How to... - pack for a long trip to Asia, part 2

Now I want to focus on a few mistakes I've made while packing. You can't avoid those mistakes and you have to learn from them (and I actually want you to learn from my mistakes, because this way you'll be able to avoid some of them).

1. Less dresses, more separates

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you've noticed that I'm a hopeless dress girl. Honestly, when I'm at home in Kyiv, where I have a huge wardrobe and many things to choose from, I always choose dresses. But while you're living out of your suitcase and have very limited space and budget to add to your travel wardrobe, I'd suggest you leave your dresses behind. You can take one amazing dress that can save you on a date night or some other occasion, but other dresses should stay at home.

I'm actually thinking about mailing two out of three dresses I've brought with me home, because I simply never wear them. I'd be much happy if I packed more shorts and skirts.

2. Versatility is the key

If you've read my previous post on packing for a long trip to Asia, you noticed that I've brought only two skirts. I regret packing that black floral skirt every single day. I'm be much more happy if it stayed at home and I'd packed something more casual and versatile instead. I should've just pack that white and purple skirt (this one is perfect and usually saves me when I have a date of a holiday to go to) and something grey or black. This Isabel Marant skirt would've been PERFECT:

Bohemian Chic also wore in on her trip around Asia)

For now I'm just thinking about trying out this tutorial and making a wrap skirt out of a piece of jersy.

3. Be practical

Don't pack any clothes that doesn't fit. I've made a mistake of taking a pair of shorts that were quite roomy, and as a result they fall off me after two weeks. I also know a few people who packed lots of items that were too small in hope to lose weight here, and ended up buying almost an entire wardrobe instead because they had nothing to wear. So know your size and be practical. You probably will lose some weight here due to much healthier living, but still it's better to pack for your current size and shape.

These probably are the best advices I can give you right now. I also thought that I should say something about evening clothes - I haven't worn any of my evening tops or my wedge shoes. But I'm planning on spending almost a month in Bangkok, so I may still wear them after all)

Stay tuned for the part 3 - the essentials you can buy on arrival)

How to... - pack for a long trip to Asia, part 1

Living out of your suitcase for a few month can be really hard. You can found out that all of the things you've packed are mismatched or that you're wearing few of the same things and everything else is just sitting in the closet.

I've successfully avoided this situation by carefull planning and packing simple basic things. Surelly I've brought a few pieces I haven't even worn once these past 2.5 month, but mostly I'm pretty impressed by my wardrobe choises. I'm usually much worse in this))

The key is dressing simple - me and my friend Laura at our favorite reggae bar.

So, here's what I packed:

Sister's dress, Vero moda (via Asos) stripped dress, H&M thrifted tea-dress

Two pairs of navy shorts (both two big on me now, so I had to buy a new pair), two thrifted floral skirts - one is more casual, the other one is a bit dressier), a pair of thrifted blue jeans 

Two t-shirts - self-made stripped t-shirt with zipper shoulders, Topshop button-shoulder grey t-shirt, 

Two long-sleeve shirts - H&M thifted floral shirt, white cotton&lace shirt (borrowed it from my mum, and she bought it at out favorite thrift store)

Two shirts - black thrifted cotton short-sleeve shirt, Topshop plaid shirt, 

Two dressy tops - everything5pounds.com top (my favorite, actually), black H&M top

My trusty Ostin black cardigan (you can see it at tons of my outfit photos), boohoo.com black hoodie (everyone will tell you that you don't need any warm clothes in Asia, but it's not true - if you're travelling, especially by buses and trains, you'll definitelly need a pair of jeans, a pair of warm socks and a hoodie to cover your ears. Trust me, it saved me on the trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and on the trip to Laos), a thrifted H&M military jacket/parka (never worn it here, but the rainy season is right around the corner), a pretty b.p.s. scarf , a practical thrifted belt that saved me when my fhorts started to fall off me)

Shoes - this is where I made a few mistackes. 

1. Blink gladiator sandals - they've saved me through the last three summers, walking around Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but finally died on me a week after my move here. 

2. Blink ballerinas - it appears that I can't wear them in a such a warm climat without getting blisters (though summers in Kyiv are usually super hot too)

3. everything5pounds wedge shoes - never worn them here and I don't think that I will) They are way too dressy plus I love to walk or bike everywhere.

4. New Yorker sneakers - I wore them when I left Kyiv in the cold beginning of spring. But they are too warm for this climat. I want to buy a pair of light canvas sneakers for some hiking trips.

Acessories - I've selected a few pairs of earrings and a few different bracelets (if anyone is interested, I can make a few closer pictures), three pairs of sunglasses, my favorite everything5pounds.com wallet, Asos canvas backpack, my trusty thrifted leather cross-body bag. I've aso packed two canvas tote bags to go to the market (the best decision ever))

I hope this post will be helpfull to those who go to Asia for a longer period of time.
Later I'll make a post on some essentials I've bought when I got to Thailand - mostly simple t-shirts and tank-tops, few dresses, new shoes, a skirt, new shorts, new shoes and Aladdin panth.