Wearing:
1 MADEWELL shirt
2 MZ WALLACE medium metro tote | mine is sold out, the butterfly pattern is pretty!
3 PROENZA SCHOULER PS1 in dark olive | purchased with credits earned from Forzieri
4 MADEWELL scarf | sold out
5 GOLDSIGN virtual high-rise skinny jeans
6 EVERLANE chunky knit sweater | sold out
7 RAG & BONE aston boots
8 HEYS hardside luggage | mine is an even older style, sold out
Packing:
9 ZADY wool sweater | gift from Zady – sold out
10 INHABIT wool cardigan
11 SPLENDID layers long sleeve tee
12 T BY ALEXANDER WANG long sleeve tee
13 EVERLANE ryan tank
14 JAMES PERSE casual tee
15 JAMES PERSE leggings
16 VINCE tank top
17 EVERLANE cashmere tunic | sold out
18 PARK VOGEL organic cotton built-in bra cami | sooooo old
19 VINCE sneakers | 20% off at azalea with code GRECHEN20
Not shown:
Everlane white long sleeve ryan tee (looks identical to the T by Alexander Wang)
SOLOW flared yoga pants (for home wear)
Old Navy compression leggings
Beyond Yoga cami
H&M black mini skirt (for wearing over leggings for another layer)
Gilligan & O’Malley sleep shirt
Three bras total
Three pairs of socks
5 pairs of underwear
Makeup:
Lancome defincils mascara
Lancome black eyeliner
eyelash curler
Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer
Nars orgasm blush
RMS living luminizer
Urban decay eye primer
Skincare/Hair:
Argan oil
Caudalie vinoperfect fluid
Yes to carrots cucumber wipes
Caudalie cleansing water
Bumble & Bumble hairdresser’s oil
R+Co aircraft pomade/mousse
Lavanilla deodorant
Origins ginzing eye cream
Gold Bond hand cream
Julep nail treatment
Well, here I am in Atlanta. And it’s 15 degrees. I told my mom we might need to start celebrating her birthday in a warmer month…
Anyway, I was very pleased with my packing skills for this trip, and that I got everything packed and ready a day in advance. Who am I??
I knew we wouldn’t be spending a lot of time outside, and I didn’t even bring my running shoes for my daily walks up Kennesaw Mountain, knowing that there is NO WAY I’d get up and out in this weather. So, this made packing a little easier. Although harder, since sweaters take up so much more room.
I wore my Everlane chunky knit cardigan for the flight yesterday, and I don’t know if it was because I was already a bit motion sick from the drive to the airport, or what, but I was actually HOT in it. On the plane. I am always half frozen on the plane, no matter what I wear. And I didn’t want to take it off, because I was afraid I’d get cold and have to maneuver to put it back on again, and I was already cramped as it was.
And I talked about this before, but I think when you’re trying to pack light/minimally, you need to choose a silhouette and stick with it. In this instance, I chose the skinny jeans/leggings silhouette and brought long tops/sweaters/cardigans instead of shorter ones (I wanted to bring my Vince swingy turtleneck, because it’s very warm, but goes better with slouchy jeans).
That’s tough for me, because I generally like to switch back and forth from skinny to slouchy, but I just didn’t have space to bring another pair of jeans, or pants – I’d rather have taken up more room with sweaters. So. We’ll see how I like my packing choices after this week!
I also did something different with my tote/purse this time. I usually bring my big Admonish leather tote as my 2nd carry-on bag and to use as my purse at my destination, but this time, I wanted a separate purse so put my PS1 inside my MZ Wallace tote along with some other things (iPad, Kindle, Toiletries, snacks). This didn’t work so well. It made my tote really full and difficult to carry over my shoulder so the straps kept coming off. I appreciate having the smaller PS1 to use while I’m here, but I think I’ll have to go back to using my daily bag as my 2nd carry-on, instead of trying to bring a separate bag.
Of course, I’m thinking of trying the Everlane market tote for this, as I like the idea of a more structured tote for traveling, then carrying at my destination. Does anyone have one? Are the straps long enough to carry comfortably? Do they stay on your shoulder?
Sophie @ Les-Antimodernes has a review of the Everlane tote:
http://www.lesantimodernes.com/2014/01/review-minimalist-work-tote.html
I’m considering getting the giant Portfolio tote, because I really like the idea of a huge bag I can just dump everything in for day-to-day and for traveling. I don’t think I’d carry it around like a purse, but for taking to work it would be great. Here’s another review of that one:
http://twelveofour.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-definitive-guide-to-everlanes-big.html
So cute! What stores carry that brand of jean 🙂
Wow Grechen! Thanks for this packing list — it comes in the nick of time for me: I’m headed to Charleston for a week tomorrow and am seriously stressed out over what to bring. I know it’ll be waaaay colder there than here in Texas and I feel like I’ve kind of forgotten how to dress in cold weather! I love your idea of bringing significantly more tops than bottoms. I keep feeling like I’ll want to wear skirts while I’m there (bc I’m used to going to SC to be in a WARM climate, since for the past five years I was traveling there from Iowa City) but I know I’ll probably be shocked by how cold it actually feels, seeing as how it’s currently 60 degrees and rising in Austin today. Heh, I’m getting spoiled by the Texas weather! I hope you have a great time in ATL!
yeah, i saw sophie’s review…but now i’m thinking i might need the portfolio tote, based on the other review – it seems like it would be better for traveling, which is what i would use it for mostly.
i don’t know. i’m having such a hard time with an everyday bag + travel bag for traveling. my suitcase is good…but i need my second carry-on bag to do double-duty as an everyday bag and a travel bag, and it needs to be big enough to hold my laptop, toiletries, ipad, scarf, headphones, snacks, etc., also. but then be a “purse” while i’m there. when we travel to cities where we’ll be walking all the time I can carry a smaller bag that doesn’t need to hold my laptop, and that should just fit inside my travel bag, but for visiting family, i need a bigger bag. but i think the portfolio would be too big to carry as a “purse”…
ugh.
not many…shopbop has a great selection. also dianiboutique.com has carried them. goldsign isn’t very easy to find…
for selection and discounts, i think shopbop is the best bet!
oh, i want to wear skirts/dresses, but NO WAY. it’s 21 degrees right now!!!
believe me…i like to use traveling as time to wear things i wouldn’t normally wear at home, it’s an opportunity to “dress up” sort of – but the reality is that i just need to bring things to wear at home mostly, and to stay warm.
for me right now, my wool scarf is saving me – it’s HUGE and really warm, especially if i double it up, so i’m wearing it like a shawl and it feels wonderful. a giant scarf is essential for winter travel i think…
yeah, i’m pretty jealous of your weather today 🙂 have fun in charleston!! go to a shop called worthwhile – i’m a big fan of their online site – i’m pretty sure it’s in charleston. and i think hampden clothing is there too?
Thank you for including your make up list. I sometimes forget that should be minimal when traveling.
you’re welcome 🙂
this time, I feel like i got my makeup/skincare pared down to exactly what i need. most of the time, i throw things in at the last minute i THINK i might want, or need, just in case, and i’m always stuck with too much stuff!
i do feel like i could get my toiletries down even more – but only if i just leave quite a few more things here at my mom’s (I already leave shampoo/conditioner here) – it’s hard, because even when you think you’re bringing the bare minimum, it still seems like a lot when you look at it, or list it out as i’ve done here. to me, it looks like a lot, but it’s really not!!
I travel with the beautiful made in USA J.W. Hulme MIA Tote in large http://www.jwhulmeco.com/Mia-Tote-Large-p/358b9.htm which I got for my birthday. I looked at Everlane and ended up giving in the Made in USA and two colors of this tote.
I even managed to use it as my only carry-on/purse for an overnight business trip. It is roomy and well made, it fits in front me in the plane. I love it.
Hey there! I have the Petra market bag. It does become heavy once you fill it. It does stay on your shoulders and it can take a beating. Another favorite is the OMG bag from Lo & Sons. Much more ergonomic and my favorite part is that you can slip it through your carry-on handles on the suitcase.
i do love that bag mona…how do the handles fit though? can you wear them over your shoulder comfortably? that’s my only issue with it really…i have to be able to sling a bag over my shoulders, and hope it stays there 🙂
I hate carrying extra bags around with me at the airport, partially because I can’t anymore due to my back problems and also, I just hate being encumbered by too much stuff! (I know! Tell my closet, right?!?) So, last week, when my daughter and I traveled to Chicago and Wisconsin, I got EVERYTHING in my carry-on bag, which I checked. I also know that it doesn’t make any sense to check a smaller bag, when I could check a larger one for the same cost, but it’s a pride thing. An “I can do it!” thing. I packed 3 tops, 2 sweaters, two pairs of pants, a pair of booties and my underthings and toiletries. I was going to bring my new J Crew tote, but I found that I was able to fit all of my usual stuff in my Clare Vivier messenger bag, plus my phone, tablet and a magazine. Not bad for a converted “roll-packer”! (Thx to your reader that taught me the roll technique!) 🙂