One-bag living
The stuff helping me survive a sublet
I love the idea of one-bag travel. Packing light, optimizing for utility and versatility over variety—reaching for a few hard-wearing items that can be used in multiple situations.
What I don’t think I love? One-bag living. (Ok, it’s two bags but one sounds better and better conveys my angst.)
Since I was a kid, I’ve kept a pretty well-stocked closet, to put it mildly. In high school, all of my hard-earned burger-flippin’ money (“hard earned” is a stretch but you get it) went to the only cool clothing store in town. I would get my check and go straight to the bustling, thriving Downtown Chico to spend my $$$ on Obey t-shirts, cardigan sweaters, and every color of Vans Authentics (back when they were only $40, damn, the good ol’ days). And that was just the start of my addiction. This pattern has ebbed and flowed over the years, but I’m still someone who values style above many other things. (Read: I still spend all my money on stuff).
So when I left for my sublease in NYC last month, I had to make what, for me, is a shit decision: What can I fit into two huge suitcases? I wasn’t going to drop $500 on additional luggage. What I could fit into my Delta-mandated check baggage was all I got in arguably the most brutal time for dressing in New York.
But I did it. And I’m in agony every day. But there’s also something pretty special about having a few staples that I can throw on every day with no thought. It’s not uniform dressing, but it is utility dressing, and I kind of like that. Over the years I’ve gotten better at “buy once, cry once” instead of impulse buying cheap fixes that I won’t like, but living in March in BK with just two suitcases worth of stuff is forcing me to adapt my thinking even further.
I’m not going to line-item my way through the closet for you guys, but I want to make note of a few things that are making it a bit easier for me to adjust to living with 1/8th of what I’m used to having at my disposal.
Brut Beiring Jacket
I wanted a Carhartt Detroit jacket, but as is my wont, I couldn’t bear having exactly what every other dude on Bedford Ave was wearing, so I bought this jacket from Paris-based Brut. It only looks sort of exactly like a Carhartt (I see the irony, ok). I first eyed it at their store in Paris last summer and decided to buy it when they dropped the price by $100 for Black Friday.
Anyway, I have been loving this jacket. It’s warm (enough) for most of the shit days we’ve had this March; it is just roomy enough to layer a sweater or a hoodie underneath; and it works great over a t-shirt, as well…not that I’ve really had the opportunity to rock just two layers yet. And I sprayed some Byredo on it at the Williamsburg store a couple of weeks ago and it the scent is still lingering…in a good way. This is the garment I’ve worn the most since I got here.
Snow Peak Recycled Wool Boa Pullover
Another workhorse is this half zip from Snow Peak. It is warm, has a perfectly boxy fit that easily slides on over a t-shirt or a button-down, and is still fitted enough to find a home under a jacket (which happens a lot these days).
The wool content isn’t quite as high as I’d like (58% wool/24% poly/18% nylon), but I’m not a hero. The poly and nylon add durability I appreciate, especially when my closet is running on fumes. I’m a Snow Peak apologist, and this is one of the best pieces of apparel I’ve ever had from them. I will not be putting it away any time soon.
Paraboot Montana
Finally, these stompers from Paraboot. This is technically cheating, because I bought these once I got here, but I realized I desperately needed a springproof shoe for the muck, so I bought once and cried once (these are the most expensive shoes I’ve ever bought). And I’m excited about them, so you’re hearing about them.
They felt impeccable right out of the box, and if I did my research right (I did), they’re going to last my entire life, making that sticker shock a bit easier to stomach. If you see me at any point in the next few months, I’ll be wearing these.
Ok, I could probably go on, but I’ll end it there for today. I just got a new Coros Pace 4 for testing, so that might be next week’s subject. I’m a Garmin hardo, so we’ll see how this new ecosystem suits me (or doesn’t).
Tunes for ya:
See you next week friends.