McAllister

Julia - I love What Not To Wear with Stacey and Clinton! I am almost 28 but the skirt or dress in question is not truly teeny...just at or an inch above the knee.

So far I am planning on taking two pairs of black pants and two pairs of grey pants (one of which will be worn on the plane) along with mix and match tops that will allow me to layer. Going by this advice so far, I am going to slip in the little black dress (and a pair of shoes to go with it). I am also looking for a great pair of comfortable black leather walking shoes and some previous threads have given me a great place to start!

As for a jacket or coat, I am hoping to find a cute black trench...if I have layers to go underneath it, do y'all think this will be warm enough?

These responses have been so helpful and some have made me laugh out loud! Thanks again!!!

crefloors

I love What Not to Wear also, but am I the only one who thinks some of Stacy's outfits are horrible?

nytraveler

Skirts that are above the knee will present a problem getting into some churches. Officially the Vatican doesn't allow it - and unofficially you will be liable to comments from locals (esp older ladies) at churches in many places in Italy.

Also - agree - it's more difficult to manage short skirts while traveling (pulling, lifting, bending etc) - unless you don;t mind lots of people seeing what type lingerie you wear.

beaupeep

McAllister - if you have an H&M near you (we have two here in Lausanne) run, don't walk, to get your short black trench! They have the most adorable little black trench coats and swing coats, so Audrey Hepburn! I bought two of the little black coats the other day and my husband made me return one saying I surely didn't need them both (because I probably have 5 other black coats). So I returned one and bought little red shoes instead.

Brazilnut

McAllister,

My daughter is about your age, and she spent almost 6 weeks in Europe with three pairs of jeans (one sort of capri's like) and a black corduroy skirt just below the knees (she bought at Promod in Paris), that she wore with boots.

SeaUrchin

Hey, at your age show your legs! You'll look cute and forget about the old ladies in the churches, if they don't remember when they wore them, too bad for them.

I don't agree with Stacy so much either, especially living in So. California where I do, you see all kinds of cute, funky and original outfits which would send her hyperventaliting.

McAllister

I swear Fodor's is my new online addiction...love it!

Beaupeep - I am going to hit the H&M tonight or tomorrow! That is great advice...plus H&M is normally affordable and anything Audrey Hepburn-esque sounds perfect.

Brazilnut - your daughter sounds like a fantastic packer...I aim to become one of those people that can live out of a carry on!

Thanks y'all for advice about churches (I plan to wear pants on our walking outings...I will reserve the skirt or dress for dinner or drinks) and what is easiest while travelling. I am a pretty good packer but I can't wait to prove to my husband that I can pack in one 22 inch roller!

For anyone still reading this thread (you are my heroes, haha), any suggestions for a great carry on? In fact, any suggestions as to what you must take on an overseas flight? (The longest flight I have taken is from DC to San Francisco...which had a layover in Denver.)

Thanks again!!!

beaupeep

My mother and sister will be coming over from Boston in May for their first-ever visit. I will take the TGV to Paris to meet them and spend 5 days before we head back to Lausanne. And I am actually hoping it is cool enough to wear my little black H&M coat!

J_Correa

For our trip to Germany last summer, I had all my stuff packed nicely into my 22" rollerboard and a daypack (with room for my purse inside the pack so I could fit within the 2 carryon bag rule). It was my husband who couldn't make it with just carryon and had to check a bag - ha ha.

One thing to consider is your toiletries and the new regulations for what you can carryon and what you can't. If you need more things than can fit in your 1 quart bag for liquids, creams, and gels, then you'll have to buy things when you get there or check your bag. If you are planning to buy things when you get there, then make sure to leave some room in your suitcase for those things so that you have someplace to put them when you travel around.

suze

Pack in your carry-on anything you cannot easily replace or cannot live without. For me that includes prescription glasses and sunglasses, prescription medications, of course passport, ATM and credit cards, cash.

I usually include 1/2 change of clothes in case the suitcase is delayed (fresh top, socks, undies). Any make-up and toiletries I can get away with in the non-gel or liquid category.

For comfort on the plane I pack some snacks, magazine, a paperback book.

beaupeep

Forget the toiletries altogether. At your age you don't need to waste packing space on special skin lifting creams. Just buy your toothpaste and moisturizer at the Monoprix when you get into Paris.

J_Correa

Oh - forgot the bit about what to bring on the flight. I always have a small kit for freshening up - toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, Olay facial cloths, moisturizer, talcum powder, deoderant, chapstick. This way I can brush my teeth and wash my face before I settle in for a nap on the plane - helps get me in relaxation/sleep mode. And the moisturizer helps ward off dry skin caused by the cruddy airplane air. Then before landing, I wash my face and brush my teeth again, put on deoderant, etc. Everything goes better when you have clean teeth

In addition, I bring a book, a magazine or two, extra socks, mp3 player, inflatable neck pillow. I also have my guide books and maps with me. If I am working on a new language, rip the language CD and load them onto my mp3 player.

Brazilnut

McAllister,
My daughter certainly doesn't take after her mother: I am a terrible packer! I always end up carrying a whole lot of stuff I never get to wear...

suze

You might check with your airlines, some give out pretty nice little packets, even in coach. From British Air I've gotten: socks, eyeshade, little toothbrush/paste, like that.

StCirq

Well, I am...ahem...in my 50s and I absolutely love to wear flouncy knee-length skirts when traveling (especially in summer in Europe when it can be HOT!). Really short or tight skirts would look ridiculous on me and are too much of a bother when you're traveling as you're always conscious of what's showing when you lean or bend over or sit down, and long skirts bug the crap out of me as most of them look dowdy and I trip on them when running up cathedral steps and such (and yes, I'm still running up steps).

There are so many pretty lightweight and medium-weight skirts around these days that are between short and long, I doubt you'd have a problem finding something comfortable and appropriate that looks great on you.

L84SKY

Why don't you take both skirts and leave one pair of gray pants at home.
I agree with SeaUrchin, wear those shorter skirts while you can but a long skirt is nice too.
I think skirts are perfect for travel.

Tulips

As far as I'm concerned, less is more for carry-on luggage. And with the new regulations (which I think will come into effect after April, but check with your airline) you won't be able to have two bags on board.

McAllister; Mango is good for not expensive clothes too; got a great black mac from them. And for shoes I like the Flexa range from Fratelli Rosetti. Comfortable and stylish. Or a pair of dark coloured sneakers will do for sightseeing. Converse is popular here too (for my teenage daughters anyway). Or Puma.

marginal_margiela

My Gucci, some of you remind me of Hyacinth Bucket, packing up a silver tea service and the Wedgwood for a day of boating on the Thames.

Just throw a few things in a bag and forget about it. If you are a woman, take a really good pashmina shawl to jazz up your outfits for an evening out--no need to pack a "little black dress."

You are on holiday, afterall. Work should not be involved.

bilboburgler

I agree go with the flow but don't visit a church or an aged aunt in a short skirt. Don't underdress in posh restuarants and do aim for stylish over puppy love.

sglass

I have previously recommended my very most favorite travel skirt (I don't work for the company!)-it comes in either black or brown jersey knit and I now have both colors. It has a slim but not too tight fit, but best of all is that it has a hidden zipper in one side seam that means it can be either mid- shin length for modesty (whether for relatives or churches!)or unzipped all the way to lower thigh. I have even hiked in it that way. It has an elastic waist (but not the bunchy kind, it's flat) and a cool hidden pocket with zipper, big enough to hold a credit card and key at the waist. I have worn it with a tank top and shawl for dinner or, as mentioned, hiking a mountain trail. Their clothes seem to run small- I'm usually an XS and needed a S....www.sahalie.com they have great stuff for active travel!