WIW: Thanksgiving travel capsule

For the long holiday weekend, my husband and I went to southern CA to visit my family. We left on Thursday evening, so first we got to have a Thanksgiving meal with his family in the Boston area. Here's what I packed and wore for my vacation.

1: for Thanksgiving in Boston and traveling (both ways). It was absolutely freezing in Boston the day we left so I added the sweater on top of my standard airplane uniform of jersey dress and loose leggings. Very comfy for stuffing my face and then sitting on a plane for six hours.
(handknit sweater, Bailey 44 dress, Gap leggings, Frye boots)

2-3: Graphic tee, leather jacket, faded jeans, and moto boots for a non-shopping Black Friday. A bit cool (for CA) and rainy in the morning. We went to the Getty museum and then out for a late lunch at a local brewery, followed by a trip to the liquor store. The boys (my husband and my sister's fiance) may or may not have dubbed it "Black(out) Friday"...
(Edista tee, Kut jeans, Frye boots, Neiman Marcus jacket)

4: bootcuts for second Thanksgiving - my Mom decided to do the big Thanksgiving meal on Saturday when everyone was around. No shoes in the photo, but that's pretty accurate. Aside from an hour or so spent traipsing around the hill in my parents' back yard (for which I wore my gear sneakers) I didn't leave the house.
(French connection top, Anthro layering tee, Lucky jeans)

5: My favorite way to wear a skirt - with boots and bare legs! CA weather is much more accommodating than Boston weather for this look. I really liked how this came out. Worn to go to the LA Arboretum. It was super hot this day - almost too hot at times for boots!
(Hinge sweatshirt, H&M skirt, Frye boots)

6: Abbey Road outfit for Picture Perfect Monday. I was originally going to wear my watercolor floral tee on this last day of vacation, but realized that I actually had the makings of an Abbey Road inspired outfit with me with my zebra tee and bootcut jeans.
(Edista tee, Lucky jeans, Frye boots)

7: My (tiny) luggage. My Frye Veronica shorties are there for scale. The fuchsia bag is actually an overnight bag. I used the olive MZ Wallace purse for the entire trip.

Bonus photo of a peacock at the Arboretum. Such lovely colors!

PS - Will post more musings about my travel capsule in a reply below. This post is long enough.

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12 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

Great capsule! It's nice to be able to revert to uncomplicated warm-weather dressing (skirt with bare legs) for a while. I love your Edista tee in both outfits. Great job packing small! I was debating whether to use Frye Veronica for a conference travel capsule in a couple of weeks so I am glad to see your outfit combinations for inspiration.

Diana

So, for my 4 day travel capsule, I packed (all in the small fuchsia bag):

4 tops:
-zebra tee
-red top + printed layering tank (counted as one top because neither is wearable on its own)
-lace front sweatshirt
-watercolor tee (not worn, although I did wear it today for the Alanis outfit)

3 bottoms:
-blue bootcut jeans
-faded black slim straight jeans
-black/grey printed skirt

1 dress:
-printed jersey dress (for traveling both ways) with leggings

2 pairs of shoes:
-Frye short black moto boots (worn almost every day)
-New Balance sneakers (gear, for hiking and stuff - not shown but worn)

3 toppers:
-handknit sweater (for Boston and cold planes, not worn in CA at all)
-turquoise leather moto (worn to travel, on the one cooler day, and in the evenings)
-long black jersey drapey cardigan (not shown, but worn in the evenings when hanging out in the house)

2 scarves:
-teal pashmina (worn in Boston and on planes)
-handknit navy lace scarf (not worn, it was too warm in CA)

Plus PJs, undergarments, socks, and toiletries. The olive purse contains my keys/wallet/phone/sunglasses, my ipad, and some knitting (and I shoved my scarf and sweater in there on the plane as well).

All in all, I am very pleased with this travel capsule! As I think you can see, most of it is highly remixable, so I could have gotten a lot more than just these few outfits out of it. And I wore almost everything I brought, with the exception of one tee (which I was planning to wear) and one scarf (too warm).

I think next time I will bring one more pair of shoes though. My feet are fussy enough that they don't like wearing the same shoes for multiple days in a row, plus I had a couple of days that involved a lot of walking, so I did wish I had another shoe option. (Yes, I had my gear sneakers but I'm vain enough that I didn't want to wear them out and about.) I could have fit a pair of oxfords or my slipper flats in the bag, so I will do that next time.

I also fully realize the leather jacket is not really warm enough for Boston at this time of year. This is a conscious choice that I always make to just suck it up and be cold on the way to and from the airport. Otherwise, I have to wear my wool coat AND bring a lighter jacket for CA, and that's packing way too heavy for me.

Caro in Oz

Love #2 & #3 - the jacket is a fantastic colour. The proportions in #5 are very satisfying -so effortlessly chic.

Aida

I'm amazed you were able to fit all that in there, especially since shoes were involved! I think adding a pair of oxfords is a great idea, as is nixing the big heavy coat and just toughing out the short outdoors bit. You looked fab for your trip, but I am especially fond of #2 and #5!

CocoLion

(website)

Brilliant travel capsule! I am so impressed that you got it into that one tiny fuchsia bag. #5 is really cute on you. And so are the different ways you mixed the zebra tee.

Neel

I am working on a travel capsule myself for a 3 week holiday and this is a very helpful post! Thanks!

I love all your outfits. The turqouise jacket is lovely!

minimalist

So attractive, as well as apparently practical! Thanks for the details, especially the bag shot.

Which additional shoes would you bring next time?

LAR101

Active Member

Great capsule. I'm studying. Thank-you for the break downs & pics.
My fav is the very last outfit, #6.
Even like that over #2 - couldn't tell you why - they're so similar.

Thanks, everyone!

Amy, I'd probably add my gold flat oxfords. They would go with everything. So would my grey ones but I think gold is more different than the black boots. If I had a bigger bag I'd consider some other boots as well.

I feel like I should mention that I have really small toiletries and do not use a hair dryer. If I had to lug a hair dryer around the small bag would probably not work.

Anonymous

Amazing! This is a great little travel capsule, especially as you were in different climates. 5&6 are my favorites but all your outfits look great.

lyn*

Whoa; that's a lot to pack into that tiny little bag! Good job!

Beth Ann

I lived in Arcadia for a few years, very near an arboretum and home to many nesting peacocks!

How amazing that you got all of these wonderful looks into that tiny suitcase! I'm really fond of the zebra outfit! Graphic, and a cut above most of these tees!

Elizabeth P

wow, good job! I can't believe you got all that into one tiny bag. I love love love that zebra tee... really wish I'd seen it while my size was still around - it's me!

Beth Ann, I spent on campus a week at Arcadia in 1999... never walked so many stairs in my life...

Transcona Shannon

Fab capsule Diana and brilliant packing. I think each of these outfits works very well for their intended occasions. BTW I covet your zebra tee more and more every time I see it!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

(Hello from a freezing Seattle. It's -3 here. (25 I think?), and will be even colder the rest of the week. I am wrapping up I tell you. And I loathe scraping the ice off my car).

Diana, what a great travel capsule. I am blown away by #5. Absolutely K to the power of K. One of your best this year. Simple Arty RATE chaos with polished spunk.

Love seeing all of your combos! You look wonderful; I think I love your travel outfit the most because all of the textures and patterns playing with each other. I pack very similarly: I don't bring a dress, so sometimes I end up with 5 tops, but I always do 3 bottoms and 2-3 toppers too.

Suz

What a fantastic capsule! In a fuchsia bag, no less! Wow. And may I just say your hair is looking wonderful, too. I am especially in love with outfit #5, but I also love love love that zebra top on you. And admire your smart planning for #1.

JAileen

The turquoise jacket looks wonderful on you. You should wear that color more often.

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