October 3, 2018
Last week I left you with a (what I thought was) lovely wardrobe, but it didn’t have any accessories! Well, I was trying to share a new idea about how to choose what to pack, so I didn’t want to throw too much out there at one time…
So let’s accessorize now!
First, let’s remind ourselves of the clothing that we had in this 13-piece (Perfect-10 to pack) wardrobe:
v-neck sweater – Dreamers by Debut; cardigan – BP.; blazer – Uniqlo; charcoal cardigan – Lands’ End; pink tee – Lands’ End; windowpane shirt – Lands’ End; short-sleeved sweater – Lands’ End; flannel shirt – Uniqlo cameo striped shirt – Lands’ End; cotton pants – Lands’ End; dress – Lands’ End; cords – Lands’ End; jeans – Lands’ End
In order to make certain that we have enough accessories, I’m going to take a handful of outfits that I previously assembled, and accessorize them. When it’s all collected, we’re going to have a few too many pairs of shoes (well, unless you like to pack lots of shoes…) and quite a few handbags. One could of course reuse any or all of the accessories; I just like to show you a variety of possibilities!
Let’s start with her travel outfit – she had only garments and her beautiful scarf, so she needs (at a minimum) some shoes and a bag! I always like to find a watch (this one is SO perfect…) and a pair of earrings; I think many of us look more “finished” with earrings.
short-sleeved sweater – Lands’ End; earrings – Melinda Maria; pants – Lands’ End; charcoal cardigan – Lands’ End; tote – Sondra Roberts; watch – Olivia Burton; scarf – Nordstrom; loafers – Donald Pliner
The next outfit I chose is her nice pants, accented with a pretty shirt and her blazer… (a perfect museum outfit – most of the museums in Dublin are free!) Classic loafers with snazzy socks are always fun, and I love a pretty brooch with a blazer. Another pair of classic earrings is always a good idea.
Brooch – Ben-Amun; earrings – Halogen; blazer – Uniqlo; blush striped shirt – Lands’ End; pants – Lands’ End; socks – COS; loafers – GEOX
Even though our heroine is going to a relatively casual place (Ireland), she still wants to pack a dress; there are some lovely restaurants there! So to wear with her dress she has chosen to pack some low-heeled pumps, as well as a pretty handbag, and a scarf that she can wear with anything else in her travel wardrobe. Blush earrings finish off her “dining out” ensemble.
Earrings – Kendra Scott; scarf – Alexander McQueen; dress – Lands’ End; cardigan – Lands’ End; bag – Lancaster; pumps – Calvin Klein
She knows that she’s going to be wearing her corduroy pants a lot, and she also knows that the weather might be a bit… brisk… so she wants to be certain to have a warm scarf and gloves, as well as some sturdy boots and backpack for carrying a jacket or other travel necessities.
Gloves – Nordstrom; scarf – Halogen; cardigan – BP.; cords – Lands’ End; flannel shirt – Uniqlo; boots – Jane and the Shoe; backpack – Matt & Nat
And of course – jeans! She’s packing casual shoes – not exactly athletic shoes, but something along those lines. Even in Ireland, sunglasses might come in handy, as will a warm hat. A last pair of earrings can’t hurt; earrings are tiny and light, but can make you feel as if you’ve changed up your outfit.
sunglasses – Saint Laurent; earrings – Agmes; beret – Halogen; v-neck sweater – Dreamers by Debut; jeans – Lands’ End; windowpane shirt – Lands’ End; sneakers – UGG
Now that she has everything assembled for packing, she feels really comfortable with her choices. Maybe too many handbags? Depends on how big her suitcase is, doesn’t it?
What’s the most handbags you’ve ever packed?
love,
Janice
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There was a time when I didn’t carry a handbag at all, relying on my husband’s pockets. I’ve smartened up since then, but with my Janice inspired packing nowadays, I make sure I only need one handbag. Pre Janice, I would often get to a destination with an ill assorted suitcase of clothing which I liked but which didn’t go together, and which left me without a handbag or shoes to wear with a particular outfit!
This is one of your best ever! I love how it all comes together.
I used to travel with a single tote bag. Now for better distribution of weight, I travel with a fashionable backpack.
Such a pretty collection! <>.
Makes me want to travel to someplace where my suitcase contains more than hiking gear!
I especially like the beret…adorable!
I used to pack far too many bags and shoes before finding the Vivienne Files. I always packed a clutch for evening, crossbody for sightseeing, small backpack for outbound travel and excursions, beach bag for poolside, a tote for shopping and return trip to fill with airport goodies and a nice leather grab bag for in between activities. My shoes were also colour co-ordinated to go with different outfits and activities – I probably packed at least 8 pairs! Nowadays I pack 3 neutral/metallic coloured pairs consisting of a flat sandal, heeled sandal and a canvas slip on- all moderately dressy. I also pack 3 neutral coloured bags; a leather cross-body, small canvas backpack and a tote.
I don’t like to change bags because I always end up forgetting something. I would have a maximum of two–a small one and a big tote.
That dress looks like it would work fine with the low boots and with the Ugg shoes. In fact, I have noticed quite a few women wearing similarly simple dresses with border-line athletic shoes (not bulky running shoes, but the Stan Smiths and that ilk, or slip-ons like the Uggs you chose), especially such shoes in colors like pink or gold. Maybe not for a two-star restaurant, but if our lady wants to lighten her load, she could indeed keep the dress and ditch the pumps.
I was in Bordeaux two weeks ago and many women, young and old, were wearing canvas Converse type shoes with their dresses. I bought a plain fitted blue dress in Galleries Lafayette and the very helpful assistant that served me was wearing metallic trainers with her midi length shirt dress. She suggested that I could either wear my new dress with tennis shoes and a denim jacket during the day or with heels at night. I rather like the idea of two ways to wear a dress just by changing the footwear.
In the warm weather in Paris, I saw a lot of women in quasi-athletic shoes (Keds and their ilk) with dresses. I’m going back in December so I will be eager to see what footwear is worn with dresses when the weather is cooler and wet.
hugs,
Janice
I would probably swap out the blazer for a pink cardi. It would take up less room and still works everything. I would lose two sets of earrings (although they certainly are heavy) and keep the hoops and pearls. I would lose one purse – probably the backpack because it’s bulky. And I would lose two pair of shoes – probably the boots and one pair of loafers. Still everything is beautiful, I would just be looking to save room in my suitcase and reduce weight.
Oops – I meant to say the earring are NOT heavy.
That’s reasonable – it would take a bigger bag to accommodate all of those shoes! But I know women who are picky about their feet who pack all of these… Each to his or her own, thank heavens!
hugs,
Janice
Interesting question. I always bring two purses, a lightweight tote (Longchamp) and a much smaller crossbody for everyday touring- one that can convert to a clutch for evening. I usually take two pair shoes. For cooler weather, I will take booties and slightly dressier wedge shoes – both have to be comfortable enough for lots of walking. I love this wardrobe! It would be great for visiting Dublin in early Fall. Janice Collins Coyle, Washington DC
For business travel, I have a stylish leather laptop bag that looks like a large purse with lots of pockets and a zipper top so that stuff won’t roll out during takeoff and landing (which I searched for for a long time – it’s this one: https://goo.gl/images/NfnSfk). It fits under seat if necessary. I actually love this bag so much (it’s been all over the world and has held up and weathered beautifully) that I got a second smaller one. For an overnight, I can actually just use the larger one with a change of cloths in a ziplock bag.
Then I carry a tiny crossbody (almost a wallet on a removable strap). This allows me to tuck the crossbody into the laptop bag so that I have two carryons (laptop and suitcase), leave my laptop bag behind for business lunches and just take the wallet/strap portion, and remove the strap in case I need a clutch for an evening dinner (which are usually more business than fancy, so no need for a glittery clutch). Then I pack a canvas bag with backpack straps for sightseeing / souvenirs, etc.
How well planned! Thanks for taking the time to share with us!
hugs,
Janice
Lovely! If it were me I would make one of the outer layers blush pink instead of grey–probably the cocoon cardigan, just to change up the look, especially when layered over the dress. In fact, I would probably ditch the grey button up cardigan altogether. I would also lose either the tote or the backpack (I prefer backpacks) and one of the pairs of loafers, which seem redundant.
For warm weather travel (any duration) I’m now down to 45l carry on backpack, so limited as to the number of shoes I can take. Always take three bags – a large tote, a smaller cross body/ clutch and a lightweight foldable bag for any shopping/groceries I pick up during the day, as I hate taking plastic bags. Yet to try carryon only for cooler weather but think down to zero Celsius I’d still be fine – 10 pieces in the bag, wear my boots, carry sneakers in my bag. My down coat squashes down v small. My ankle boots are quite smart (waterproof Aquatalia) and I wore with both dresses and skirts ‘out out’ in Europe last winter, for dinners and theatre, as well as for walking during the day.
I love that you don’t take plastic bags! I just read about manatees – they have 100 foot long intestines! – and how they can’t expel a plastic bag once it’s in their digestive system. Mindful of all animals is kindness in action.
hugs,
Janice
This is an amazing and lovely set of accessories. I’ve had a chuckle with the clothes because I own some near identical matches from the grey travel pants to the black loafers and the grey dressy pants. I LOVE twinsets, rarely if ever wear them together, but love them for ease of packing a fully colour coordinated cardi and a knit top.
How many purses have I packed at the most? I stopped over packing years ago, but it must have been 4 or perhaps more.
I routinely pack 3 particular purses for any trip.
1 tote bag. This is either one of my coloured bags that go with my 5 piece French Wardrobe shots of colour or it’s in my neutral du jour.
1 smaller crossbody, which I often fit into the tote till we pass the security. I then wear it under my jacket next to me, and it’s got money, cards, passports etc. If they cut up rough at the gate, it goes back into the tote purse but at destination it functions as my purse hands free for shore excursions, or just keeping my kindle and kleenex handy on board the ship.
1 dressy slim light clutch. I have one in Navy with a silver frame and chain handle and one in Black grosgrain silk with a gold chain and frame that belonged to my mother. Those and the heeled sandals in black or pewter work with my dress to do for formal nights on board. I sometimes take my silk and velvet navy wrap or my silk and black lace wrap for additional formal factor or to bump up the dress pants and top.
As for shoes:
I wear my heavier loafers. They are leather, Clarks, and look very like the pair on the travel day outfit above.
I always pack along a spare every day pair, usually a light pair of Skechers. They look like leather loafers but are much lighter and pack better too.
and my heeled strappy sandals for dress up in pewter or black
plus a flat thin pair of Sam Edelman flip flops that are actually dressy looking. But they function as a light pair of sandals for hotel carpets (ewwww) and beach or pool side. Sort of a nude leather.
Because most of our travel is cruising, those do me fine however if I”m traveling to see family in the Yukon for example, then I travel in warmer boots that are fast to slip on and off, and pack the Skechers for indoor use.
I love scarves, so I usually have 4 or so patterned coloured scarves plus a cashmere wrap/scarf that comes in so handy on chilly planes or hotels. I have a red and a navy one, so I use one. Then one of my 2 dressy silk wraps in navy or black as above.
I wear a watch to travel, for obvious reasons, and it comes in handy to check that we are still on ship time, and remembering sail away times when out and about on shore.
I pack one or two necklaces and several pairs of earrings, usually about 5 or 6 pairs because you never know what you’ll feel like. Some plain for day, some fancy for evening.
I have a few brooches, but if I wear one, it’s usually just one, and it’s on my jacket lapel, like that pretty one you featured there.
And that is my usual packing list. I’ve got it memorized now.
I start with the base colours, and pick at most 2 accent colours and pack from there.
What a fun post!
(and that stress dressed dressing concept of yours Janice has come into such use this year! I’m so incredibly grateful for that 2014 post– lets just say it’s helped keep me feeling sane and pulled together thru not one, not two but several trying situations all year; dad’s death, my sister’s illness and my husband’s health situation –not to mention 3 cruises and a funeral! Yup, 3. Husband planned one last fall and picked up 2 more this spring. Into each life some sunshine has to fall, not just rain!)
forgot to add sunglasses.
I love a pair of big Jackie O kind of sunglasses that cover a good bit of my face, and out to the sides. I used to get migraines a lot (the gift of menopause has been that they settled down to a dull rare roar instead a constant high pitched threat) so I go for ones that have a heavier protective side to them, whether part of the glasses or the arms to the side being thicker thus blocking light from the sides.
I always have a little folding nylon tote bag that I got on a cruise ship one year, and always comes along for a beach tote. Plus a hat that survives all kinds of abuse including folding or rolling up in my suitcase and still looks great. It was from the San Diego Hat company years back, and has it’s own SPF rating, but it’s like a Timex ad from days gone by, “takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin'”
Janice, What a beautiful post. The accessories add the perfect touches, although you are correct…too many shoes to pack. The addition of the grey jacket made me pause. First, because I would pack a pink cardi instead. But second, it makes me I wonder if women are starting to dress a bit more formally? I live in a tourist destination and haven’t a clue how the rest of the world dresses on a normal work day. Is it possible we are heading toward dressier lifestyles? As always, thank you for all of your work pulling these posts together. Carla.
PS…I see this turning a larger wardrobe just by adding black and white.