Long Term Travel: Essentials from H&M

If you have been following my journey on Wander Before What since the beginning, you would remember that packing is not my forte.

Although I have improved on my packing skills over the years (I can now do three weeks in the Caribbean with just a carry-on), the thought of packing for six months of travel over three different seasons was daunting.

But now that we are coming up on the end of this journey and I look into my suitcase… I think I nailed it! I’ve had a few people ask me what I bought and what I brought.

 

I have worn every single article of clothing I packed, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of trying to make them look “new” or “fresh”, after being crammed in my suitcase for six months and being worn on repeat.

On this trip, I have learned that the key to packing long-term is neutral pieces that can be reworked using accessories and your imagination. For me, there is no better place to find your travelling basics than H&M.

Here are my three great H&M buys for travelling: 

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Blouse

This blouse has been one of my best friends of the trip. By far one of the most versatile pieces in my suitcase, it has transitioned smoothly from winter in Canada to cool summer nights in Paris. For the colder months, I usually paired it with my skinny jeans, ankle boots and a delicate necklace, whereas lately I have been wearing it with my high-waisted skirt and tying it in front.

The blouse is 100% polyester which has resulted in the blouse maintaining its colour, and wrinkle-free despite often being found in the deep recesses of my suitcase.

Check out a similar blouse here. It’s a must have.

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Maxi Dress

What’s summer without a maxi dress – especially one in your favourite colour?! I absolutely love my simple, sleeveless, royal blue maxi dress and if you follow me on Instagram, you would already know that it makes regular appearances. It has been the perfect travel companion because I can dress it down wearing nothing more than flip-flops, or dress it up by putting on a statement necklace and embellished sandals. The colour also has allowed for some great pictures against the Sahara desert and white walls of Santorini.

Wherever you are travelling this summer, a maxi dress is a must!

Find a similar maxi dress to mine here and here.

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Skater Dress

Talk about the perfect LBD (little black dress) for travelling! For the past few weeks this dress has been on repeat. It’s made from a cotton, polyester and elastane mix; meaning it has a little stretch (perfect after a month of indulging in Italy) and it is relatively wrinkle-free. The scooped neck and bell-shape would be flattering on any figure, and it can transition from a beach cover-up, to a night out with the addition of a just a few accessories.

Also, it’s cheap! At $14.99 I have definitely got my money’s worth out of this LBD.

Similar pieces can be found here and here.

This post was not sponsored by H&M. All opinions are my own.

What are your essential travel pieces?

 

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8 Comments

    • wanderbeforewhat
      Author
      July 13, 2015 / 10:15 am

      Thanks Vanessa! These easy, inexpensive finds made packing for long term a little less painful.
      ~Sarah

    • wanderbeforewhat
      Author
      July 13, 2015 / 10:16 am

      Carly,
      It’s all about the flexible pieces that can be used in more than one style. Also, things that aren’t so expensive you’d cry if they were lost 🙂
      ~Sarah

  1. July 13, 2015 / 11:03 am

    Oh dear I don’t have any of these things with me. I carried a maxi dress for about three months and found that it was just too impractical to wear. I was either too hot or too active to be wearing it. Think I’m more of a shorts and hareem pants kind of girl!

    • wanderbeforewhat
      Author
      July 13, 2015 / 2:20 pm

      Hi Vicky! Thanks for the comment.
      After so many people asked me how to pack for such a long trip, this was my attempt at three things that would transform easily into more than one outfit. I’m still working on the formula! 🙂
      ~Sarah

    • wanderbeforewhat
      Author
      July 14, 2015 / 4:34 pm

      Hi Kristy!
      Thanks very much. That dress has been a godsend for someone who needs to make it look new every week. Thanks for following along!
      ~Sarah

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