First, why has nobody told me about using compression cubes??? You guys?? Here I am getting all concerned about what I’m going to bring, and packing light, and I didn’t HAVE to!!! No, just kidding, but seriously, these things just changed my life. Yes, for five days, I know I’m bringing too much, but I wanted a wild card outfit in there (leggings/tunic top) and a few extra tops just because, and honestly, I was really freaking out about what to bring. Yes. Still.
Nearly everything fit in the larger cube and then I was able to compress it down to about half its size. BRILLIANT. I put my underwear and tanks/camis in the smaller one, and still had room to spare…
The gold bag is my makeup bag. That’s for a separate post!
Now..details on what I’m taking with me.
Again, we’re driving to Austin Wednesday morning for Leo’s meeting and spending the night to hang out with friends and flying out to San Francisco Thursday afternoon. We’re flying back to Austin on Sunday evening and driving back up to Dallas the same night. So, I had to consider a lot of things while choosing what to pack. Lots of driving & flying, sitting, etc., so I had to really decide what I wanted to wear for that much travel time. And normally, I wouldn’t take my harem pants in such a situation, because I can’t cross my legs in them, so I don’t like to wear them for a lot of sitting, but I wanted to bring them anyway. I can wear them comfortably on Friday in the city because we’ll be walking all the time.
Oh, and I’m only bringing one pair of shoes, my Vince sneakers (the suede and perforated leather versions are 20% off at Otte right now if you’re lucky enough to find your size – use code SPRING20 and size down 1/2 size).
Bottoms
Eileen Fisher harem pants
James Perse gray canvas pants
HELMUT leggings
Frame Le Garcon jeans (wearing Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday)
Tops
Madewell long white button front shirt
James Perse fog double v long sleeve tee
James Perse white casual tee
Splendid scoop neck tee (wearing Wednesday)
James Perse boxy long sleeve tee
James Perse gray sweatshirt
James Perse white scoop back 3/4 sleeve tee
Everlane gray Cashmere sweater (wearing Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday)
James Perse white slub button-front shirt
James Perse long white tank top
Splendid white long cami
Caslon jacket
Other
2 bras
5 pairs of underwear
Old Navy leggings, SoLow striped workout cami, Beyond Yoga tee (these three things are not going to SF, they’re for the Pure Barre class I’m taking in Austin on Thursday AM. They’ll stay in the car at the airport)
socks
OUTFITS
Wednesday
Frame Le Garcon jeans
Splendid t-shirt
Everlane crewneck cashmere sweater
Thursday: half-day in Austin + air travel day
Frame Le Garcon jeans
Madewell button down shirt
Everlane crewneck cashmere sweater
Friday: In San Francisco
Harem pants
James Perse double v-long sleeve tee
Jacket
Saturday: The Wine Train to Napa
James Perse pants
James Perse White slub button-front shirt
Jacket
Sunday: Flying back to Austin, then driving back to Dallas
Frame Le Garcon jeans
Madewell white button-down shirt
Everlane Cashmere sweater
My Travel Tote
In my carry-on tote (which is MZ Wallace, by the way, and AMAZING):
Laptop (15″ macbook pro)
Moleskine calendar/notebook
Headphones
Baggu & CdG Pouches for random things (snacks, chargers, etc)
iPad & Kindle in the same case
Jerome Dreyfuss Mini Twee bag (which I’ll carry separately except for boarding the plane)
In the case when I travel with my husband, we can usually use his miles for upgrades, so I don’t have to be concerned about my luggage getting gate-checked like it was on the way back from Atlanta last time I went. But I wanted to find a tote that was big enough and comfortable enough to carry with my laptop inside for times when I do travel by myself. And honestly, even though my laptop will fit nicely in my suitcase this time (because of those compression cubes!!!), I think I’ll leave it in my tote anyway, just so it’s easier to get to.
And no, I didn’t fall and hit my head or anything. And I’ve never given MZ Wallace bags much of a look before, but this one just SCREAMED at me while I was walking through Nordstrom the other day and I was powerless to resist. And I’d just sold a bag, so I was feeling like I could get a nice travel tote for this trip. So far, I love it. I haven’t carried it yet, but I like to look at it; it makes me smile, and I need more things like that. Don’t we all??
Tomorrow from San Francisco!!!
Guess what, Grechen? I’d never heard of compression cubes either, until I read your post! But I’m gonna buy some, before our next trip. I look forward to reading about San Fran.
Beware the downside to compression cubes – they easily allow you to go over-WEIGHT when you pack. They’re great for bulky items that are lightweight (down coat, pillows) but if they allow you to bring too many pairs of pants or shirts, you could end up paying for overweight checked luggage.
I use regular packing cubes for organization but have decided that anything allowing me to squeeze in more items than I truly need should be avoided 😉
I knew about compression cubes, but had forgotten about them until this post! I agree they probably make it too easy to over pack; however, I’m considering picking up a few for a trip this summer–traveling to Europe for a month with my two year old…could definitely use some space saving tips so we can travel light, and also have room to bring some things home with us…
Your pieces look lovely- have a great trip! I love San Fran.
On an unrelated note- can you let us know if you learn of the JP Yosemite parka/jacket going on sale? I’ve been eyeing that piece too. I have been wondering about a similar piece I saw at the JP store in Malibu in January…it was also Yosemite and an anorak/parka style. I think they called it “micro taffeta”, but it’s disappeared from the website. It was lovely and would be awesome for travel.
That’s exactly why I’ve never used compression cubes. They just compress air, which weighs nothing, so you’re only saving space, not weight. And the cubes themselves just add more weight! I would only use them if I were buying stuff on my trip and wanted it all to fit in my case on the way home, weight be darned.
I personally take fewer tops than that for a five-day trip but everyone’s comfort level and itinerary varies. Let us know how your packing list fared! It’s always a trial and error process, isn’t it? Hope you have a blast!
Have a wonderful trip! Could you please report how the clothes traveled in those cubes? I wonder if everything comes out super-wrinkly.
I’ve never tried these cubes. I worry about wrinkles…
But you did pack the basics… basic colours… that’s good!
Cheers
Patricia
http://style416.blogspot.com
I hope you have a fabulous time on your trip. I’ve never been to San Francisco and it’s at the top of my list of places to go whenever I get to California again.
I’ must say that I am a bit surprised at your new bag choice but I absolutely love it!! I love a good printed bag and if I didn’t already have a black/floral Phillip Lim bag, I would consider this MZ Wallace.
The packing/travel math here is not adding up to me!!!
haha. no. i technically over-packed, but not for me 🙂 i’m glad i had the leggings with me – probably brought too many tops, but they fit easily, so why not??
i can see how they would tempt you to pack too much, and they kind of did, but there’s no way i could go over weight unless i was bringing a lot of sweaters or jeans i don’t think. all of my pieces are so lightweight, and i always wear my heaviest items for the flight.
i could have brought a lot fewer tops, but at the last minute i wanted to throw them in just in case, so i did. and i have plenty of space, even in my teeny tiny carry-on, so it worked.