Take extra under things like T-shirts underwear and socks. They take little space and add warmth when needed. Layering is your friend. Bring a scarf and leather gloves. Little space and lots of warmth. Don't fold, roll things. Take a warm coat and bring it on the plane. You can sit on it, use it as a pillow or stuff it under the seat then carry it off in the warm climes and it will not eat up suitcase space.

Oh, have fun!

I've just discovered that my clear plastic bag for my lotion and eye drops must be a quart size. Apparently, if I use the gallon ziplocs (the only ones I have right now) I am a terrorist. Seriously. Who thinks up this crap?

As one TSA frontliner said to me "it comes from some jerk in D.C. who makes about 10 times what I do."

Just thinking about going to get frickin' quart size baggies at 1.23 am makes me want to scream, and throw things.

Layering is the bomb. This combo should pack easily into one bag (assuming you're wearing part of it when you start out), and will take you pretty much anywhere, that isn't tropical:

Two of those really light, clingy turtlenecks that weigh nothing and take up no room, one black and one white:

≡ Click to see image ≡

a nice long-sleeved mid-weight black T-top:

≡ Click to see image ≡

Two sweaters, one heavy, one lighter

≡ Click to see image ≡≡ Click to see image ≡

Two pairs of pants, one black, one neutral:

≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡

tights, leggings, black skirt:

≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡

black jacket and a hoody type thing:

≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡

One or two silk scarves, muffler:

≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡

black boots, comfortable black flats, black gloves:
≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡ ≡ Click to see image ≡

You shouldn't really need to bring summer-type clothes to Arizona. It's about 46 degrees in Phoenix right now, and while it has been getting into the 70's during the day, it's too cold for shorts and sandals. I've been wearing long pants and long sleeves, maybe with a very light jacket. Layers are the key, as the temperature in the desert can drop dramatically at night.

Yes, carry heavy coat onto the plane. It's a pain, but either they'll let you hang it up, or you can use it as a seat cushion. Instead of folding your clothes, try taking your bulkiest sweaters, laying them flat, then rolling them up into a tube and shoving to one side of the duffel. Do the same with your jeans/slacks/skirts and shove to the other side. Do the same with your tops and wedge in the middle. Put your underwear in your shoes and wedge in the sides.

Pack the bulky stuff. Everything else goes fedex.

Denver's a dry cold (I just got back from there a week or so ago.) You won't have to dress like an Eskimo.. Get some of those hanes wifebeater tees to layer under your sweaters (they come in girly colors like pink and light green-black too.)