Traveling in between seasons

The worst thing about traveling is doing it in between seasons. Namely, in between autumn and winter seasons.

One part of the world might be quite warm and tropical (Singapore), but farther up north, it’s freezing (Shanghai!).

Or if you’re in between seasons in the same country, like traveling from New York City in the middle of the first snows to Houston, where they don’t get any snow.

How do you manage to dress appropriately when you’re in ballet flats in one city, but in heavy snow boots in the other?

The trick is to try and find items that can do double-duty in both. My weapons of choice are to wear something light underneath a wool jacket with knee-high boots, and just add layers when I land.

I might start off in something like this:

• Skinny Jeans
• Knee-high Boots
• Wool Coat
• Light Top (sometimes it gets really warm in airports, then super cold; layers are important)
• (I always pack a pashmina shawl for the plane, but I am also comfy wearing the wool coat)

When I am on the plane, I am comfortable (for the most part, I find ballet flats more comfortable because you don’t have a pair of boots around your legs), and I can layer if I need to.

When I step off the plane, I will add these layers:

• Chunky cowl scarf
• Sweater

There! Warm but not sweaty.

The only real problem is going from summer to winter (like Singapore to Toronto in the middle of December).

The key is then to wear this on the plane:

• Tank Top
• Skinny Jeans
• Ballet Flats
• Packed: Sweater

Then packed into your carry-on or suitcase, you will have these items:

• Winter Boots — swap out the ballet flats for the boots
• Winter Jacket
• Cowl Scarf

The problem is carrying all of this stuff back and forth, but then my only other advice is: don’t travel to such differing climates 😛