that jeans are not great, but I'll kind of have to make due with that one, maybe the compression bags will help. I still have to get my luggage and odds and ends and new pants get pricey, my shirts are small and dry pretty quickly. The good thing is is that the hostels I'm staying at have laundrettes, so maybe I can spring for a load of laundry 1-2 times.
I thought that outfit for the opera would be good, because I'd have the boots already for whenit rained (theyre my all purpose docs) and with pants, but if I brought a light dress, thats one more pair of shoes and I'm kind of a tomboy, so I only really have the sneakers and boots. Because the boots are big, I plan on wearing them in transit between airports, not in the bag.

Anyone have packing suggestions as for how to actually fit it in and as for your clothes getting all wrinkled when you handwash and not looking like a bum?

Sometimes hanging handwashed stuff in the WC to dry will help eliminate SOME of the wrinkles.

You can get travel size wrinkle releaser type spray. But it would be another thing for your TSA baggie if you carry-on only. I keep my 3oz bottle and refill it when at home from a larger bottle. Or you can mix 1 to 4 parts fabric softener in a spray bottle. Pretty similar.

Also, if you wring dry your clothing by wrapping it first in a towel, rolling it up and pressing the water out with your feet, that can help with avoiding wrinkles from wringing it out.

There's the arguement of fold, roll Vs bundle pack. Checkout www.onebag.com for details. Those thin plastic bags you get free from the drycleaner can be handy to help prevent creases while in transit.

The compression bags won't help with the weight. If you really want to bring jeans, bring one pair only and wear them a couple of times before washing. I usually find that space itself is not a problem but really the weight. Especially if you insist on bringing your laptop. I can't even imagine how heavy that'll be. Be sure to take a long walk with all your luggage and even a bit more (because you'll probably be buying some souvenirs along the way).

Vanessa is right... a very long walk...

If you have an indoor mall, bring your FULL suitcase and walk up and down stairs..

this is your trial version of a train station.

by the end of the day on some of trips, I think an extra set up AA batteries weighs about a pound!

Cool. Honestly some of the fashion suggestions for example as listed in the Back door book for women, don't really seem that applicable to 23 year old females, I'm basically a jeans and tee kind of chick. I usually buy cheap shirts from forever 21 that are lightweight and about 4 bucks. Alongt with a few of those and 2 jeans I think I'll get by. And bandanas...bandanas are the greatest. The jansport I am getting should fit a pair of pants or a little extra. I won't have a suitcase, but a rolling duffel, which I found a good one at marshalls but it is nylon or some material and really lightweight, but I''m nervous that is would get poked and that would be the end of it.
My laptop I will be carrying in my backpack and not out and about. I carry it with me all the time here to and from school/work, so I am used to that weight. I''m planning to pack things like paris book,laptop and mp3 and essentials, maybe some makeup and a shirt in the backpack so I can freshen up when I arrive.

Alayna - good advice so far. I also vote for a black on black color scheme - Europeans love dark colors and you're less likely to stick out. Pack a very light weight scarf to dress up a black tee and black pants (you might even get away with the boots if they're black), and you'll be ok.

For a great illustration of how you can make 14 days of outfits out of 9 pieces of clothing, see this site on OneBag.org.

In addition to the discount stores (Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, etc.) try your local thrift store. I have found several quick dry tops at my local Goodwill.

alayna,
Your original post stated you planned to go to the Vienna Opera, then you state all you have are jeans, t-shirts sneakers and boots, and you don't seem to be willing to alter your wardrobe and add a few things that will be more appropriate for this event. I am wondering why you are spending a considerable amount of $ to go to Europe, but balking at another say, $50 or so to get some nice black rayon slacks and a nice blouse from a place like Marshall's, or TJ Maxx? (which you will wear more than once I'm sure)
Even though young women your age wear jeans in the big European cities, they are very chic, and you will not see them in t-shirts and sneaks, or boots (unless they are fashionable black leather ones). You may regret your fashion choices.

Actually, I also said I am bringing pinstripe pants and a blazer jacket for the opera, not jeans. I''m not too concerned with being chic, just not walking around with shorts, white reeboks and a camera on my neck. I just want to bring some of what I have and be comfortable, but not wear jeans to the opera obviously.

Alayna,
I've faced this dillema to some degree myself. The first time I simply brought what I had (a couple pairs of jeans, t-shirts, one pair of black but still very casual pants, a little over-top for dressy occasions, running shoes, and a pair slightly clunky boots that I figured I could wear and look nice). On that occasion I ended up feeling like I stook out like a sore thumb and horribly underdressed when I "dressed up".

The second time around I caved and bought a cute little black dress (Cheap from Forever 21), and nice looking shoes (cheap from Payless Shoesource) and borrowed a shawl from a friend (total spent--apx $25). These things weighed almost nothing, took up very little space, and did wonders for fitting in. Personally I prefer to wear slacks, but dresses fit in better and take up a lot less space.

I've found folding flat wrinkles less than rolling and that most things don't need washing often (especially jeans) and prefer to leave things that do at home.

I will be traveling next month and will be packing a couple of nice but casual skirts and several light-weight Ts, along with a nice scarf. I am bring one pair of Mary Jane walking shoes which are comfortable to walk all day in and nice enough to wear to a nice event.

Of course, I am not planning on doing anything that requires pants or hiking boots like mountain climbing or such.

I will be traveling mainly through museums and in the local communities.

And the good part of it all is. After everything is packed in my RS convertable, the total weight is 10lbs.

I have recently attended a Rick Steve's festival, in which they give all kinds of suggestions for traveling to Europe. One of the classes was for packing light. The lady that taught the class, gave us a lot of useful information. She had one base outfit (as she called it) it was a black shirt and a black skirt. Everything that she packed she could add or take away to this outfit. Everything had a multipurpose use. All of the shirts were button/zip ups, so that they could be worn by themselves or as a over shirt. I am taking a simple black dress and am planning on buying scarfs to dress it up when needed, as I am also planning to go to the opera on my vacation to Europe.

I just returned from Ireland and packed light, using a 20 in. rolling carry-on suitcase and laptop bag. Most of the time, I wore black pants with various cashmere sweaters and my black dress Rieker boots. I wear them at work all the time and they are very comfortable, not like hiking boots at all. I took an extra pair of shoes to wear at the hotel.

Don't worry about standing out as a tourist, especially if you are in your twenties. People do dress up a little more in Europe, but almost every young person I see is wearing blue jeans with boots, adding their fashion flair with hats and jackets, belts, etc.

When I went to the Opera Garnier in Paris last summer, I wore black dress pants with black boots and a black sweater with a bright scarf. However I am in my early 50's. My suggestion would be to think what would you wear to a Broadway show- if you would wear jeans there, then wear them in Vienna.

Take items that can be mixed and matched with other items - black works the best.

I would say no to a raincoat and think about picking up some clothes at a thrift store that you won't mind leaving behind. I always do because it frees up space in my suitcase (for stuff I buy)and then I break out my favorites.

Alayna,

Jeans are fine in Europe, but make sure they are not all-Amrican type of jeans.Europeans wear fashion jeans.The only problem I see is their weight and how hard they wash.
You don't have to spend $50 for a pair of nice pants. You can try Marshalls, TJ max, even Express when they are on sales you get get them very cheap.
Also Gap has nice pants and again look for sales.
For your opera night you can pack also adress instead of pants and jacket.It will take less room. Or pants and blouse.