All you over packers, watch this great video. 12 pieces, 40 outfits

Wow, not an over packer myself, but her method is impressive! Thanks for sharing it with us! :)

This is a good illustration of a point I often make when people ask..."is it ok to wear ____" The answer is you can get away with anything, but to pack light, you may need to limit what you bring so everything works together and the results work in most any situation (comfortably walking around, dinner in a nice restaurant, visiting churches, maybe a day at the beach).

Clothing choices in video only work if the climate and temperature is the same from day to day and from location to location. Would not work for my next trip where I will be traveling from Dolomites to the coast.
Also did not see any underwear or a raincoat!
And 2 colors of flats? Clearly not my travel world where I think that is important!
A long dress that practically drags the ground...yuck!

Very impressive. Gave me some idea's. I think the shoes would not work for me, not great for walking in Italy. Also like others said if you could count on one type of weather. But traveling in spring and fall you need a couple extra things, light jacket ect. Hard to wear shorts over 60. Younger people (I was one once!) can get away with smaller lighter clothes. But you can modifying anything.

This is definitely a different take on packing from that other great outfit coordinator, The Vivienne Files. There are lots of posts there showing packing plans for different kinds of trips. Most are way too expensive and have way too much stuff for me, but, as with this video, it's the concepts that are important.

I'm too old for the shorts, too. And whereas I used to look great in skirts and dresses of any length, I just look dowdy and dumpy in them these days.

I do admire her ability to pack light and think that showing the outfits, with her wearing them, is a tremendous way for women to actually see how that can work. Lists are great and are a requirement for me (I have a spreadsheet that gets filled in for each trip), but trying on everything in the various combinations is mandatory. The video does a good job of showing how slight changes can make a big difference.

Cute video with some good ideas. I think I'd get sick of that rabbit shirt after 60 days! Last year I took photos of the different outfits I planned and kept them on my I-pad. Helped when I was really bored with my clothes.

If you are going on a two week trip, you can actually get by quite nicely with 6 pieces of clothing, which creates 20 outfits.

Her clothing choices are not the point. I don't like any of her choices. The point is what you can do with a few pieces of well-coordinated clothes. No matter what stories you tell yourself about climate changes, churches, evening out, blah, blah, blah...the truth is you can manage with a few pieces of well-coordinated clothes. If you like lugging heavy bags around, then take your whole closet.

I really think this is a great illustration of the idea of minimal wardrobes with lots of options. I like a lot of her choice, but even if I didn't, it illustrates how to put together plenty of outfits with a minimal number of pieces. The belts and scarves totally change the look, which is a good reminder - accessories can make the difference and take very little room. She's working a lot with black, if you don't like black, use gray or brown or beige...the idea is pick a neutral and work around that.

A few tweaks and it would work for more varied climates...switch one or both shorts for pants, switch one tshirt and one tank for long sleeves, add another warm, roomy cardigan and a rain jacket and you're good for all but cold winter temps. A cardigan buttoned over a long sleeve shirt, with a jacket and scarf is pretty warm! And you still have t-shirts and shorts for warmer climates. One trick for varied climates is a knee length skirt that can be worn with a t-shirt or tank in warm climates, and with thick tights, the t-shirt, and a cardigan when it's cool. The long dress would work this way, too. A maxi-dress is super cool in the summer but layer something long sleeve over it and wear tights under it and you have a warmer outfit.

I walk 10 miles+ per day in similar flats, so I don't see that as an issue. Obviously feet vary, so switch one of the flats for whatever works and keep one for going out to dinner, if that's your plan. If not, leave 'em in favor of a walking shoe.

I like the comment about 6 pieces for two weeks. Totally do-able. A pair of black pants and a khaki pant, or a pants and a skirt. 3 tops of different colors (one black). A lightweight jacket in black. Now add a couple scarves, a couple belts, some jewelry. I could easily mix this into many different outfits. This is plenty of clothes for two weeks, or more, as long as they are washable in the sink.

People who wear uniforms manage to deal with the same "look" each day -- including fashionables such as Michael Kors in his jeans, black t-shirt and blazer. Saves mental time for other things.

How about 3 pieces, 10 outfits? This isn't a fashion show! How often are you going to be in the same place 40 days, and then who's going to remember what you wore on day 1?

I feel someone going to Europe should take as much as possible, those are foreign countries and you never know what you might need. If you don't have at least one checked bag per person, you're not packing enough.
You would never want to try to get by with just a carry-on, that's for sure.

:-)

Kent, you're kidding, right?

Kent has it right -- Europe has royalty and in case you get invited to a castle you'll need your tiara and ball gown. Maybe take a steamer trunk.
;-)

Lee,
Yes, I was kidding.
After all these years :-)
I thought you knew me better than that.
(I always put a smiley face on the posts where I'm kidding.)