When the opportunity to go to Rwanda with kate spade new york came up, I jumped at the chance. Packing for a country in the middle of Africa was not something I'd ever done before, so I delved into research about the climate and customs.
Rwanda is a modest country. Never did I see anyone scantily clad. What I did see while there were bright colors, denim, and layers. I visited in November (their rainy season) but, luckily, we didn't experience much rain. The forecast ranged from the low 60s to the high 80s, and, being that I'm always colder than everyone else, I knew I needed to bring layers. I didn't want to overpack because I wanted plenty of room to shop the Rwandan markets and take full advantage of purchasing authentic Rwandan baskets. Here's what I packed:
Opening photo by Jeremy Stanley
A white shirt is so universal — you can look put together and dress it up or dress it down. This J. Crew version was a no-fail option. I loved that I could keep the sleeves down if I was chilly and roll them up when the sun was warmer in the afternoon.
I opted for a black-on-black look with this Lou & Grey black button-down top and black jeans. The entire trip was captured on video and photos so I was always thinking about what would look good and I never regret wearing black on camera.
Black jeans are easy and a major staple in my wardrobe. I cuffed these Madewell jeans and wore them both with my sandals and tennis shoes. They went with every top I brought with me so it was an obvious choice to bring.
I knew I would need sunglasses, so I brought my trusty Ray-Ban aviators. Africa makes me think of safaris which makes me think of aviators, so that was a no-brainer. Plus black aviators go with everything.
This is where my wardrobe gets fun and funky. I knew there would be lots of walking and standing so comfortable shoes were necessary. I wore my Kate Spade New York owl sneakers and was constantly complimented on them. I continue to wear them all over DC and get stopped and asked where they are from!
Because it does get up into the 80s in Rwanda, these Kaanas sandals were a necessity. I brought these comfortable slides, and I could walk in them for hours without any pain.
Because it was the rainy season when I was visiting, I brought a Patagonia rain coat with me and wore it everyday. I mostly needed it in the morning but I also wore it on the gorilla trek!
To get to the gorillas you are literally trekking through wet mud, at times it's a foot deep! So, clearly, you need boots. I brought these Cat Footwear boots and they were perfect. Comfortable but cool and they kept my feet dry.
You really cannot go to Africa without bringing a camera. I brought my Canon Rebel T6i which has a touchscreen and wifi, so I could instantly send photos to my phone and upload to Instagram.
More on Salt & Wind
Did you know we lead boutique food and wine tours for food lovers? Come join our next Salt & Wind trip!
P.S. If you liked this story, you'll probably like our newsletter too!
P.P.S. Hitting the road soon? Show us how you travel in good taste by sharing your adventures on Instagram with the #swsociety hashtag!
Meg Biram is a creative entrepreneur living in Washington DC. She is a blogger, photo stylist, consultant, and artist who always loves to change things up. Passionate about fashion and travel, she loves to be outside, exploring new places, and being active. Follow her on Instagram at @megbiram and her site at megbiram.com/blog.
Comments