“Silk is a winner”: Australian vintage collector Grace Corby shares her top packing tips
WORDS BY GRACE CORBY
Maximising suitcase potential without sacrificing personality.
As an amateur traveller and a professional vintage lover, I travel to expand both myself and my vintage collection. In 2010 at 20 years old, I embarked on a three-month trip to Europe with a suitcase that weighed in at 30kgs. I learnt within the first few seconds of landing in London that this was a terrible error resulting in fights with my partner and embarrassment on trains with limited luggage storage.
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Eventually, I copped a buckled wheel, a new suitcase and a $500 shipment of personal items back to Australia to lighten the load. I’ve gleaned valuable packing insights throughout my many trips since and I’m currently on a nine-week trip and my starting suitcase weight was 10kg. Here are my top tips.
Everyone must be friends
Think of it like building a capsule wardrobe (quite literally, as a suitcase is a kind of capsule). You don’t have to have it all worked out before you go, but I like to ensure everything I’m taking can be worn with everything else.
This will give you maximum combinations/options even if you’re packing very light. If there is one red top that matches only one pair of pants, it should stay behind. Everyone must get along.
There should only be one of everything
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Two light skirts? I don’t think so. Three black dresses? Choose one! Ask yourself, “Is this item doing the same thing as this other item?” and then pack the superior, more versatile version, the version that can transition from day to night or work for multiple activities. Maybe the lighter-weight version or the less crinkle-prone one.
Prioritise pieces with possibilities
It’s fun to pack experimental pieces like skirts that can be worn as dresses, dresses that wear well over pants and silk scarves that can be worn as tops, bandanas and belts. Limited choice stimulates creativity and you’ll be amazed at what you come up with to avoid outfit boredom.
Silk is a winner
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Lush, breathable and lightweight; a single cotton T-shirt takes up as much space as three silk pieces. The crinkles? My textile-expert friend Leisa taught me to hang pieces near the shower to steam them and you can also lightly spritz silk with water and it will dry without creases.
Art Garments Shorts
I say this without a hint of self-interest, these shorts I sell at my online store Art Garments are a pure necessity. They’re a travel gem I’ve taken overseas on my last 10 trips and have worn constantly. They can be worn with crops, oversized shirts, tees, sweaters and vests. They’re comfortable for transit, walking and even sleeping. And yes, I’m wearing them right now.
Get inventive with accessories
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Accessories may seem fiddly but they don’t take up much room and they can add a new spin to a repeated look. The same dress can be refreshed with a new scarf, little belt or necklace. I often like to grab trinkets along the way to help with this aspect. Give yourself a small container segment of your bag and fill it with your favourites.
You need one failsafe look that makes you feel fabulous
Last year for me it was a reversible silk wrap dress, black on one side, sage on the other. It was minimal but always made me feel put together and I could wear it to the beach or dinner when I didn’t want to give it too much thought.
Remove 30 per cent
This old chestnut. Pack and leave 30 per cent behind, maybe 20 per cent. I struggle with this myself but there are always at least five things in my suitcase I never wear, even after my painstaking selection process. The trick is selecting the weaklings. I think it’s much better to under-pack than to over-pack.
It’s torturous to lug too much weight and also heartbreaking to go to a Spanish flea market and not be able to get anything because your suitcase is overflowing already. I channel this when culling. I promise you’ll find things along the way and you’ll want the space.
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