Help! Need advice for travelling capsule... - YouLookFab Forum

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Help! Need advice for travelling capsule...

krishnidoux

Veteran

Hi everybody! Please help me!
I am packing today for a three week stay on the (Canadian) West Coast. I will be mainly staying with my mother, helping her around the house and doing her errands, visiting with family and celebrating the holidays. The weather will be in the high 30's low 40's with rain. Location is on the seaside, so it might be windy.

I am bringing a light white puff coat, and my roomy riding-hood style raincoat, so I can layer warm wool jackets underneath.

I am also bringing two pairs of boots (one flat, one heeled), one pair of booties, one pair of heeled shoes and my ballet flats/slippers. Is this is too much?

How many pairs of pants or skirts would you say I should bring?
How many tops?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Three weeks! Aargh!! Will your son and husband go, too? That is a long visit.

Your coat selection sounds excellent.
And I honestly don't think that is too many shoes to bring. If you have the room in the suitcase, go for it. Do you also have a pair of gear-like shoes for walking on the beach, etc.? I think as much footwear as you can manage makes sense given that some of the shoes and boots may get wet when you are out. Luckily, one of your boots is Goretex. Very smart!

What will you be doing apart from spending time with mother? Will the gatherings be very informal or will some be dressy?

I might aim for 3 trousers and 2 or 3 skirts/ versatile dresses (depending on activities, of course). Jeans for sure, preferably skinnies that you can tuck into the boots on wet days.

I assume you will have laundry facilities there? So you do not need a top for every day. At the same time, you'll want items you can layer.

Krista

Veteran

Sounds like a great trip, krish! I spent some time out west over Christmas a few years ago and the one thing I was not prepared for was how wet and mild it is,in comparison to Ottawa. Your capsule sounds lovely (and I know you will look fab!), I just wanted to put in the suggestion to make sure you have a jacket and footwear that can take the wet weather.
Have tons of fun with your Mom!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thanks Suz, very useful! I do have a pair if gear walking shoes that I keep at my Mom's.
I think I should make room for footwear in my suitcase and bring less clothes. I was contemplating something like more 5 pairs of pants, 2 skirts, one dress and 8 to 10 tops!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thank you Krista, will keep this in mind. That is why I am bringing my hoodie raincoat, because often over there it is not so much cold as it is wet!

Suz, great idea about the tucking into boots, that will help me select which pair of pants I am bringing.

I am going for this long because unfortunately, my mother is not well and I don't know if I'll see her again! It sounds awful I know but it was a joint decision with my husband for me to spend this precious time with her. It's not the best regarding my (new) job either, but I had to admit this was more important. My son will be there for a couple of days before flying off to see his dad, so our family will be spread out! The reality of recomposed families!

On the other hand, I will reconnect with my brother and his gal, with cousins, aunts and uncles who live there. And I will have lots of time alone with my Mom.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Wow, great timing of the question as I've just booked tickets to visit my dad - hopefully the weather will allow the trip to actually happen!

I'll stay about 2 weeks and plan to exercise a very strict approach this time, partly because I don't have much room in the suitcase as I have to hide a huge box of Legos in there (i.e. Santa is finding my son at his granddad's home on Xmas day, hohoho), but party because I won't need a huge variety of wardrobe - everything happens at home, my aunt's or friends' houses, and partly because I can actually wash things there. I'll pretty much recycle these outfits: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....en-i-broke

Anyway, the plan is:

Bottoms:
1 pair of ponte knit pants
1 skinnies

Tops:
3 turtlenecks in different colors

Toppers:
3 cardigans in different colors, maybe 1 jacket

Coats:
white puffer

Accessories:
Scarves, hats, gloves

1 pair of boots

Important: Fleece lined tights (and since I'm so impressed by them I'm buying a few for my sister, stepmom, cousins and friends)

I really plan to stick to this. Last time I travelled I packed minimally, then realized I had room in the suitcase (!) then added a few things and of course ended up not wearing it all.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Ornella, that IS disciplined! I am not sure I could bear with it for so long....I would be looking for some variety of silhouette. But perhaps this is the smartest way.

Krish, one thing I would advise is to take your mustard jacket if you can as a layering piece. It looks SO good on you, and would be a bit of sunshine in the midst of all the grey, grey, grey weather!

Depending on what bottoms you take, and especially as you have some gear shoes already at your mother's and your tall boots are goretex, maybe you don't need all that many shoes. Maybe one tall boots, one pair booties and one shoe?

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

LOL Suz, Lego box had really put things in order this time I may add a thing or two, but this is mainly it.

I've had a very stressful time recently so I really just want to relax, which translates to minimal fuss when packing and minimal thinking on the other side. I plan to use the opportunity and my dad's camera for taking photos to explore how creative I can be with so little.

Sarah A

Veteran

When I go on longer trips I tend to pack for 5 days and do a bit of laundry as needed, esp if I am staying at a home with laundry facilities. My plan when visiting Minnesota in the winter is usually 2 or 3 pants, 1 dress with warm hose, 5 shirts, 3 toppers (blazer jacket/sweater/cardigan) and 1-2 warm coats. Hope the trip and catching up with family is enjoyable!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Sarah, this is brilliant!! I may reshuffle my plan in the light of your list.

Anonymous

I think Sarah has the perfect idea, 5 days and launder. But shoes are important especially if there is wet weather. You can always buy a shirt or sweater but footwear is trickier.

You are a good daughter, enjoy your time with your mother.
Hugs
Angela - Toronto YLF meet up

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like Sarah's list, too...this is more or less what I would aim for.

(Waving hi to Angela!!)

Sarah A

Veteran

I do wear shoes when I travel... LOL!

totally forgot.... I usually wear the largest item (usually black knee high boots) if traveling by air which is how I usually go places. I pack 1 gear shoes (I know you said you have a pair at your destination though), 1 flat that works with pants and dress. Maybe a second flat if room. At home I only have about 3 pair of shoes I wear in rotation so paring to 1 for a trip works for me. I pack 2 purses, using them as mini bag dividers in my "personal item" bag which is a messenger bag about 18"x10"x6" so the two purses sit side by side in there and holding my couple books/magazines, phone, wallet, quart cosmetics bag, travel snacks etc.

ETA: I also often bring 2-3 silk scarves since they take up no room/no weight and can change the look of an outfit quickly. I might not always wear all the scarves I bring but I like feeling like i have the option.

Sarah A

Veteran

Well I am getting into sharing the whole of my packing plan I'll add two gear outfits to go with the gear shoes. I usually plan to keep up with running as exercise - I have found for me it is realistic to run/walk about 3 days a week when traveling. I usually use the clean gear outfit as loungewear for eating breakfast in. Of all my gear choices I typically bring my two black merino wool T shirts since one is a v-neck and one is a scoop neck these actually work as a layer under a jacket or sweater too. Alright... enough! Hope this will help....

unfrumped

Veteran

I agree you are not likely to need as many changes of clothes if you have laundry access so would pick your faves that you don't mind wearing several times, and washables. Instead think about the types of gatherings, errands and any events and have those nailed, with some cheerful scarves or gloves or jackets for interest. So footwear could easily be the item that allows you to change up an outfit and justify 5-6 pairs. But if you think you could "get away" with overlap amongst footwear, such as less dressy shoes but add earrings or necklace, then that would be lighter for packing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also wanted to add that in this case it MIGHT make sense to plan around known functions. So, if you know you will be attending a holiday party for mom, make sure you have the outfit for that. If you know it will be beach walking with neices and nephews, then the outfit for that, etc. I found for my China trip it did help me feel calmer to first ensure that I had appropriate clothes for each known "event" or type of event, e.g. in that case I needed some clothes appropriate for walking in the city, some clothes appropriate for climbing the Great Wall, some clothes appropriate for meeting our daughter's orphanage director. Etc.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Brilliant! Very good and sound answers. I take it: don't be shy on the shoes, but restrain the clothes. OK. Will do. Love the idea about adding scarves for variety.

Last year I flew to my mom's side in emergency as she was in the hospital. I made my suitcase in 1/2 hr. I thought I'd stay 2 days. I ended up staying six weeks! And I survived with 2 outfits. Well, err... I admit I went shopping eventually. I don't want to do this again.

Sarah, thank you for sharing your travelling capsule and tips! Very useful. I like your method.

Ornella, I admire your discipline.One pair of boots! I can't do that. I need something flat and handy to walk long distance, and something with a heel for holiday parties.

It seems I am not crazy to bring more than one coat. It reassures me.

Suz, yes, the mustard jacket is definitively on the list!