A super-quick post because I'm out the door for a family visit, back in town for a hot second, then out the door again. But it's made me think a lot about what's in my suitcase.One of my former colleagues is in the process of creating an amazing woman's travel bag based on her grandmother's cosmetology bag from the 1930s or 1940s and we've talked a lot about how you pack. And guess what? It's not so much about how you pack, but how many versatile items you have in your wardrobe.
The suitcase may be the first place to start for folks like me who are obsessed with accruing Tried-in-Trues to make an everyday wardrobe easy-peasy. I mean, don't we all want to look fabulous when we're out of town? (Moreso, I'd argue, than on our home turf.) But there's the issue of size and weight. So you need to make choices.
So here's what I'm throwing in my suitcase for an 8-day trip. It's a bit like cheating 'cause it's home and I can always raid my sister's (much younger) closet in a fit of desperation. Plus there's no inclement weather to deal with. That said, I only want to pack 1/3 of a carry-on so I can bring things back with me. This covers every day wear, sleeping, working out and the beach.
Occasion: Family visit
Style: Very Casual, Beach-y
Weather: Tropical, but chilly enough at night to warrant socks and sweaters
Bottoms
One pair skinny jeans, dark denim (thrift shop, 1 year old)
One slim capris, blue (hand-me-down, 1 year old)
One pair Ruby shorts, denim with red buttons (handmade, 1 year old)
One full knit skirt, black (retail, 5 years old)
One sweatpants, to sweat and sleep in (hand-me-down, 1 year old)
Tops
One tank with spaghetti straps and gathering at bust, black (retail, 1 year old)
One tee, kimono sleeve with scoop neck, gray (handmade, 1 day old)
One batwing knit top, doubles as sweater, purple and blue (garage sale, 3 months old)
One v-neck tee, heather blue, to sweat and sleep in (hand-me-down, 1 year old)
Dresses
Knit dress with surplice top, orange and multi-colored (thrift store, 1 month old)
Etc
One cashmere Ann Taylor cardigan, black (eBay, 6 months old)
One mustard colored cardigan (garage sale, 3 months old)
One-piece swimsuit, Alison pattern (handmade, 1 year old)
Shoes
Flats, gold, (thrift, 1 year old)
Sports-y shoe, J-41s (retail, 2 years old)
Slippers (retail, 1 year old)
Quick Snapshot
16 items:
3 handmade
3 hand-me-downs
4 retail
6 thrifted
9 of the 16 are 1 year old
Mostly knits
TNTs: Slim leg bottoms, black cardigan, shoes and cardigan that provide contrast (mustard/gold), black tank
Lesson from this mini-wardrobe?: I largely dress in classically cut neutrals and use bits of color to make it interesting. I actually made a gray t-shirt in a frenzy last night because I felt that was one thing missing from my wardrobe: A perfect casual piece.
What's in your suitcase? And what does it tell you about your style?
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"What's in your suitcase? And what does it tell you about your style? "
ReplyDeleteoh, Ali...great question. I just returned from traveling for 4 months in my trailer. I brought far too many clothes and to be honest, pack things for the emotional connection to home rather than as part of a wardrobe plan. That being said, I lived in yoga pants, knit tops and sweaters/light jackets. My style is classic cuts with jazzy prints thrown in as accent.
When I travel, which is usually to a mild or worse climate where layers are necessary, I live in dress-ier jeans with pointy toe flats and cardigans. When I went to Spain recently, for footwear, I brought 3 pair of leather pointy flats (one Nine West, 2 Sam Edelman) and that was it.
ReplyDeleteI have a few pair of super-wide leg jeans that are both comfortable and almost as dressy as trousers that work so well for travelling. Casual, washable, but still respectful, and the stylish wide leg doesn't shout "I'm an American tourist! Rob me!".
Over the fall I bought an olive-colored Old Navy miltary cotton jacket that is seriously the best purchase I've ever made: $25, and it works over jeans or to toughen up a sweet dress.
Have a great time on your vacation. I *love* the dress you made below. The interplay of colors is just perfection, but so is the shape. It's perfect simple sophistication.
Safe travels!
This is so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI´ve done some traveling this last year, and I always find that footwear is the hardest part. Comfortable, yet stylish is my goal, but it seems to me I need more practical & nice looking flats. I have either winter-y boots, or sandals.
And as Mary, I tend to bring too much. I´ve become much better at this the last couple of years, but there are always some garments that doesn´t get any wear at all when I travel.
Interesting question! My first impulse was to write that I'm a spontaneous packer, just packing the items I've worn a lot in the past weeks. Now that I think about it, though, these items are pretty consistent. For summer, it's mostly skirts, at least one denim (to be dressed up or down) and one knit (comfy!) and a couple of tops to go with them. Also, a couple of leggins, a pair of dark jeans and babydoll tops, which can be dressed up or down. I also like to pack at least one dress. Knit/Jersey dresses are so comfy and can look great, too, also they don't wrinkle (much) so they're ideal for travelling!
ReplyDeleteShoe-wise I usually take my red pair of Allstars, a pair of plain ballet flats and neutral pumps, plus (depending on the season) boots or sandals. Plus, of course, a cardi or two for layering. :)
My lesson? I usually need some basic neutral pieces (black leggins, top and cardi, denim pants and skirt) but I can't go without some colorful accents. I'd never forget to pack at least one pair of red shoes and a red necklace... *g*
Happy travels, Ali! Balenciaga exhibit when you return!
ReplyDeleteHm ... I admit, usually when I travel I do NOT pack with style in mind ... and usually without much thought to looking terribly presentable. Fortunately I don't look very American either, so I've never been heckled much or targeted for pickpocketing (who wants to pickpocket a ragamuffin?) But I DO pack light! Strategies:
1) I pick 1, maybe 2, colorways for my clothing and make sure that my "accent" pieces work across both colorways (colorways usually = blue, with brown as secondary one)
2) For travel up to 8 days or so, I find 2 versatile bottoms, usually 1 pair of jeans and 1 skirt. More than 9 days and I might look for a 3rd bottom.
3) Layers! Usually 1 deadly versatile cardigan/lightweight jacket and 1 accent scarf carry me through most of what I need for layering.
However, one of these days I will actually travel and strive to not look like a poor university student (AKA somebody 10 years younger than who I am), at which point I will probably need to expand my repertoire/strategies! And then I will flip bck to this post and see what other people have to say =).
Your list looks pretty comprehensive. Depending on season I vary my neutrals. I use jewelry, scarfs, shoes and totes to vary the look. Lots of white and navy in warm weather, black and gray in winter. I try to take as little as possible. I used to pack giant Delsey suitcases that would now cost a fortune to fly. I have a dear friend and his wife who have a very different system. They take a different outfit for each day. These clothes they are tired of or would donate or discard anyway. (they are financially very comfortable so none of this stuff is disposable, trust me.) So they wear them once, leave them behind in the hotel with a note to whomever, that they may keep the clothes or whatever. This frees up space in the suitcase for new stuff to bring home. Corinne
ReplyDelete