What Did You Pack?

Each time I go on a trip, I get lots of questions about how I packed, what I took, what type of luggage I use, and how I fit it in the allowed space. Today I am sharing all that with you from our wine country trip.

I wear the bulkiest items while traveling to save space in my luggage. The white linen Nine West jacket was found on a sale rack at Stein Mart a couple of years ago. I never buy anything on sale unless I would have purchased it at full price. Impulse purchases made only because they were at a low price were too often mistakes. I rarely wore them, so they added to my stress. Never purchase anything you have to talk yourself into buying. When we settle for “just OK” repeatedly, we end up with a closet full of things we don’t love. Wait until you find that perfect item that looks great on you and works with your lifestyle. We don’t need a lot of clothes, but we can always look sharp if we make wise choices.

The black and white striped Travelers tank was from Chico’s last year. Stripes are almost the only print I wear now. The jeans are from J.Jill a couple of years ago. They were a good investment because I have worn them many times. They are lightweight and very comfortable.

The sold-out top above is by Clara Sunwoo, but there are similar styles at My Fair Lady. I love the color and the flirty little ruffle at the sleeve. When it is too hot for layers, I wear a simple top with a long necklace and lightweight white pants with a wide, smooth waistband. The jeans are by the Liverpool Jeans Co. The orange crossbody bag, worn as a clutch, is by Dooney & Bourke. The shoes are by Ralph Lauren.

I wore the white jeans again for a few hours on the second day with a navy crepe knit top. That is the same Dooney & Bourke orange bag worn as a shoulder bag. Since we would be doing lots more walking in the sun, I wore the flat Born sandals and a Scala straw hat.

Hampton Inn hotels offer a free breakfast every morning. When I went down to the lobby to get more coffee or tea and as we enjoyed our oatmeal and fruit breakfast, I wore the jeans, one of the tank tops, and one of the cardigans with a silk scarf since I am often too cold in air-conditioned spaces. All of the tank tops I took on this trip are from Chico’s. The gray cashmere sweater is old from J.Jill.

On Saturday evening, we had a beautiful meal at the Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards. I wore the white linen jacket with navy crepe knit pants and a matching top.

On the way home from Dobson, we stopped in Blowing Rock to enjoy a scoop of ice cream while relaxing on a bench in the shade.

On our return travel day, I wore the lightweight navy cardigan I found on sale at Chico’s last year with the gray tank top and the white jeans. The salmon color Dooney & Bourke tote is the Pebble Grain Small Lexington Shopper. The bras I wear every day are either the Ultimate or the long Tankee from Shapeez.com. The only colors of underwear I buy are nude or black. White always shows through your clothes. The Soma vanishing edge panties here are so comfortable, and they never show under my clothes. My favorite pajamas are the flannel back satin from Miss Elaine here.

When you find your best style and know what looks good on your shape, getting dressed each day is effortless. I am certainly not a professional, but I share what I have learned in the hopes that it helps to simplify and improve your life. My fashion goals are to look my best, dress appropriately, and be comfortable. The latest trends mean nothing to me, and I rarely shop for anything new.

The video below shows you how I packed for the trip. (Never use felted hangers that don’t swivel in a video.) Have a beautiful day!