Shiny's Packing for 3-day NYC Weekend Challenge - YouLookFab Forum

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Shiny's Packing for 3-day NYC Weekend Challenge

shiny

Veteran

I mentioned elsewhere that I have a 3-day weekend in NYC coming up, end of September. The occasion: a dear friend's "big one" birthday. An action-packed weekend is planned, including lots of shopping.

I thought packing for this wasn't going to be too difficult, but just said yes to giving rides back to Boston to two of my friends. Which means I do not have as much trunk space (our trunk is already tiny to begin with). Which means I have to pack light.... EEK. I don't do "light" well!

To make this fun, I thought we could do a YLF Forum challenge, if anyone is interested?

The challenge, should you choose to accept it: Show me the outfits you'd pack and wear if it was you going on this weekend trip. Pick one event ("shopping with girlfriends" "dinner out" "show" "brunch" "walking around central park" "in case it rains" "in case it gets cold" "for the drive there and back" "here's how you dress in layers for a variable day" etc,) or several. Your choice.

You are also free to just give me tips and advice about what to pack, to keep it all to a minimum!! I know-- "black." And comfortable shoes. Heh heh.

Weather: so far looks like 70s, cooling down in the evening. It could get colder or wetter as we get closer. The itinerary includes shopping, dinners, brunches, shows... all the usual suspects....

I'm putting this under "Inspiration" because I need inspiring....

14 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh! This sounds fun!! I will try to do this if I can get my photographer to cooperate with me.

ElleH

Veteran

I usually pack everything in black. I wear my black Frye Veronica boots for flight but driving would work too.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fr.....origin=pla

They are comfortable for walking & go with everything I take.

For dressy I take a pair of black high heeled boots & plan to get a cab that night. I bought but haven't done a lot of walking in yet these Frye booties http://www.getoutsideshoes.com.....038;color=

They are quite high, about 3 1/2 inches but thick heeled, unlike my really high stilleto booties, & padded insole like all Fryes. I wouldn't walk all day sight seeing but could hopefully do the walking my hubby & his friends usually require.

Instead of jeans I take black leggings & wear with tunic tops or with a black tube skirt when I want to wear a shorter top because to me leggings are not pants.

http://www.hm.com/us/product/98221?article=98221-A

I wear thick Lululemon leggings which double as yoga or workout gear, though I never end up doing either lol. If I take two pairs they still don't take up nearly as much room as jeans or weigh as much either. I usually wear one pair to travel in.

I have a packable rain coat, not the really light ones but it is a Calvin Klein, & a dressier red raincoat but still light weight. You could just take one. They both roll up without creasing. They are lighter weight than my DKNY trench.

I got this one in army green to have less black on

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049.....B0049U3UI6

And this which looks much better IRL cos this is too big for model.

http://www.zappos.com/ivanka-t.....t-lipstick

I take a Theory black shift dress & a dressy black Rag & Bone military jacket which has leather trim. The jacket goes with dress & black coated jeans & heeled booties for dressier occasions like dinner.

I have a leather jacket for casual outfits layered with a black Lululemon hoodie with fur for warmth.

Diana

Veteran

Oh! I wish I had known about your challenge last week since I just came back from a long weekend trip to NYC/NJ. I did not take any outfit photos, but I'll describe what I wore. I took the bus, so I had just my purse and my longchamps large Le Pliage bag with my clothes in it.

Friday (full day of lab, followed by bus trip): denim clamdiggers, printed tunic top, grey flat oxfords, dark blue asymmetrical lightweight cardi

Saturday (afternoon in NYC (museum/walking around/food) followed by a casual party at a friend's apartment in Hoboken): teal fitted scoopneck tee, slouchy black silky clamdiggers, grey oxfords, leopard scarf, and silver bracelet. Oh, and my denim jacket for when it was cool out.

Sunday (another full day in NYC (lunch, another museum, Central Park, high line, a lot more random walking around, beers w/ a friend): knee-length black cotton sundress, sheer printed dolman blouse over the dress, flat teal sandals, and long chain necklace. Brought the denim jacket again but it was warm enough not to need it.

Monday (brunch in jersey, and bus ride home): blousy purple 3/4 sleeve knit top, the slouchy black clams again, grey oxfords.

The only thing I brought that I did not wear was one skirt. For colder weather, I'd have swapped out the cropped pants for full length ones and brought some tights for the skirt and a heavier jacket. Also maybe boots instead of the oxfords. I think my weekend was probably a bit more casual than yours since I had no really fancy events (like fancy dinner, or a show) to attend. I always bring more than one pair of comfy shoes to NYC because I know I will be walking a ton, and my feet are super fussy and cannot handle wearing the same shoes, no matter how comfy, multiple days in a row when heavy walking is involved.

ElleH

Veteran

Here's a bad pic of the jacket with a DVF sheath.

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shiny

Veteran

Elle, great list! How do you break up the black? With purse/scarf?

Boots: I do have tall black flat boots. But, I usually prefer to wear black dresses with brown or wine rather than black. I have brown tall wedge heel boots... they have a 3 inch heel, but believe it or not, I've walked as long as 8 hours in the city in them. So they may work... hmm.

Knit pieces: I have the black "travel" dress I wore this weekend (see recent WiW). That is definitely coming along.

Jeans: I will probably bring some. I think.

Trench: I have a packable black-and-white micro houndstooth. That is coming.

Shift dress: I get the black midi sheath back from the tailor tomorrow. Cross fingers ...

Jackets: will have to think that one through... I could go a bit nuts here, if I'm not careful. And it'll be weather dependent.

Purses? I am figuring one for day, a clutch for evening. Leaning towards red Moschino for day, white clutch for night... but we'll see how it all falls out...

ElleH

Veteran

I break up black with scarves & or raincoats, which I wear alone if not too cold or a hoodie underneath if cold, but I just ordered today's store update orange Kenneth Cole coat. Some of my tops are grey or black & white, not really a color but they go with everything.

I take a black clutch for evening & a huge black slouchy bag to carry everything in the rest of the time. It is crossbody & heavy but I sometimes don't go back to the hotel & need to carry water, maybe a sweater or jacket, make-up, you may carry shoes in it too. It could fit an ipad in it's sleeve too if you wanted to. I am careful to only take what I need each day though to reduce weight.

I like cognac boots with black & have that color in my scarves too. I just haven't taken that combo to NY because it's one or the other, I'm not going to take many.

Jackets I would feel necessary for me in September are packable raincoat, dressy jacket to go with LBD & jeans, casual leather jacket which is warmer than denim & waterproof-ish & then I guess I would take a wool coat. I know it is dressier than a hoodie under the raincoat but seems to take up more room so I don't know about that. I know people don't like hoodies but my $150 dollar Lululemon with detachable fur around the hood is OK right?

http://www.google.com/imgres?q.....2,s:0,i:81

ETA: Slouchy is key with a large purse because totes knock into everybody on public transport. The slouchy ones that lie flatter against the body are better. Also the crossbody makes shopping easier. Make sure you keep purse at front of you when crossbody to avoid pickpockets. Also purses that zip all the way closed, are best I think. I bought a large Longchamp Le Pliage in black for rainy weather. It folds up & is great for carry on too. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lo.....ag/2938978

ElleH

Veteran

If you take red day purse the brown boots might look better than wine, though I haven't seen the shades of red & wine you are talking about.

Diana has a good point about more than one pair of comfortable shoes. I too have fussy feet & I forgot to add that I also take ballet flats but one thing I know with fussy feet, no matter how comfortable the shoes usually are, when I walk long distances around NY my feet or body end up hurting.

ETA: I doubt it will be still hot but I bought these in pic below for Summer in NY when it is also raining. They have cushion & are made of rubber or plastic. I don't know how comfy they are for all that walking but for me it is a matter of how uncomfortable. http://www.crocs.com/crocs-sex.....QgodXTsA6w

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Laura

(website)

Veteran

Stuart Weitzman ballet flats!

And they go with everything

ElleH

Veteran

Not to hijack Shiny's thread but Laura how comfortable are the Stuart Weitzman for fussy feet? I take my Fryes because they have great padding inside & are wide. I have wide feet. Is there a particular style that is best? Thanks:)

shiny

Veteran

I'm so glad I started this thread! Wealth of ideas here!

Diana, I love your outfits though I'm anticipating it may be cooler in two weeks... then again, you never know! Totally agree about taking extra shoes. Socks are ideal, for lots of walking... so let's hope it's cool enough for them. Otherwise, I have the Stuart Weitzman Giveables which are great, but I find that too much walking in flats -- any flats-- can also be a strain. There's always shopping for new shoes, if crisis hits.

Also I should add that this crowd would not take public transpo. We're a taxi crowd. And one of us (not me, hee hee) is pregnant, so I'm sure we'll be pacing accordingly, with lots of sitting/resting time.

Elle, good wisdom on the slouchy purse. That would likely be my cobalt bag, which I've been using a lot lately. I have purged a lot of my other slouchies recently. I was thinking this was one item I'd be hunting for in NYC. The red purse is not a tote, it's streamlined and it does have a zipper. Not worried about bopping anyone with it, but you are probably right: it's not going to stash a water bottle, scarf, cardi... so it looks like cobalt bag then...

I really hope I don't need a wool coat! We're all hoping against that, because it'd be a tight fit in the car, if we all have to pack wool coats... With proper layering (moto jacket, scarf, cardigan, cami... ) I can probably get the trench to be warm enough.

ElleH

Veteran

If you are taking all the jackets you mentioned I think you could skip the wool coat. You could layer the card under the moto if needed. It's easier to carry a jacket than a coat when you are inside department stores too.

Sometimes there is still quite a bit of walking to get a taxi so keep that in mind with shoes & jackets etc.

Have fun shopping!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'd start with the shoes maximum 3 pairs. I'd choose a neutral colour as a base - navy for me but black works too:) I'd take 3 bottoms & six tops. Some of the tops would be dressier but I'd want all the tops to work with all the bottoms. Then I'd layer jackets, coats etc. I'd layer with camis or long-sleeve fitted tops for warmth if needed too. I'd take a messenger bag for day & a smaller bag for evening. A couple of scarves & minimum jewellery. I'd want to leave room for all my fab purchases!!!! Oh I'd also wear my bulkiest outfit travelling - more room in the bag.

qpswan

Love this challenge! Here is close to what I wore shopping in Seattle with my DD and my favourite frelatives.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=59114273

Except that I paid $20.00 for my navy maxi skirt at Nordstrom's Rack...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So....here's my NYC trip capsule from the spring. Remember that freakish heat wave we had in March? Well...that is when I was travelling. I really had to prepare for EVERY weather eventuality. And I was gone 7 days, not 3, but doing similar things to you - museums, shows, dinners. I did more walking, it sounds like.

I ended up wearing almost everything I brought - and then some! I ordered stuff to be delivered while I was there and wore it immediately!

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....sule-squee