I only have a few more days before I head off for my summer abroad adventures, and I couldn’t be more excited. Packing for two weeks in Tanzania wasn’t too difficult, but seven weeks in London was no easy task. As a chronic over-packer, it’s hard not to try to shove my entire wardrobe into one suitcase.  Here are some packing tips I have learned over the years:

1. Check out the weather for the trip. Look at the monthly averages for the country, and then pack accordingly. London weather can be all over the place, so I packed things I could layer. I packed a fleece, a sweater, a kimono, and a denim jacket that can all be easily worn over any outfit I packed if it gets chilly.
2. Type a list. Before I begin packing, I always type a list of exactly what I want to pack. I put things in categories like clothes, toiletries, etc. This really helps me know exactly what I need for the trip and ensures I won’t forget anything important.
3. Pick outfits that you can mix and match. Dresses are always easy to put in your suitcase and make for an easy outfit. I also pack shorts/skirts first, and then I select two tops for each bottom. Before packing a certain piece, think about what it would actually go with and how you could stye it.
4. Roll things! I always roll my clothes in my suitcase because it does actually save more room than folding!
5. Don’t overpack when it comes to shoes- they really add lots of weight to your bag and take up tons of space. Be realistic and pick comfortable shoes that you will actually end up wearing during the trip. Always wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save space in your bag. When I study abroad in Europe, I always wear my rain boots on the flights because they are quite large.
6. For packing, I always bring a large suitcase and a duffle bag for my carry on. Always go for a suitcase with wheels. The duffle bag is awesome because if I decide to take a weekend trip to another country, I can bring that big instead of my huge suitcase. I always bring a crossbody purse to Europe for everyday use as well!
7. Really think about what you actually need. I am a huge overpacker, but I try to think realistically. “When am I really going to wear these heels? Where would I actually wear this maxi dress”. If you really think about each piece you are packing and being realistic, you will not overpack as much!
8. It’s always good to make sure you leave a little extra room in your suitcase in case you decide to shop there or bring gifts home!

I posted some pictures of the clothes I packed. I will probably add a few more things (like socks, a rain jacket, etc.), but this is a general basis for the outfits I am bringing with me for the London School of Economics.

 

 

In summary, here is what I packed (clothes-related)-

• 4 rompers
• 5 dresses
• 4 shorts
• 2 skirts
• 1 pants (going to pack another white pair soon)
• 12 tops
• denim jacket
• sweater
• kimono
• fleece
• sandals
• wedges
• converse
• rain boots
• crossbody purse

Thank you all so much for checking out my packing post! I head off to Tanzania later this week, and then I go straight to London two weeks later! I can’t wait to share my adventures with y’all!

Safe Travels!