In the days leading up to my trip to Denver, I put a call out on Instagram for cold-weather dressing tips because the forecast looked bleak. You guys really pulled through and I was prepared with my warmest clothes.
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Thankfully things shifted and Michael and I didn’t end up facing below-freezing temps, which is good, because a) I really don’t love being cold, and b) we were flying Frontier and sharing a carry-on suitcase to save on added fees, and cold weather clothing gets bulky, fast.
Our itinerary was pretty low-key – we spent most of our time walking, eating, and hanging out, with one nicer dinner for Thanksgiving. Here’s what I packed in my half of the suitcase for three chilly, but not miserably cold, nights in Denver:
EVERYTHING I PACKED FOR DENVER
WHY I PACKED THESE ITEMS
Tops
Oversized Alpaca Crew | This is the newest sweater in my wardrobe, and it’s also my warmest. It’s almost magically lightweight, but things can get really toasty underneath when it’s combined with a baselayer (if worn alone, the wind cuts through the weaving and it’s not nearly as warm).
Cashmere Mockneck | I was surprised to discover that I’ve only owned this sweater for a year, as I’ve gotten so many wears out of it already. It’s warm, soft, and I love the cropped length with high-rise jeans and over dresses.
Chunky Cotton Sweater* | I purchased this sweater on a whim before we visited Montreal last year; cotton isn’t the warmest sweater material, but this one is roomy enough to layer woolens underneath.
Long Sleeve Crew* | This simple tee rounds out a very dark, solid palette. It’s quite thin but the fit is fantastic; I’m not sure how many seasons it will last, however.
Bottoms
High Rise Skinny Jeans | These are the jeans I’ve been searching for all my life: black as night and cut seemingly precisely for my body. A touch of stretch keeps them comfortable enough to sit on the four-hour plane ride home (plus the two-hour drive back after landing).
Work Pant | I never thought I’d buy these pants, let alone love them. All of my life I’ve tried to dress in a way that removes emphasis on my hips, but that’s exactly where the pockets on these pants draw the eye. These days I’m less worried about what other people think is flattering, and more focused on wearing what makes me feel good (besides, these pants are hella-practical).
Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
Coats
Down Jacket | At one point I said I’d never wear a puffy jacket and now I own two. This jacket is packable, but I find it’s easiest to just wear it on the plane underneath any other coats.
Wool Coat* | This was a thrift-find that I’m happy to own now that I’ve had it altered. I appreciate that it’s long enough to cover my butt, but isn’t too long.
Dresses
Tank Wrap Dress | At the moment I don’t own a long-sleeve dress, so I grabbed this one instead. It’s cut a little funny (and really, I need to take it to the tailor) but I feel quite good in it for nicer dinners out or chill days.
Pajamas
Long-Sleeve Striped Tee* | This tee is very unexciting, but it has that old, worn-in feel that I love to sleep in.
Leggings | You’ll always find that I pack pajamas that can be worn alone, after enduring several late-night hotel fire alarms.
Innerwear
Merino Tee* | I purchased this tee and the long-sleeve merino tee to wear as outer layers, but they are way too sheer. It’s alright, though, as merino makes a great base layer.
Merino Long-Sleeve Tee* | I hate the feeling of pulling a sweater over a long-sleeve tee, but my long-sleeve merino tee has thumbholes, eliminating that awkward bunching.
Heattech Long-Sleeve Tee | I want to move away from buying synthetic base layers, but for now this is my sole black base layer.
Tights | I love that this brand is dedicated to creating tights out of recycled materials (and continuing to close the loop by recycling spent tights from any brand).
Shoes
Gumsole Sneakers* | The weather wasn’t cold enough to warrant bringing two pairs of boots, so I slipped my sneakers into my bag as well. I could have gotten away with just one pair of shoes I think, but I like alternating footwear to give my feet a break.
Waterproof Bootie* | These boots are easy to dress up or down, and most importantly, they’re waterproof.
Accessories & Tech
Sunglasses | It’s hard to beat these classic, goes-anywhere pair of sunnies.
Folding Tote | Frontier allows for a free “personal item” and I packed my tote with my crossbody bag, tech items, and liquids.
Camera | This was our third getaway using this camera, and the quality is really so much better than our cell phones.
Mini Tablet & Keyboard Case | I like to pack my Kindle app full of books from my library and Netflix downloads, and the keyboard made it much easier to publish my cyber deals post.
Crossbody Pouch* | This simple crossbody bag slides right into my Longchamp tote to avoid being told by crew members that I am carrying too many bags.
*Item is no longer available, and I've linked a similar product
FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR DENVER
Living in a warm climate provides challenges when traveling to colder destinations, but each time we travel we get a little better at it. It has its perks, though – I can often get more wears between washings, and usually just need one or two pairs of pants that go with everything. It always feels like an extra-special treat to travel to somewhere so vastly different from where we live.
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Do you prefer to travel to climates that are colder or warmer?
I bought the same exact camera last March and I LOVE it! It’s so packable and easy to carry around. And it works nicely if you prefer to shoot in manual too.
That little camera is way more powerful than it appears (and it’s funny – we are often stopped by strangers asking if it’s a film camera!), and the ability to transfer photos wirelessly without data/wifi is so handy when traveling abroad. I can’t recommend it enough!