The Perfect Shoes and Hat -- Kiki Clark

Even so, Coloradans are determined to get outside whenever we can, which means our closets are full of everything we need to deal with sartorial uncertainty: hats for sun, hats with strings for the notorious Chinook winds, crushable wool hats for snow, light coats, heavy coats, sweaters to go under a light coat when a heavy coat is too much, and every shoe permutation from flip-flops to ski boots. When relatives call and ask what they should pack for a visit, every Coloradan says the same thing. “Layer.”

Having lived here for about 20 years, matching clothes to climate has become a personal challenge – a chance to shout semper paratus (Always Prepared) and laugh at the sky on days of spitting rain and driving winds (though I rarely do that, because I hate having water spots on my glasses).

This summer, my husband and I are going to Greece with other members of our community chorus, which means I must reconcile my tendency to bring something for every contingency with the amount of luggage I want to schlep.

We’ll be cruising through the islands for part of the trip, which means dressy sandals are a must. But dressy sandals aren’t good for long days of sightseeing, and tennis shoes aren’t good when your sightseeing ends at the beach, and flip flops don’t have enough arch support for the walking that goes before the beach. Therefore, I will also pack my Keens.

Keens are a hybrid of sandal and sneaker, and are waterproof to boot. Of course, this kind of high-tech, function-before-fashion shoe will mark me as an American, but somehow I think hanging out with 40 pasty folks all absentmindedly humming Shenandoah will do that as well. If anti-American riots break out, I don’t have to run faster than everyone – just the sopranos.

The other end of my body requires protection as well. Summer in Greece will be hot. We’ll trudge down ancient stone roads, looking for shade among baking stone ruins. Unfortunately, straw hats do not pack well, and crushable wool is too hot. I’ll buy a straw hat there, which will bring my number of chapeaus up to something like 30 if it makes it back in one piece. Eh. They stack.

There is this to be said for traveling to Greece during the summer. At least I won’t leave town in a driving blizzard, only to have to drag a bulky coat through Athens. Been there, done that and own the T-shirt, which is what you layer under a wool sweater in October when the day has been warm but the temperature plummets 20 degrees after the sun drops behind the mountains.

Don’t miss Ten Tips for Packing a Suitcase,
in this month’s Wet Noodle Posse Ezine.

posted by Esri Rose @ 4:38 PM