I never miss the Oscars on TV. I love everything about them. The movies, the playful hosts, the stars all dressed up, the red carpet full of fantasy gowns, and that question, “Who are you wearing?”
OK - so I am a plump, four-eyed book nerd that knows nothing of fashion. I’ll take the book over the movie every time but even I have been struggling with my own fashion decisions this year.
In March, I am taking the Vietnam and Cambodia WanderTour lead by my sister WanderBlogger, Joslin Fitz of Lady Sherpa. I love travel but this trip is in a whole new league of adventure for me. I’ve only ever read about such strange, exotic places. Naturally, I have been obsessed with what to pack. True, I mostly obsess over my electronics (tablet and keyboard or laptop?) but I have also given some careful consideration to my wardrobe. After a year of carefully piecing together outfits, I have finally completed my travel ensemble. Except for a few small pieces, It is all from Tilley Endurables. Here it is!
I will be taking only one bag small enough to carry on the plane and have to pack light and tight. The cloths have to be versatile enough to be appropriate in a wide variety of cultures and climates. They have to be tough enough to stand up to constant wear and frequent washing. They have to be quick-drying for doing laundry in hotel sinks. They have to fit nice, look crisp, and feel comfortable. And they have to be classy! I don’t want to look like I’m living out of a single pack, even though that’s precisely what I’m doing.
Here’s the inventory:
Items shown in the video:
2 pair of pants (one convertible to capris)
2 skirts (one is actually a skort)
2 short sleeved t-shirts
2 layer-able structured tops
1 cardigan
1 jacket (convertible to a vest)
1 dress (suitable for use as a nightgown or bathing suit cover-up)
Items not shown:
2 pairs of Tilley travel underwear (I’m taking the “2 pair will take you ‘round the world” challenge!)
2 pairs of Tilley travel socks (ditto!)
1 pair no-brand leggings (I’ll ditch them in Hoi An as the weather gets hot)
1 conservative tank style swimsuit from L.L. Bean (just in case I get a chance to swim in the South China Sea)
2 Playtex bras (no underwires to gouge under the arms on a long flight.)
NOTE:
While I do wear 2 belts in the video, I will not pack them. The wardrobe is neutral in shades of blacks and browns so I can buy any needed accessories while traveling in any color I like. Sashes or bags from the Flower Hmong and karma scarves from Cambodia will make great souvenirs!
I did a test pack and weighed my carry-on. I’ve got it down to only 12.6 lbs. (my electronics are packed in the cross-body bag I’ll be wearing as my personal item. That weighs all of 6.8 lbs. What will it be like to spend 3 weeks traveling through Southeast Asia with under 20 lbs of luggage? The mind reels! I may be pretty travel worn at the end, but I will sashay through the gate to that first plane like it’s the red carpet at the Oscars!
I will be watching the real Oscars and admiring the sparkly gowns from my cozy bed with my laptop open to Netflix adding all the interesting movies to my queue like a good introvert should. But my time to go out into the big sparkly world is right around the corner. If you happen to see me abroad you won’t have to ask, “Who are you wearing?” You’ll know I’m in my Tilleys.
Read ~ Write ~ Wander
~Angie
(Special Thanks to Wayne Hilbert a.k.a “Dearest” for taking the pictures and video. I’m always my most beautiful when seen through his eyes.)
