Unpacking after an overseas trip serves as an informal inventory of new acquisitions, smuggled cigars and wrinkled bad decisions. You nearly always realize you needed far, far less than you brought. That’s alright, overpacking speaks to our hope of possibility—there might be an occasion where it turns out you need something formal, something celebratory, or at least something waterproof. The last minute invitation usually never materializes and if it rains then borrow an umbrella from the hotel. 

Looking back through my duffel bag after some time in France reminded me that even a serial under-packer like myself can get caught up in the moment. There were a few flourishes that were just worn once or twice. And really I consider anything not worn repeatedly to be unnecessary. The packing line is drawn between dreams and reality, between what you hope you’ll need and the way you actually live. 

All of which is to say, get a casual suit. Then 90% of your packing issues are solved. In France I wore beloved Irish linen suit made by my friend J. Mueser. It’s sort of a drab olive, not exactly romantic. But it plays well with a blue shirt and a brown knit tie at a nice restaurant or with a Lacoste shirt on a long train ride. It’s wrinkled enough to have its own well-worn patina. I love this suit. 

Part of loving it is realizing that it resolves most of my decision making, since it goes with every shirt I own. It’s also a reminder that the light packer can change the feeling of a suit with accents—a tie, a pocket square, a scarf (in winter)—if you want to breathe a little fresh air into the proceedings. 

I’m always surprised when people pack as if they can’t buy anything on their trip. If you’re feeling under-dressed then you deserve a trip to Charvet to acquire a new pocket square, to Lacoste for a new polo, to any place that sells espadrilles. If you’re not ready to go down the suit path then a cotton or linen sport coat and chinos of a similar tone make a nice summer equation, maybe with an Alden loafer. 

I have to say the sartorial state in France was fairly underwhelming. I realize that many Parisians had left town for their vacations and the city was dense with tourists. These visitors looked less like they were heading the Louvre and more like they were heading to the gym. 

That’s the modern world, alas. Which is another reason to set the bar a little higher and stay above the fray. A sport coat and an Oxford shirt is not too much to ask. You can dress well to pay homage to the world’s most civilized city, you can dress well to show respect to the people around you. If that sounds too high minded then just do it for yourself.