To and From + Sunday Brunch:
Eileen Fisher crepe ankle pants
Sundry oversized top | similar tie-dye version on sale at Shopbop
Robert Clergerie Gavale slides
Everlane backpack | was defective, exchanged for a new one, see this post for details
Zara sleeveless cocoon sweater | very old
Friday night service + birthday dinner at Seasons52:
Shaina Mote tie dress | ON SALE FOR $89!!!! I’m wearing a size 4 (full review here)
Robert Clergerie Gavale Slides
Demy Lee cropped sweater | not shown, I just wore it as a coverup. very old, last seen here
Saturday service + lunch:
Acne Bree dress | in gray at La Garconne – 20% off
Eileen Fisher organic linen sweater
Robert Clergerie Frazzia Sandals
Saturday night party:
Hackwith Design House basics dress | size medium, I shortened the sleeves (not shown)
Robert Clergerie Frazzia sandals
So, here’s what I wore and packed for our weekend trip last weekend to south Florida for my step-son’s bar mitzvah. Since my husband brought his suit, we checked a large garment suitcase and hung most things, so I didn’t have to “worry” about packing light. Although everything barely fit…On a normal weekend trip, I wouldn’t bring nearly this much stuff! But I wanted to be prepared.
For travel days, I wore the Eileen Fisher crepe ankle pants, chambray top and Robert Clergerie sandals. I brought the Zara sweater as an additional layer, but used it only as a blanket for my legs on the plane since I didn’t bring my oversized Virginia Johnson shawl this time (BIG mistake…I should have!). I also wore this outfit to the Sunday brunch at my step-son’s grandparents house and was perfectly comfortable. I originally intended to wear this Eileen Fisher tank, but was more comfortable overall in the chambray top.
On Friday night we just had service at the synagogue + dinner afterwards at Seasons52, so I wanted to be rather casual. I was comfortable in the Shaina Mote dress, but kept my sweater on a lot of the time because I was cold, and felt sort of lost underneath it. The dress deserves to be seen…and it wasn’t. Honestly, I could have worn the Acne dress Friday night in addition to Saturday, maybe with the Zara cocoon cardigan over it, and no one would have known any different. And I didn’t get very hot at all while we were there, so I shouldn’t have worried as much about repeating pieces as I did.
Saturday morning we had the actual Bar Mitzvah service at the synagogue and I had planned to wear the Acne dress with the James Perse soft blazer over, but as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my father bought me the NEON yellow/green Eileen Fisher sweater and everyone liked that better (including me), so I wore that. It was more “festive” anyway.
The James Perse blazer doesn’t travel well either, and after everything, I didn’t want to take the time to iron/steam the wrinkles out, so I didn’t wear it at all. Also, on Saturday I wore the Only Hearts slip I bought specifically for this occasion under the Acne dress (because it needs one!!) and it was completely useless. There’s a lot of standing and sitting in service and I was CONSTANTLY trying to pull the slip down below my ass because it rode up. And we were sitting in the front row!!! So disappointed in the slip – I even got the M/L, but it was still too small around my hips/butt.
Saturday night was the “big party” at the country club, and it was indeed BIG. I’d never been to anything like it. The kids had their own room with games, a dance floor and a DJ, and we had the most beautifully decorated tables & dance floor on the adult side. And a band – although honestly, I preferred the DJ. I wore the HDH basics dress with my Robert Clergerie sandals and was perfectly comfortable, even dancing, a lot.
The only thing I will say about the dress for such occasions is that since it’s dolman sleeved and sort of open at the sleeves/underarms, I might have flashed people here and there with my bra or a peek of my underarms if I had them raised up or was flailing about dancing. I didn’t think about that, of course, when I decided to wear the dress, and I don’t think I offended anyone, but still. It was really comfortable to dance in, sit in, stand around in, everything; I’m very pleased with the dress, overall, but maybe not for dancing 🙂
On Saturday afternoon during our down time, I lounged around the pool and our room in my Lanston maxi dress, which is the only thing I brought as an “extra.” I did bring workout clothes intending to go to the hotel gym, but we were actually nicely situated around a small “lake/pond” and near Whole Foods, so my dad and I (and Leo one day) did laps outside around the lake and into Whole Foods for coffee both mornings, which was a million times nicer than the hotel gym. But I am so glad I decided to bring clothes/shoes for exercise this time. Oftentimes I decide not to, because they take up so much room, especially the shoes, and I may not even use them, but from now on, they’ll always have a place in my luggage.
Other pieces in my luggage:
Running shoes
SoLow knee pants
Lululemon cool racerback tank
SoLow cami
Everlane u-neck tee
Lanston maxi dress | on sale at Shopbop
James Perse soft twill blazer | didn’t wear, doesn’t travel well
Only Hearts Second skins slip | Useless…rode up so high, it didn’t even cover my ass…
Eileen Fisher layered silk tank | didn’t wear
Rag & Bone small pilot bag | took to use as a purse while we were there
A note on the Rag & Bone bag – I bought this a while ago when it was an extra 40% off sale, specifically to take for the bar mitzvah weekend, and have as a smaller “travel” bag. It was perfect, if a little casual. It was actually shipped to me FLAT, so it packed very nicely flat in the suitcase, not taking up much room at all! It’s not very practical for me everyday, which is why I haven’t shown it in outfits, but I had been interested in this bag for a couple of years, so I thought I’d try it. I like it a lot, and it holds the bare necessities, but it’s much too small for me to use daily.
So there you have it. I was rather pleased with packing for this trip, and the outfits I chose to wear. We had so much fun, and my husband’s ex-wife’s family was so gracious, kind and welcoming, I literally felt like part of THEIR family while we were there. It was lovely.
Now…I’m considering attending my 25th high school reunion in November. Better start thinking about what to wear for that soon, no?!!
Love love love! Thank you for sharing what works & doesn’t – I always like to debrief like that – helps plan the next one! Summer travel is so hard because you can try to be minimal and then be hot & outside & have everything sweaty like your last FL trip you wrote up, or like this time, where you could have been happy with one long dark dress but you packed 2. Argh. You just can’t know *those* things ahead of time!
I loved my 25th reunion, but I’m weird that way! I think your Hackwith dress would probably be great at the reunion. But maybe too much dancing? 🙂
i know! when i was in florida earlier this year, it was so hot, i had to change a few times in a day, BUT then again, we were outside almost all the time. this time, we were inside constantly. i do need to remember that it rains all the time in florida though, and try to pack at least one pair of shoes that can get a little wet. like, not suede 😉
yes, i think the hackwith dress would be nice, but it’ll be rather cool for that. unless i wear something over it. and there probably won’t be much dancing at my reunion. i don’t know…i can’t imagine i’ll feel “at ease” enough to want to put myself out there like that LOL
Great choices, and so you! I’ve gotta say, I really LOVE that neon sweater over the dress…so much so, that I’m considering a purchase!
Glad you had fun. 🙂