[Podcast: Episode 3] The Planepack Essential Travel Packing List

Where I describe my essential wardrobe for a three-week holiday. This is my tried and tested list that I've used for the past four light travel, long haul trips. I've travelled with carry on luggage only - that weighs under 7 kgs. You can do it!

How I travel: one carry on bag for clothes and cosmetics + one handbag.

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Hello welcome to another episode of Plane Pack. Today I’m going to talk about what you need to pack with you when you travel. Most of my friends always say “What do I need to carry with me?” So today I’m going to talk about my essential wardrobe which is enough I think to keep you comfortable and stylish for about three weeks or more.

And when I talk about the colours when I use the term neutral I refer to your preferred natural colour. As I’m a winter - remember the colour style file I’ll talk about that in another episode - my preferred neutral colour is black or grey. Yours may be a different colour depending on what your colour preferences are. What’s important is to ensure that every item you pack works with every other item. By that I mean that all your tops should just as easily be worn with your skirt, your shorts or your pants. And your jacket and wrap should be interchangeable with any of your tops and match in style to your bottoms. I learnt a long time ago to wear a maximum of two colours. So my travel wardrobe is constrained. My two colours are usually black and grey. And I add a few brightly coloured tops to enhance these.  

So this is the Planepack packing list for three weeks away.  

Let’s start off with some foundation garments. I take along two bras - one black and one tan or flesh coloured. I take along five pairs of black knickers. And I take two or three pairs of socks and they match in colour to my comfortable shoes.  

I take one pair of dressy sandals which might be flat or with a slight heel. And one pair of thongs for the beach. I take along one pair of very comfortable shoes that I love. And remember you’ll be wearing them nearly every day so make sure they are just right. Wear them in before you travel.

I take one pair of crease proof black or another dark colour pull on jersey fabric slacks. And I like one pair of comfortable shorts in a neutral colour preferably without some pockets. I like the shorts that are just above the knee, a bit like cycle shorts.  

I take along one easy pull on skirt in a neutral colour and one soft t-shirt in a neutral colour. I like to add a bit of colour and pattern by taking along three - that’s only three - t-shirts or smoothing tops or whatever you like to wear which can add that extra pop of colour to your neutral shades.  

I take one long sleeve wrap in a neutral colour. And I take one pair of leggings in a neutral colour. And leggings are usually what I wear on the plane.  

I take along an unstructured jacket in a neutral colour which I wear on the plane. And I take along one crease proof evening top whatever suits you to go with those slacks.

And to dress everything up I take along what I call a killer necklace - something that’s got that va va voom look about it which you can take out in the evenings. I don’t usually wear that during the day. I do however take along an everyday necklace which I wear on the plane.  And I take along one pair of earrings and I don’t wear them on the plane because they make wearing my headphones uncomfortable.  

I take one ring which I wear on the plane and that’s apart from my wedding ring. I take along one silk scarf which I wear on the plane. I take along one bathing costume which could be a two piece. And I take one beach sarong which is quite nice because I can dress it up as well and make … turn it into a skirt if I need too. It’s a very lightweight fabric so it dries easily. I take one night dress which is usually just a thin strapped nightgown - sorry nightdress. And I take one soft robe which I can easily fold up. And that’s about it. So that’s my travel wardrobe for three weeks.  

And when it comes to cosmetics it’s essential that you travel with only a hundred ml containers.  But I’ll talk about what I take in my cosmetics bag in another episode.  

So this was just a brief overview of what is Bobby’s Planepack packing list for three weeks away.

Thanks very much.  See you next time.

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