The Packing List: En Route to the Iberian Peninsula
I don't know why I do this to myself, but I can't help but think of July 4 as the halfway point of the summer. I mean, I guess if the summer solstice is the halfway point, that happened weeks ago. Or on a rosier note, if you count the summer solstice as the beginning of summer, which I think it technically is (?) then summer has barely gotten started. At any rate, I dread summer ending, and after July 4, it always seems to just slip away.
Which I think is part of the reason Jen and I started planning fall trips to begin with -- to help ease the pain of summer coming to a close and knowing that, inevitably...
Bastard. What does he know?
Jen and I started to discuss destinations for our next trip back when the East Coast was a shit storm of neverending ice storms and black snow. (BY THE WAY, I heard on NPR the other day that there is still snow in Boston that hasn't melted. It's official -- I will NEVER live there.) We knew we'd be going in October, so our first choice, Thailand, was out since October is monsoon season. Whomp whomp. We discussed some others -- Scandinavia? Germany? All great options, but when faced with the prospect of more gray days, we just couldn't.
Then I remembered a colleague telling me about Lisbon, and I threw that into the mix. Jen did some research, came up with 70-degree weather and pictures of killer-looking beaches, and we were set. Ten days in Lisbon and Barcelona will be like having a second dose of the glorious five-minute spring Baltimore gets before it turns into one giant swamp ass.
So now that I'm (sadly) on the other side of July 4, I'm starting to look forward to this trip (not to mention I need a vacation like RULL bad). Jen and I will do real Packing List posts later when we get closer to October, but the Nordstrom fall preview anniversary sale (that I ravaged with my early access) this weekend inspired me to start thinking about what I will wear on the plane.
We're flying United there and back, and you KNOW how I feel about domestic airlines. So in anticipation of scratchy seats, zero leg room, piss-poor entertainment, and rude airline attendants, comfort is a must. And in that vein, as I always preach, layers are paramount. So here it is:
- Black felt hat: Alright, so planning on wearing this hat for travel is like a win-win-win. For one thing, it doesn't matter what I do with my hair -- put it up, leave it down, curl it, straighten it -- fuck, I could shave my head and I guarantee you, it will look 10 times worse when I deboard the plane after an overseas flight. Stick a hat on my head, and you won't see my hair in all its jewfro glory. Secondly, I feel that my opportunities to wear this magical piece of goodness will be slim in Baltimore, fashion capital that it is. And finally, I can pretend I am some VIP with my shades and my hat, trying to avoid the paparazzi or something (I'm sure I'll have everyone fooled when I hit security, too).
- Lightweight poncho: Oh god, I'm obsessed with this thing. It's so soft, and it's neutral so it goes with everything (I say that like the rest of my wardrobe isn't also all black, white, and gray). The pattern will make the rest of my outfit less boring, and this will probably be preferable to whatever United tries to pass off as a blanket for wrapping myself in.
- Boots: I have a confession to make: I buy a new pair of boots at the Nordstrom anniversary sale every year. But to be honest, #sorrynotsorry. I'm stoked to wear these. The maple color I chose will go with everything, and they're super cushy inside. If all goes according to plan, I won't end up hobbling around with tendinitis like I did in the U.K. last year.
- Lightweight trench: If I'm being honest with myself, I am not even sure it will be weather-appropriate to bring boots or a jacket with me to Portugal and Spain, but this one is super lightweight -- like it feels like it is made out of the same material a blouse might be made out of. So if it does get chilly over there, I'll be set. Plus, like the poncho, it is also very soft, and I am a whore for soft things. Truthfully, it probably won't fit very well OVER the poncho, but when you're packing light, you gotta do what you gotta do. And obviously I want to wear everything I bought this weekend.
- Plain white tee: I'm more or less resigned to the fact that for as cold as I'll be on the plane, I will be schvitzing working my way through various airports. So it's best to not wear a shirt that shows sweat, just sayin'.
- Jeans: OK, I've extolled the virtues of leggings for plane time in many a post (i.e., elastic waistband means no unbuttoning of the pants), but these particular jeans are so lovely and SOFT and stretchy, that they may as well be jeggings. Besides, the wash is perfect, so this year I may GO CRAZY and wear jeans en route.
- Sunglasses: If Madrid is anything like Dublin, I will be hungover on the return to the States and will have to hide as much of my monstrous, unfit-for-public face as possible from my poor, innocent, co-passengers (who had BETTER keep their screaming children in check, or the sunglasses are coming OFF).
- Necklace: You know, something simple just to tie it all together. :)
Tenha um bom dia!
-Staci
