Loyal TMTM followers (and personal friends) know that I will be studying abroad in London in just a couple days! And, in classic ESM fashion, I have been planning my packing list for about 4 months.

Despite the typical over-planning, I’m starting to freak out a little bit. For some reason, the fact that I will be in another country for the first time in less than 72 hours … hasn’t hit me quite yet.

Anyways, I’m going to post all about my travels in London both here and on the AIFS blog. As my official first post in my London series, I will be writing about how I’m packing my luggage.

I will be facing a few ~challenges~ as I begin to pack: 1. I have too many clothes and 2. I’ve never left the U.S. before. That said, I do hope the fact that I konmari-ed my room earlier this Summer will help lighten the load.

I guess I should call this: How to Pack for Three Weeks in London in Late Summer As a First-Time Traveler with a Tendency for Overpacking. Hopefully it helps.

Packing List: Clothes

1. Underclothing

• Underwear: pack ~10 (will wash in the dorm)
• Bras: pack one of each (wire, bralette, sports bra)
• Socks: pack ~7 (ankle, athletic, boot)
• Swimsuit: pack 1 (just in case you wanna take a day trip to the rocky beaches of London!)

2. Tops

• Long sleeve tops: pack ~3 (good to pull out on a chilly/overcast day)
• Tanks: pack ~8 (perfect for layering under cardigans or jackets, or by themselves for a hot day)
• Short sleeve tops: pack ~5 (the perfect medium)
• T-shirts: pack ~2 (for sleep)

3. Bottoms

• Pants: pack ~4 (jeans are a perfect basic to pull out in any weather, also perfect to wear with heels for a night out)
• Shorts: pack ~3 (these will be worn less, but may be necessary depending on the weather)
• Skirts: pack ~3 (for a dressier day out on the town, also perfect for a night out)
• Athletic shorts: pack 1 (for sleep)
• Leggings: pack 2 (for working out, lounging in the dorm)

4. Outerwear

• Cardigans: pack 1 (for layering)
• Sweaters: pack 1 (for a chilly day)
• Jackets: pack ~3 (denim, leather, army)
• Trenchcoat: pack 1 (for layering, rainy days)

5. Shoes

• Chelsea rain boots (for rainy days)
• Heeled boots (for nights out)
• Heeled espadrilles (for dressy days on the town)
• Flip flops (for lounging around, shower)
• Athletic sneakers (for working out, long walks on the town)

6. Accessories

• Light scarf for layering
• Belts
• Crossbody purse

Packing List: Toiletries

• Shampoo, Conditioner
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste
• Body wash, face wash
• Deodorant
• Pads, Tampons
• Contact Lenses, Solution
• Glasses, Case
• Hairbrush
• Razor
• Nail polish, nail file
• Tweezers
• Makeup
• Sunscreen

Packing List: Miscellaneous

• Backpack
• Phone charger
• Laptop, Charger
• Headphones, Charger
• Phone, Charger
• Umbrella
• Plug Converter

What’s in my Carry-On?

• Passport, required documentation
• Small notebook, pen
• Gum
• Contact case, solution
• Lip balm 
• Nail file
• Glasses, glasses case
• Phone charger
• AirPods, charger
• Laptop, charger
• Speaker, charger
• Fitbit, charger
• Deodorant
• Roller perfume
• Tooth brush, toothpaste
• Dry shampoo
• Tampons, liners
• Wet ones
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide stick

Tips

1. Plan outfits ahead of time, trying to reuse as many pieces as possible. This will help keep the overall amount of clothing you pack to a minimum.
2. Leave some space for things you purchase abroad. Harrods, here I come!
3. Bring staple layering pieces, which you can throw into a backpack while you’re out on the town. London climate can be pretty temperamental.
4. Use a carry-on bag that can double as a backpack for classes. The Fjallraven Kanken is super popular in London and is the perfect size.
5. Dress for style. Londoners are a stylish bunch, so you’ll definitely stick out from the crowd wearing a sweatsuit…unless it’s Gucci or something.
6. Dress for comfort. While it’s very important to look the part, you also don’t want to be uncomfortable or in pain when you’re out seeing the sights of London.
7. Wear rain boots that don’t look like rain boots, so you can wear them 24/7 and still be stylish. The Chelsea boot from J. Crew is a perfect shoe for this.

Stay tuned for a fashion update, including: how successful my packing was, what I decide to splurge on at Harrod’s, and the Summer styles I spot on the streets of London.

And until then… Pip pip! Cheerio! See ya in London! xoxo, ESM.