I know this topic has be discussed before--but I was wondering (asside from silk thermals!) how one packs for a cold/rainy January trip to London/Paris--Thanks everybody!!!!!!Ladybug

I don't
Actually, the best way is to try to wear the same thing often so you take less, wear the heaviest or bulkiest sweaters/coat on the plane.
If you can wear it, cashmere is great for travel, light, packs well and is so warm. A pair of water proof or water resistant boots that don't look too casual will be good for day and night sparing you the torture I go through of packing too many pairs of shoes.
The best coats are waterproof (raincoats) with linings that are very warm.

Hi ladybug,

It is hard, but I was in London last January, and I had 1 medium suitcase and small travel shoulder bag. I was there for 2 weeks. Here's what I did:

Stick to clothes that can mix and match - a color theme. (i.e. your shirts can go with all of your pants).

2 or 3 pairs of jeans - wear these a bunch of times, it won't kill you.

1 nice pair of black slacks for theatre or nicer dinners.

4 sweaters, and 3 turtlenecks or other shirts you can wear underneath in case you get a warmer day.

2 pairs of shoes - 1 for walking, 1 for your black slacks.

The silk thermals are a good idea. 4 pairs of socks and underwear (wash at night).

A scaled down version of your bathroom stuff - bring less makeup, one styling product, 1 brush etc. (I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to that stuff).

The shoulder bag had the "tourist" stuff - camera, maps, guide book, passport, etc, and my purse was in there too.

Wear your winter coat, gloves, scarf, and the comfortable shoes to the airport, then they don't have to go into a suitcase. Also, if you layer to the airport, it's one less sweater to fit in the suitcase.

My packing philosophy: Will it matter if the pictures I have from days 1, 4 and 7 all show me in the same clothes? Not to me. Pack accordingly.

Have a great time.

Karen

And if anyone know clothes it's Scarlett!

I have been wondering the same thing as a trip I was planning to make to Italy in May now maybe September. I had hoped to pack very light (as were going by train) but I am afraid September might offer the worst of all packing dilemnas - CHANGEABLE WEATHER! will it be cold, will it be warm . . . I have decided to pack light for warm and if it's cold - SHOP!!!!!!!!!

For those of us who truly travel light, 4 pairs of pants and 4 sweaters for a 2-week trip is double what you really need.

thanks Ladies!!!!!!! I am thinking of investing in a warm winter/rain coat--for me its always the comfort vs. fashion thing--i know that I dont want to be stopped by the fashion police in Paris--but then again, I dont want to be paralyzed by the cold and Blisters!!!no fun!!Ladybug

Except that these days Scarlett is having a bit of trouble picking out her underwear.

Ladybug- I'll be in London in January, too!!! I second Scarlett's suggestion of cashmere sweaters. I also travel with several basic long sleeve t-shirts, usually white (Old Navy is the place to buy these!) I also pack with Space Bags- they really do work! The silk underwear are the best, but be careful wearing them with jeans- they can be uncomfortable under jeans. Also, take a travel sized bottle of Febreeze to get the smokey smell out of your sweaters, etc. (bound to happen if you go to a pub). I pack only one pair of jeans, and the rest trousers (black, grey, etc.) They take up less space in your bag than jeans. Have fun!

JonJon: So true but we must be gentile when talking about a proper southern lady. I think under garments or better yet unmentionables would have been much more appropriate. Don't you agree? ><

You have been given good advice Ladybug. I'll be trying to do the same thing next month. Have a few things in mind to take, including my long black wool coat (which I will wear on the plane) and trying to decide between my two raincoats, one long trench coat type and the other a shorter black coat with a removable lining. Wish me luck!

I was raked over some lukewarm coals for suggesting this before about an umbrella, but I worry less about packing if I realize I can buy what I want and need at my destination. And after all, you are going to some major fashion capitals!

And Scarlett's suggestions are worthy too.

Layers, Layers, Laters. Packing a warm wardrobe is really no harder than a summer one.

Silk long underwear is the single best tip - very light and very warm and you can wear it under anything.

Last Dec I was in London during a real cold snap and had everything I needed in my 21 inch rollaboard. Two pairs of wool blend slacks (plus a casual pair I wore on the plane, one long velvet skirt for dressy evenings, six tops (sweaters mostly but also a couple of long sleeved blouses), wool blazer, a glittery camisole, a sweater coat (worn on the plane) gloves, wool scarves, a pashmina, a knit hat, socks, and three pairs of shoes - one on my feet and 2 in the suitcase. I carried on my raincoat w/ heavy zip out liner.

I ended up not even wearing everything during the 10 days.

Perfect timing... I'm off to London in January also. I'm traveling with an 18" rollaboard (which I hope British Air will allow me to carry on even though it will weigh more than 6 kilos). We'll be staying at an apartment with access to a washer and dryer plus I hope to benefit from the allegedy fabulous January sales in London. Perhaps we should all meet for tea somewhere.

Might I suggest a fleece sweater? They are very light to pack, very warm and dry quickly if you must wash. I love synthetic fiber stuff, especially when it's so snuggly like fleece (no more welts from wool .

WHEW! Someone else (Giovanna) will take more than one coat! All the bruhaha about packing light! To others' horror...I'm taking my good camel coat and a raincoat. I'll be in Paris the week of Thanksgiving! Otherwise, black and camel are my colors! and lots of combo's in there...and I'll check my duffel on the plane! I agree ... if I were doing a lot of trains/planes/automobiles, I would pack lighter...but I'm just going to stay put for a week... I want my prettiest "stuff" and great shoes! (Of course...I bought some comfortable but god-awful ugly, walk-abouts...)

Add me also to the 'more than one coat' list. I'll be bringing a full length cashmere overcoat plus a shorter raincoat. And it has been agonizing just to edit down to 4 pairs of shoes!

For the people who have made fun in the past of Americans wearing black all the time, it looked like black was going to be THE color according to the French mall window displays in October.

Swear by the silk underwear, layering, and mix/matching.

It's the darn shoes, theyre sooo bulky and in cold, weather one pair just won't make it! My French friend had gorgeous "bottines" (sharp, high-heeled boots that are just above the ankles), but not very practical for sightseeing. Wish I knew of a happy medium...

I was thinking about my full=length winter coat (cashmere, therefore very light but warm) and a leather jacket for Christmas in Paris. I don't have a really warm raincoat, just a light one, and if it's pouring in the city I'd just as soon have an umbrella and not be walking around that much. I thought if it was mild I'd wear the leather jacket a lot, maybe with a thin cashmere sweater underneath. Opinions?

Hi Ladybug: Tights, tights, tights. Silk T's. Seriously warm big sweater (alpaca is VERY warm) over lighter weight sweaters. Hooded (because I look so ridiculous in ear pops) cape so I can pull my arms in; sometiimes a problem with cameras or shopping bags but can be used as a blanket on the plane/train. Jeans don't seem that warm to me; wool slacks, black and tan. I've done France, Germany and Italy in Dec/Jan and take the silvery fabric socks (heat retention)- very thin and make for toasty toes. I also have a pair of black ankle boots that have a furry lining and 2" chunky heels (waterproofed) - good for dressy and casual, dresses and trousers. Fabric gloves, not leather. Scarlett is right about wearing the same thing over and over - you won't be sweating so you could probably take very little and just air it out overnight (I know - so-o-o-o- boring). Cold weather presents the opportunity to duck into cafes and eat lots of hot soup and good bread!! Have fun!!

What do you mean by the silvery fabric socks Shanna?

I live in FL and my problem is comprehending how cold cold can be, when I'm living with 80 degrees and still walking around in shorts. You <i>know</i> the rest of the world isn't like yours, but knowing that and fully understanding the depths of it are two different matters. It always surprises me to look at the audiences outside now at the Today show, despite the fact that I know it's cold there! (To say nothing of the wind)

I had decided to bring only my long black lined (but not in the sleeves and a light wool lining at that) raincoat but reading this am rethinking that, wondering if I should bring my long cashmere coat as well? I just hate the idea of lugging it through museums but hate even more the idea of freezing in Paris when we should happily be taking long walks instead.

One of my major concerns now is my feet and finding something practical and waterproof to walk in but still stylish. Looking at weatherunderground.com, Christmas weather is more often than not rainy.

I don't own a hat or scarf, but have some gloves somewhere (leather) from long ago. I've got mostly light wool slacks and finding other than that here is next to impossible. Did find a heavier pair today--one which I'll only be able to wear here in the evening in Jan and Feb...if then...so should be covered in that dept. 'Course..it's not like there aren't shops there, but I would love to have most of this done so we don't waste precious time picking up incidentals that we might have done with online shopping here.

I'm playing sponge now, soaking up any and all suggestions. I must add, my husband who is kind in all matters, gets decidedly grumpy with my tendency to overpack....

Plenty of online shopping venues, from venerable companies like LL Bean and Land's End to various sellers on eBay (be sure to check their feedback). Get your silk undies, polarfleece gloves, etc. in advance.

As an eBay seller, I once sold a pair of snow pants, that my kids had already worn for two years, to a famliy from Florida that was going on a one-week ski vacation. At the $10 sale price, we were both pleased with the deal!