Packing - overthinking it?

Your post is exactly what I was scratching my head about today as I was contemplating the logistics of lighter (not necessarily ultralight) packing.

On my recent tour, my trusty quick dry tees and long sleeve layers were not drying overnight in the damp climate. With our early morning departures, I couldn't wash something I wore today during our 1 night stays.

Suddenly, my packing was itinerary dependent... hypothetically, if I strung together enough damp 1 night stays, I could need a lot more clothes, rather than fewer.

When you're changing hotels frequently, as you do Jean, how do you adjust if your clothing suddenly doesn't dry overnight? Or does that not happen when and where you travel?

This isn't an issue for my independent travels because I'm usually booking 4 night minimums, with very rare 1 night stays. Then it's a question of variety.

Jean you are one of my Packing Gurus! Nope, not over-thinking it. I really don't think you can think too much about packing light, rather the opposite, when people start ADDING things just before they leave, 'just in case'. Geez, now I need a dress and some nice jewelry, LOL?? Where did you buy your navy blue dress?

Hey CWS, have you tried using a hair dryer on damp clothing in the mornings? (Be careful if they're synthetic!)

Taking a break for my feet, so I’ll reply. First CWSocial, I’m growing the list for you of perfect places to stay that have beautiful rooftop areas. : ). This place is another stunning one.

The only thing that hasn’t typically been dry in the morning is my pair of pants I like to wear on planes & also colder evenings. Those always get washed on Day 1 of a 2-day stop, if needed

The dresses, shirts & underwear are very rarely not dry. If not, the piece gets folded into a gallon Ziploc bag and is hung up at the next location to finish. I only remember that happening twice. I do run the blow dryer down the body & sleeves of clothes if needing a 30/second help.

Sandsncisco, I either bought it through their website or through Amazon. I’ve had that one since 2023.

Jean, thanks for the idea. I have a nice, plain, navy blue dress I purchased from Boden’s website during the pandemic. I have never had it on my packing list. It’s lightweight but I will test it out and hand-wash it before our next trip.
My problem with dresses is that since we rarely travel in the hotter weather, I always worry I will be too cold with bare legs. Our next trip isn’t until October (Croatia and Istanbul) but maybe it will be warm enough in Istanbul. I could wear very thin leggings underneath……

I love packing reports, and so glad you are enjoying this trip!
For me, and for cooler climates/times of year where perspiration isn't an issue I now only sink wash underwear (if there's a room heater or low humidity to be sure it's dry by morning). I also have 2 tissue weight undershirts for under sweaters that can dry almost instantly, too.
Unless I get a stain, I rewear tops and bottoms. I turn them inside-out in the evening and spray with a (way too expensive-Poesie brand!) fabric/anti wrinkle product.
After about 4-5 wearings I put the item into a compression bag to become laundry. In this way 3 rotating bottoms, besides the plane outfit, can last about 3 weeks.
I agree about a simple dark color choice with simple gold (real or not) jewelry. It always looks chic! I can wear a black tank top and athleisure style pants hiking with my (real) necklace tucked inside, or to a museum. I have very small gold hoop earrings I just wear 24/7 at home, too.
Safe and happy travels!

Jean! Thanks for the on-the-go thoughts! How warm is it?

Thanks Jean, sorry I didn't notice the brand, gosh maybe it's my new travel LBD... https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/women/dresses-skirts/dresses/spotless-traveler-dress-ss/?srsltid=AfmBOorFVgmb-uEspb1W9qmeAclUvpybg6o0k4-hyDpSNZ3Yk8ErhP4u

Jean, your packing skills amaze me! What fabric is your navy dress?

Pam, It’s a low of 66 & high of 75. I head to Matera tomorrow, and the evenings will be 10 degrees cooler. Then back to these temps at Ostuni.

Sandanciso, that link is NOT my dress. I ordered that one, too after liking my first one. The dress in your link may look good on you, but it looked like a very sad, frumpy dress on my body. And the sizing was off, too.

This is my dress. The cut is especially flattering around the shoulders & neckline.

https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/women/dresses-skirts/dresses/spotless-traveler-tank-dress/?v=Y326002::840265869215.

The cost seemed expensive, but I’ve worn it at home & a lot in England, Wales, Slovenia, Croatia, & Italy trips - all trips sink washed, and it still looks new. (I’m Gina in the reviews.)

Jeanm, the fabric spec: Material: Light Weight Stretch Woven w/ HeiQ Soil Release: 86% polyester, 14% spandex

It doesn’t feel sticky or unbreathable like some fabrics.

Jean, thank you. I assume gelato drops wash out easily? Enjoy your trip!

I’m growing the list for you of perfect places to stay that have beautiful rooftop areas. : )

Most excellent! Thanks to you being the perfect rooftop stays researcher, I can see the shimmers of my next Italy trip!

the piece gets folded into a gallon Ziploc bag and is hung up at the next location to finish.

Ah, good tip, thanks Jean!

I usually have a hard time finding travel dresses, but I just found 2 at a Columbia Sportswear store. They would dry in 30 minutes in Colorado (nearly everything does) but otherwise, the Ziploc trick might work.

I could envision a warm-ish weather trip with just the 2 dresses, and one pair of pants.

I would love to pack this cute dress…my problem (always) is shoes. May I ask what your go-to shoes are that work for both your pants and a dress? Trying to keep my shoes to two (or three…let’s be honest!) for a May/June trip to London/Ireland so will need city walking and hiking at a minimum. Would love to take a dressier pair for dinners/theater. Shoes…my nemesis! 🫤

Jannypanny, my “go to” shoes for travel to Europe each year are the Keen Rose sandals in black. I think I’m on my 4th pair of them. They have a grippy sole and have been hiking in Switzerland in them, and they are fantastic for the larger round cobblestones in some cities in Italy. And the toe protector has saved me twice from breaking a toe on an uneven stone ledge. I wear them 95% of the time with dresses or pants. A pair of lightweight black flats are for nice concerts & dinners that are near my hotel.

Jean, love the dress. Wish my legs looked good enough to wear one. I’d have to do the impossible and turn the clock back 20+ years before polka dots.

Horsewoofie, perhaps a poodle skirt? ; ) In travel years, you’re young!

in your link may look good on you, but it looked like a very sad, frumpy dress on my body. And the sizing was off, too. Yikes, OK, will skip that one...

Hoping CWSocial comes back with a link to the 2 Columbia dresses she bought?

Jean, now that you're in Matera, have you gone shirt shopping yet? I would be tough for me to keep wearing the same 2 tops, I would hate them by end of trip!

Sandanciso, I haven’t purchased anything except a nice pair of earrings although I have been looking for a new scarf. I am finishing Week 2. I’m wearing my navy dress today in Polignano a Mare - my last Puglia city. Just finished lunch and am on my wonderful terrace overlooking the beautiful inlet. I just tied my “beachy colors” large scarf over my shoulders, so I don’t burn in this wonderful sunshine.

I have worn those two shirts SO much, but it really doesn’t bug me. It helps that they’re both patterned with colors that look nice on me in the occasional selfie photo I take. They both dry overnight even when I wash them at night, and my leggings are almost dry by morning- washing them every 2-3 times I wear them since I switch into a dress or the heavier pants at night.

Jean, you're inspiring me to pack even less, thank you! Any special brand for those T-shirts? I like the dress idea, but would have to practice at home, I rarely wear dresses but it must feel good after traveling.

Oh my goodness, I love this so much! As I read down through the comments, I realized that we must all think a bit alike because just when I was thinking "I wonder what dresses CW got from Columbia" there was a comment saying the same thing, and when I clicked on the first link to the dress I thought "hmm, I like the tank style better"!

Jean, how are the returns with this company? I always worry about sizing. It seems from the comments that it might be wise to go down one size, but I can't stand it when a company makes returns difficult.

I've been seeing dresses with white sneakers in Europe for a while now when I visit, so a while back I purchased a pair of white leather vans with grippy rubber soles. I took my Keen sandals to Portugal last month, but only ended up wearing them one day. I can imagine them working with a dress though.

I'm wondering about quick dry tees as well. I have 2 I got from Kohls a few years ago in the exercise department. They aren't clingy like typical work out gear. They look more like a regular tshirt but lightweight and they dry quickly. I wish I'd gone down a size though. They're fine for the gym, but not fitted enough for regular street wear.

Hoping CWSocial comes back with a link to the 2 Columbia dresses she bought?

This is similar to the 2 Columbia dresses I bought:

https://www.columbia.com/p/womens-pfg-freezer-iii-dress-%7C-496-%7C-m-194003530609.html?dwvar_194003530609_color=496

I got mine at the outlet store and I can't find the exact one on the website. I tried on 2 styles, hated the baggy fit of one and loved the fit of the empire waist of the other.

The description of the one I linked says it has the empire waist that made all the difference for me.

CWSocial, that is really cute! I just ordered it:)

mikliz97, that's great!

I'm wearing one around the house today, with tennis shoes and a 3/4 sleeve lightweight cardigan. I wanted to give it a spin before it goes on a trip. I'm realizing how much I like it and thinking I might just order the one I linked!

I'm laughing because I've officially become my grandmother. I call it my "lightweight, quick-dry, colorful and casual travel dress." She called them house dresses :-)

CWsocial--Oh my gosh, that is hilarious!

And I just ordered 2 more "house dresses" for travel ;-)

HAHAHA, thanks. I'm on the website now, gosh they're so cute. My grandmother NEVER wore anything that nice!

I have 3 of those Columbia dresses and love them! Especially for travel where it's hot -- wore them all over Greece in July two years ago and got lots of compliments. Many comfy trips to Florida. I can literally wad them up into a ball in my suitcase and they shake out for wearing like a dream.

At age 57, I prefer to call them "sun dresses," lol.

I have the Royal Robbins dress that Jean wears in 2 colors, I love them both! Absolutely fantastic for travel. I also tried the dress that looked frumpy on her and sent it back super quick, it looked so dumpy and frumpy on me that I couldn't get it off quick enough.

I have since bought other items from them and most have been great, cool and comfortable, quick drying with no wrinkles, and lots of hidden zippers...Their skorts, skirts and tanks make super cute outfits that help with a capsule wardrobe.

Not cheap, but worth the investment!!

Sandanciso, my two shirts aren’t t-shirts. They’re nice looking 3/4 sleeve designed blouses that look nice to wear in the evening for dinner or during the day. One of them is a FDJ brand. The other one probably came from Macys or a specialty store. (I cut the tags out of the necks of shirts, so it’s no longer labeled.)

My grandmother wore black pants and a white blouse. Now I'm doing that too! LOL

Jean, this makes more sense - My two shirts aren’t t-shirts. They’re nice looking 3/4 sleeve designed blouses that look nice to wear in the evening for dinner or during the day. One of them is a FDJ brand. Dang, now I need to go shopping... again! FDJ is new to me, thanks for the suggestion. Do they run true to size?? This is super cute - https://fdjcollection.com/collections/shirt-blouse/products/classic-long-sleeve-shirt-7622397-prt

Sundanciso, that brand runs true to size for me. Have fun shopping! : )