Advice on travel attire and packing

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A reader asked me for some wardrobe advice on what to wear when travelling. I must confess I’m no genius at this: no matter how many times I go away I always get something wrong. I pack with the philosophy to “always take something out” before I close the suitcase. Inevitably, it’s the one thing that I will need the most.

These days, even the best planning is foiled by crazy weather patterns. I was in the Dolomites in June, where some of the Winter Olympics events were held, and I brought a thick jumper, warm pants and extra socks for the expected chill. But this was summer, and it was 38 degrees the entire time and I had to lug those unnecessary, bulky items all over Italy for three weeks. But small disasters aside, I do have some packing rules I strictly follow.

First, I never pack anything I’m not comfortable in at home. I haven’t worn it at home for a reason, and it’s frustrating to be reminded of why when I’m away. I’m not afraid of track pants. They’re great for a long flight as they are comfortable and warm. I have a few variations of elastic-waisted pants I wear depending on the destination. I can use them as exercise clothes when I land.

My advice is not to wear pyjamas on the plane unless you’re five years old or in business class. Or track suits, unless you’re in a team. And keep to natural fibres as much as you can – better for the planet, nicer for you.

My number one essential is a good, warm wrap. Splurge on cashmere if you can. The wrap doubles as a blanket, a pillow, a scarf in cold climates and a shawl in air-conditioning. It covers all the wrinkles and crumbs from the trip and looks more elegant when I arrive at a hotel. Men look good in wraps too.

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If I’m travelling to a cool climate, I find a stylish coat also covers a multitude of sins. You can pretty much wear anything underneath it and look respectable. That even applies to Qantas pyjamas, which I once had to wear due to lost luggage.

Similarly, in spring, I always pack a lightweight navy raincoat I can roll up and tuck out of sight.

I stick to one or two neutral colours so I can mix and match. I’m a black or navy person, because I’m always writing notes with a black felt-tipped pen and inevitably scrawl all over anything that’s white.

If I’m going to a hot climate, I pack five Indian cotton or fine linen dresses that I can wash in my room and hang to dry overnight. They take up almost no room and look dressed up in any hotel lobby or bar. Of course, if you’re male and not inclined towards wearing frocks, the principle still applies – keep it simple and so easy that any piece you pull out in a rush looks fine with any other.

I don’t bring any jewellery I’d hate to lose, and I stick to three pairs of shoes if I can, including the sneakers I wear on the plane. I have found that silk scarves multi-task well. They weigh nothing, dress up a top and offer sun protection. A sarong is helpful in more situations than you would imagine.

Someone once advised me to always bring an evening gown in case I got invited to a ball at the last minute. However unlikely that is, I think the principle of packing one thing that’s dressy enough to carry you through an unexpected party invitation is sound. I also tuck in an extra bag for evenings.

Otherwise, don’t pack anything else “just in case”. The possibilities are endless, and you’ll end up with a bag of clothing you never wear.

One accessory I do bring these days, as I’m more aware of skin cancer, is a broad-brimmed hat that can pack flat, with a magnetic clip that attaches it to my bag.

I make lists sometimes and lay all my clothes on the bed before packing, especially for an unfamiliar destination like remote Greenland, where you just can’t pop out to the shops. And even if there are shops, with our weak Australian dollar it’s not wise to assume, “oh, I’ll buy that when I get there”.

Despite all this preparation, I still forgot to take a warm hoodie when I went on safari in South Africa last year. There are no Uniqlos in the veldt.