Monday 27 August 2012

The Essentials: Packing

There's now less than a week to go until my summer holiday to the South of France and I've got packing on the brain. I'm often guilty of over packing so this year, in a bid to keep it simple, I've turned to Joan Didion for a little inspiration...

To Pack and Wear:
2 skirts
2 jerseys or leotards
1 pullover sweater
2 pair shoes
stockings
bra
nightgown, robe, slippers
cigarettes
bourbon
bag with: shampoo, toothbrush and paste, Basis soap, razor, deodorant, aspirin, prescriptions, Tampax, face cream, powder, baby oil

To Carry:
mohair throw
typewriter
2 legal pads and pens
files
house key

This is a list which was taped inside my closet door in Hollywood during those years when I was reporting more or less steadily. The list enabled me to pack, without thinking, for any piece I was likely to do. Notice the deliberate anonymity of costume: in a skirt, a leotard, and stockings, I could pass on either side of the culture. Notice the mohair throw for trunk-line flights (i.e. no blankets) and for the motel room in which the air conditioning could not be turned off. Notice the bourbon for the same motel room. Notice the typewriter for the airport, coming home: the idea was to turn in the Hertz car, check in, find an empty bench, and start typing the day’s notes.

—Joan Didion, The White Album (1979)

(Image credit)

3 comments:

  1. I'm getting so excited for your trip and this post is brilliant. I LOVE Joan Didion- the woman can do no wrong.

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  2. brilliant - thanks for sharing this gem of a snippet from the inimitable Joan! :)

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  3. Thank you for sharing! I definitely need to copy that list and stick to my wardrobe. :) It needs some personification but still it's perfect!

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