Clothes Packing

Here are the clothes I am packing! I tried to choose pieces that could mix and match.

My advice on packing, from previous experience!

When you only have so much room in a suitcase, it's important to pick things that can create multiple outfits. HOWEVER they still can't be too plain, or you will hate them after a few months. I learned that one the hard way on my Spain study abroad. I chose things that mixed and matched too well, very basic shirts and pants. Nothing ever clashed, so anything could go together, but I got so sick of them after my 2 months in Spain (even with mix and match scarves!) that I wanted to burn them when I came home. Seriously.
So when I went to Europe this summer for a month with my family, I chose to pack things that could have a few possibilities but still had some personality. I was WAY happier with that packing strategy.

SO pick shirts and skirts that you love, or you'll end up hating them. Make sure they can go with like at least 3 things though.

I've also put some other miscellaneous packing advice/wisdom at the bottom. As I think of other advice I'll add it onto there.

Love these tops. They can mix and match but still got style.

The striped shirt is SO good for being able to pair with lots of things, the shade shirt is for going under the lace-y one below.

It looks pink in that picture but that top is red. 

Dresses can be paired with various accessories and/or blazers/cardigans.

The patterns in these skirts keep things interesting.

The leftmost skirt here and the black and red ones below don't clash with very many things, but need a top with a little style (not solid color).

Again, the red turned out pink!

The crochet black skirt is my favorite one I think!

I love these blazers and the patterns are way fun.

By the way, most everything you see here came from: thrift stores (I have a deep and abiding love for them), Mikarose, and the Sister Missionary Mall.

Solid-color blazers

Coats for cold times!
UPDATE: Leather jackets are not allowed, so nix that!

Shoes shoes shoes

Here are just a few outfits that I could make from what I have. But seriously the possibilities are pretty much endless!

This striped T-shirt and black skirt combo has basically infinite possibilities. You can pair it with just about any blazer/cardigan/necklace/whatever.

Other miscellaneous packing tips:

• Make sure to pack aerosol cans, shampoo bottles, face wash bottles, basically anything that could potentially explode all over your stuff into ziplock bags. The change in pressure in the flight could cause your shampoo bottle to explode all over your other toiletries, causing you to taste shampoo every time you brush your teeth for the next while. Don't ask me how I know that. Plus, then you'll have ziplock bags when you need them on your mish for whatever reason!
• Try to pack light. You'll thank yourself later. 
• However, if there's something that you know would be really useful, or that you'll really be missing, just take it. For example my electric toothbrush and charger definitely take up a lot more space than just a plain toothbrush, but it's worth it to me. What's worth it to you may be different. A jar of peanut butter, a favorite coat, a beloved blanket. If you need it, you need it. 
• Not so much packing, but as far as debit cards go: You can open a checking account with Charles Schwab for free, with no monthly service fee, and they will refund you the ATM fee from any ATM in the world. Normally when you withdraw from an ATM that's not associated with your bank, there's charges. But Schwab will refund you for those. There's also no fees for foreign transactions.  Click here to check it out. My family used this for like everything during our month in Europe.
• Bring a comfort item. Something that you can come home to after a long day. For me it's my PJ pants. Maybe it's a stuffed animal, or fave slippers, or tshirt, or picture of your family.
• The folding vs rolling controversy: I'm on "Team Fold your Clothes" for sure. Rolling gave my shirts weirdo wrinkles and I just think folding takes up less space. But maybe it's different for you.
• US sisters going foreign: Instead of taking a transformer, just get dual voltage things. In case you haven't yet heard, in the US we use 110v and many other countries use 220v. That means that many things need an electricity transformer, not just a plug adapter. Try to get straighteners, irons, etc. that are dual voltage or say 110-220v so you don't have to bring a heavy transformer. I've heard of people who tried to use a transformer and it still shorted their favorite straightener abroad.