Taking only a carry-on suitcase for a two-week trip in Asia, with varying weather conditions (a 40-degree temperature differential), and planning it less than a week before departure made packing a challenge! Although we both wore most everything we brought, we found ourselves grabbing the same key items over and over again. Here are our top 5 most-worn items from the trip.
And in case you missed it, last week we discussed our airplane outfits and the carry-on essentials we used for over 30 hours of flying.
JOANNE:
The 40-degree temperature fluctuation between our destinations initially made me anxious, but I remembered that layers always work. Bottoms, tees/blouses, cotton cashmere sweaters, a puffer jacket, and a cropped trench coat, layered up or down, worked in every country. The details:
Bottoms: I brought a pair of Gap Low Slung Relaxed Crop Jeans in Medium Indigo. They aren’t too thick, so they worked in hot and cold. The other pants I wore consistently were the Uniqlo Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants in Natural. They are simple khaki pants, and again, they were perfect for all temperatures.
Tops: I like to bring thin cotton blouses that pack and layer easily. My favorites are from Xirena, Hartford, and the the top image above from Evereve. I also wore this Quince Linen Popover shirt, also seen above, especially in the hotter climates. I brought two Quince Lightweight Cashmere Crewneck Sweaters (in gray and light blue) to layer or tie around my shoulders/waist.
Coat: I got a shorter trench coat (a little longer than cropped, to cover my tush) from Zara years ago (now out of stock), and I’ve worn it on so many trips. A similar coat is this one from Barbour – I like the double-breasted feature and no belt. I wore it over my puffer when it was cold.
Nylon Crossbody Purse: My orange nylon Prada crossbody purse (similar available at The RealReal) is very well-traveled. I like the pop of color, the washable (machine), lightweight nylon material, and it’s big enough to fit a travel umbrella. Athleta has a similar-shaped bag right now in some nice neutrals.
CHRISSIE:
I stuck to very casual basics for this trip, as it was not a ‘fancy’ trip! I brought a couple of blue items, like a bright blue J.Crew cashmere sweater and an AYR Deep End bright blue/white button-down (just the solids are currently available), and had a couple of lightweight items for Hong Kong and Hanoi, but my basics, mid-weight black and white items, were what I wore most days. My only rule was that any top I packed had to match any bottom packed!
Anthropologie Colette Pants: These black pants were my day-to-day workhorse. I walked for miles in them during the day and then wore them out to dinner as well. They work with everything, whether the day called for a tee, a button-down, or a sweater.
Uniqlo Lightweight Puffer Jacket: Except in Hanoi (where it was hot), I always had my super lightweight puffer on, or in my purse. Mine is actually lighter than the one linked to, I think.
PerfectWhiteTees: I brought two Harley tees (a white and a gray) from perfectwhitetee as they are just my favorite tees. Whether alone or under a jacket or sweater, they are so comfy and hang well. (FYI, the gray is a different material from their other colors and is so, so soft!)
Gap denim shirt: I take a denim shirt on most trips because it goes with most anything and can be worn buttoned up as a shirt or open as a layering piece over a tee.
Long-sleeved collared cotton button-down tee: A long-sleeved, collared shirt in jersey material is a great wrinkle-free option and looks nicer than a regular T-shirt.
Bonus Item:
Nylon Crescent Bag: I wore this bag crossbody to be hands-free during the trip. It’s lightweight and is big enough to hold a water bottle and a puffer coat, as well as the regular other things like a passport, a brush, a wallet, etc.
SeaVee Trainers: I wore my SeaVee Acorns all day, every day of the trip. So comfy. I size up a half size.
