"He who would travel happily, must travel light."
- Antoine de St. Exupery
There is no truer note-to-self when it comes to travel, especially international travel -- travel light. After years of experience and losing thousands in clothes and accessories, having luggage stolen or arriving weeks later, I have much to advise. I watch women consistently stuff half their closets in a myriad of suitcases, to have much of it unworn, lost and/or stolen. I now pack only enough to carry on without checking a single bag. Never anything expensive or irreplaceable. Everything I pack must have the capacity for triple duty.
Summer is the easiest season to pack for. A few silk or soft cotton midi slip dresses can work for sleep, lounging, sightseeing and fine dining. A simple wrap, denim jacket or cardigan can dress up or down a slip dress, as well as the shoes. French women do these changes of look extremely well. I also try my best to only pack two pairs of shoes. For summer, thin, flat strappy leather sandals and one pair of summer-style heels work for almost any occasion. I wear comfortable sneakers on the plane. So, I then have three shoe options for outfits.
I also advise to stay away from looking too trendy, packing a lot of bright colors (one light scarf/wrap will do), wearing too much jewelry and logoed handbags (what is considered high quality in one country may be looked down upon in another). Also, the style on the beaches of Miami may look out of place on the tiny French island of Île de Ré. Two of the most important things to keep in mind/question when packing internationally: 1. Is my style appropriate for the destination? If you're unsure, err on the side of the conservative. 2.) How can I coordinate my clothing to have several functions and be wearable many places.
Understated elegance and high quality stand out much more than hot-at-the-moment eye catching trends. Another important thing to keep in mind for summer, is appropriateness of your clothing for beach and city. If you're staying at a beach front hotel or resort and will often dine alongside the water, your attire can and should reflect the location. You wouldn't wear a black turtleneck and suit trousers. This, however, does not mean you wear a bathing suit to dinner -- it means you can be more relaxed and more revealing (within reason). "Beach sexy" is one thing, vulgar and eye-popping inappropriate is another.
