Monday, March 10, 2014

Revisiting my Packing: what I wore vs. what I put in my suitcase...


oh packing, you do wear me down.

I am a lousy packer.  I am getting better, but I always feel like I will need more...

Add in changeable weather - we were arriving to cool temperatures that would give way to hotter temperatures - and you have a recipe for excess.

Here what I brought with me:

  • Dark wash jean jacket - wore 4 times - good call
  • J Crew camel cashmere hoody - wore to travel and one first day when it was cool 
  • rain jacket (used once for 4 hours but better than a rain poncho as it breathes)
  • Gap navy chinos - wore twice
  • Gap coral chinos - wore twice
  • JCrew navy shorts - did not wear
  • J crew navy cotton boho top wore once
  • white tshirt - wore twice
  • navy tshirt - wore once
  • Free People black jersey maxi skirt - wore once
  • black James Perse tank - wore once
  • navy J Crew tank - wore twice
  • white Michael kors tank - wore twice
  • J Crew navy featherweight cashmere cardigan - wore tons
  • J Crew pale pink featherweight cashmere cardigan - wore tons
  • j crew pale pink long sleeve tee - wore once
  • joe fresh kiwi and white striped boatneck long sleeve tee - wore once
  • J Crew white linen skirt - wore tons
  • J crew navy and white striped linen skirt - wore tons
  • Gap green linen skirt - wore three times
  • blush linen tee
  • coral dress - wore once
  • scarves
  • walking shoes
  • walking sandals
  • fancy sandals
  • flip flops
Yes, I had WAY too much!

What I ought to have taken:

Dark wash jean jacket
Gap coral chinos
J crew cotton boho top
tshirts - mostly short sleeve, but tanks and long sleeve as well
J Crew linen skirts
Free People skirt
cardigans
walking shoes
walking sandals
flip flops


On the first morning it was still cool enough to wear trousers, so I wore my coral chinos, a white tee, navy cardigan and my blue and white cotton Lacoste scarf.  I am holding the jean jacket, which I needed early that morning...



I LOVE that Lacoste scarf.  Always looks good and adds panache...




Well you live and learn, don't you?  I ought to know better and yet I refuse to learn...Someone remind me of this post when I travel next, will you?

Tomorrow: food!

Have a happy Monday and stay safe out there!





 

40 comments:

  1. Whenever I think I have not packed enough - I'm right. I'd rather have an extra pair of shoes or an extra jacket "just in case". That being said, I still take less than I used to. We are going to LA this weekend so I'm trying to be mindful that less is more - especially in LA where they are forecasted for warm weather. I always have issues with shoe packing though; it is hard to know what exactly I'll need. My feet issues have sadly returned and I am seeing the doc this week :-(

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    1. oh I should write a whole post on the spirit being willing but the shins and feet being weak... so sorry feet troubles are back!

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  2. I'm taking a break from packing as I read this! As it's ski stuff, there is nothing but long underwear, quilted skirts and alp n rock ts.

    I think you did well. You look lovely and you wore most pieces. I was always a terrible packer. I now have a travel wardrobe of black jersey layering pieces that I take everywhere but never wear at home . It's the only way I can manage it. Looking forward to the food post.

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    1. I think black jersey is great, but I think might have been dark for Disney during the day! maybe I should have stuck to black and white?

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  3. Wow, you brought a lot of clothes! Love the photos!! I'm a really good packer, but most of my clothes are black, so that's sort of cheating. Scarves and accessories are a great way to stretch a travel wardrobe.

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    1. hangs head in shame - I know!

      it's funny, after eschewing black these last few years, I do find myself drawn to it. that's the challenge of a small closet - making sure all of my clothing personalities can co-habitate!

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  4. Hi Wendy, I think you did well too. I'm an over-packer myself, I like to have options, so I don't see anything wrong with your list for, what, a week?

    I have to say - you mentioned in the last post, in comments I think, that you were very happy with your skin this holiday, and I must concur. Your skin looks fabulous! Are you wearing any make-up at all? Do tell!

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    1. patricia - thanks! I know you have asked before, so I have a whole post on this topic this Wednesday!

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    2. I went back up and looked and the only thing I would have on in this picture is a wee bit of mascara. I'd even drunk off my lipstick by this point!

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    3. Well then, I'm very impressed! Looking forward to Wednesday's post!

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  5. Hi Wendy... I am a bit late, but welcome back. I have learned over the past two years to pack lighter, and I think I have become better. Even my husband is now often surprise on how little I take to travel. The good tip says, prepare your clothes to travel, take away half of it, and then take away half of what is left :-)
    I have always been inspired by Dani color stories for traveling. It does help to pack light.

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    1. hi steph! I am usuallybetter - the hot and cool weather buggered me royally in the planning phase!

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  6. My first trip with my husband my suitcase popped because of too many clothes. He had to carry my suitcase with both arms through the airport. I have learned my lesson since then and have become a better packer. There are still stuff that remain unworn and I want to change that. My problem is I bring nice stuff for dinner which I don't get to wear since we usually have barely enough time to change. I was wondering if this is a problem with you too?

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    1. marie! that is definitely an issue! then there was the unfortunate ketchup on the blush linen t incident. these types of incidents are fairly regular...

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  7. Love the picture! I do consider myself a good packer but I have learned to always take one extra outfit, just in case. But I do grow tired of my minimal packing after four days. Still visualizing your travel hair ;)

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    1. BB - it was almost as bad as our infamous picture!!!!

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  8. You had a lot of options,and sometimes that's nice, especially if you don't have to do a lot of hotel changing on a trip. I count 8 bottoms ( incl the dress) which would be almost one per day. If you check your bag, you're fine! I still try to fly with a carry on for up to 10 days or so; that translates to a dress, a skirt, and 2 pants + plane wear for bottoms. Anyway, wasn't it grand to wear linen for a few days?!?

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    1. Lane - I was so sad to launder and pack the linen away for a few more months! Those J Crew skirts were the best thing ever - so You are so disciplined!

      I have begun to pack away my heavy woollens and bring out the lighter cashmere and heavier cottons. I am officially tired of winter!

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  9. I think you did well! There wasn't much you didn't wear. Did you find you had to iron your linen when you got there? Was your cashmere wrinkly from being in the suitcase? How did the shoes work out, were your feet happy and which shoes did you wear the most? Thanks for the packing post! And I love that picture in front of the castle :)

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    1. Hi Cate! No I didn't need to iron the skirts as they are a lovely crinkly kind of linen with a cotton underskirt - they held up well! My feet and legs were a mess and that was with shoes and sandals that I wear here for walking!

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    2. Glad the skirts packed well, but sorry to hear that about your feet and legs. Footwear is always my biggest challenge when I'm on my feet a lot like that. I hope you are recovering.

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  10. I think you packed well. I always like to have an extra outfit or two, and as you said, food accidents happen. I like to take nice dinner outita on vacation. It's vacation after all and I want to dress up.
    Can't wait to hear about the food!

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  11. Bravo WMM, I know this is a toughie for you. I fall into the Lane camp and I have to do it every week, so am very tough on self. It's almost a game to see how little I can take, other than tees/ silk tanks to make 12-14 outfits. But I am packing for indoors and a set look, so that definitely makes it easier. Holiday weather can be a conundrum.
    Similar to Funky Steph, my Dad always told my Mum to pack the case then take half of it out. But I also think it is easier for men to repeat items. He also advocated that we all had to corral and carry our own cases (even in the pre wheelies as standard and camping days, tough guy.) So definite minimalist here. But also certainly trips where a last-minute dinner reservation or invite has had me wishing for fancy shoes or a pretty worn once dress.

    I think the shoes are hardest not only because of walking and comfort, bot wanting scuffs, but also re. hemlines. And scarves are best, warmth, colour, rain cover...

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    1. it poured the last morning and no scarf would have saved me from the deluge! But I am okay with the end result as I did so little shopping that there was no need to fit anything into the suitcase!

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    2. I have to have 3 pair of shoes, minimum. Now men's shoes are a nightmare-- where did I read it's like packing canoes? So true.

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  12. You have such beautiful skin Wendy, you can tell that you were never a sun worshipper unlike me. Shoes are a night mare on holiday, as Get Fresh says, there are shoes for skirts, shoes for trousers, and then they all seem to rub when you go away and walk more.

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    1. in my 5X magnifiying mirror it is a bit of a horror show, but without my glasses I am bee-yoo-ti-ful! ;-)

      For me it was my shins as well! All that walking on concrete for days!

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  13. I find it really hard to pack for a season other than the one I'm currently in. Quite a challenge to imagine warm temperatures after this winter! We just went to California (from Ontario) last month, having the same issues you mentioned with changeable weather at the destination. I tried to plan to wear everything twice, mix & match style, with lots of layering options. We had an opportunity to do a load of laundry mid-week as well, which really helped reduce the number of bulky items we had to bring, like jeans and heavier-weight socks. I was a little too optimistic about the forecast high temperatures so didn't wear the boyfriend khakis and short sleeved tees I'd packed, but did pretty well otherwise. I suggest that you print out and keep your packing notes in your suitcase as a reminder for future trips - over time, you could probably establish a core list of the 'A+' items. Like others here, half my suitcase ends up being filled with shoes to accommodate my aching feet ... bunions, orthotics, pf, wonky knee, etc. etc. I may not always be travelling in style, but I'm still travelling!

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    1. Hi Lily! I hear you! I did use Jennifer's packing list, but it turns out that I left it home and that I am excessive about all things... sigh....

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  14. I think packing for holiday travel is much harder than for work travel. For a week or week and a half of work travel, I pack a carry-on and do not have a problem (though exercise clothes mean taking an additional pair of shoes). But it is so much harder to visualize what I want to look like for being on vacation or in a different climate. It seems like you did quite well -- and honestly, especially if it is hot out and you're walking a lot, I wouldn't want to be wearing most of the tops more than once or twice. Glad you had sunshine!

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    1. M - you are right! I did laundry twice, but I had no idea that there were laundry facilities, so that was a surprise!

      We had the most glorious weather, so I cannot complain at all!

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  15. Stories from a chronic over packer..... Doesn't that sound like a great title for a book? You have my permission to use that as well as the tardy walk of shame into the school office in a future work. Just make sure I get a mention on the acknowledgments page:)
    The last time I went to Disney World was for Thanksgiving a few years ago when we stayed at the animal Kingdom Lodge. It was lovely to see the giraffe and antelope from your balcony each morning.
    It was unseasonably cool for November that week. I wore shorts the first day but the rest of my shorts and the swimsuits in my luggage remained untouched. I wore my one pair of blue jeans every day and layered like crazy. By the end of the week the lows were in the 40s and I was very happy that my down puffer coat was still in the car!

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    1. SC - if that is not already a title, it ought to be! I would love to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - I love the giraffes! I am glad I left my jeans home in the end and I forget how hot we would find +26!

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  16. Hi Wendy, I think you did fine, as you wore most of what you brought, and it's always tricky when you go during a season when the temps are variable. That last pic of you is excellent - you look beautiful!!

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    1. Louise - you are too kind, as honestly, I wanted to burn that one! By the end of those long days I was looking haggard!

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  17. I agree with everything that you did pretty darn well! I am going to FL next week... I have no idea what to bring. I am so used to wearing jeans and hoodies every day... it's going to be a challenge to pack shorts and bathing suits and... sandals? Eek!

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    1. I know! Our weather was fantastic except for the first and last days and that posed the conundrum! Yay to going to Florida!

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  18. When the weather is changing it's never easy to pack perfectly because you have to be prepared for anything and everything. Sounds like you did pretty well really. I love Lacoste so happy to see in that striped scarf.

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    1. xoxo - I knew you would like that one! I've had it for years and it is so lovely!

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Kindness is a virtue...