For the last 18 months I’ve worn the same outfit whenever I’ve travelled. A pair of black cotton trousers with an elasticated waist, an oversized black T-shirt made from fine merino wool and a high-necked, thick cotton jumper with a half zip at the collar.
But when I went to pack for a month-long research trip, the sight of the outfit made me feel quite nauseous. It conjured memories of feeling sticky while trying to sleep on planes and hauling my heavy suitcase on to trains while hot and exhausted. It was time to change it up. I swapped it for an oversized pair of pleat-front pants (still made from cotton), a well-worn, long-sleeve cotton T-shirt and a vintage men’s alpaca blazer.
