Casual capsule for a Fall workshop (LONG) - YouLookFab Forum

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Casual capsule for a Fall workshop (LONG)

Nadya

Veteran

As I squee'd about in OffTopic a couple months ago, I'll be attending a week long writing workshop next month on Martha's Vineyard. It will be very casual and my goal is to travel with just a carryon bag and my laptop bag. I'll be traveling on a Saturday and returning the following Saturday. I've had such fun admiring all your capsules, I thought I'd tried my own. Please excuse the sloppy styling - some of these items need a pressing, or aren't hung straight, and my photography goal was do it fast!

So the idea is:
Two cardigans: Blue Union Jack, and black mixed media

Tops: I may edit this down as I get closer to good weather forecasts. I understand this time of year the weather is pretty changeable. But for now I have: multicolor zigzag shell, graphic Portland t-shirt to keep me from being homesick, grey slouchy tee, white v-neck tee, s/s slouchy green cashmere, black slouchy v-neck cashmere sweater and metal trimmed black shell. Yeah, this is definitely too much - I'll have to edit this when I know more about the weather. There are laundry facilities so I can wash things.

Three bottoms: NYDJ ponte knit straight legs, Kut Slim Catherine BF jeans, and tried and true Lane Bryant wide leg jeans

Shoes: Black studded boots and green cons. If the weather looks good I'll swap one of these for black city sandals.

And: Purple cashmere wrap.
Not shown: Olive green hooded anorak.

I MAY sneak in my black and white stripped knit maxi skirt because it's super comfy and a bit dressy. The instructors suggest we bring something dressy in case we want to go to one of the nicer restaurants, but I figure the black pants will work for that. And if I bring the skirt, I'll have to throw in different shoes, unless I bring the sandals. Oh, the permutations!

Final picture is what I plan to wear on the plane, plus the purple wrap.

Any suggestions? Any obvious gaps or redundancies? Any suggestions from someone who's actually been to Martha's Vineyard before?

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Nadya

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Nice job! I think it looks like a great travel capsule and will suit your purpose beautifully. Does the green cashmere have long sleeves? If not, I'd probably drop it in favor of the black one, as I would want sleeves in cooler weather. I'd take a windbreaker type jacket for walking on the beach--but though I've been to east coast beaches, I haven't been to Martha's Vineyard. You could take a scarf that would mix with a few of the tops, for added variety and warmth if you need it.
What a fantastic opportunity, too--have a great time!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Good job on this capsule! The only thing missing here is... me!

I checked the weather for Martha's Vineyard and the temps are between 50-80 (80 would be a record high this time of year). With rain a common phenomenon. (Hey does that sound like Portland weather?)

So I'm sure you've thought of this, but layers make sense. The cashmere sweaters sound like a good idea. (Except maybe the short sleeved cashmere top which doesn't make as much sense to me unless it works under a cardi.) So you could do a white t + cashmere l/s sweater + anorak if it got rainy and windy. I wouldn't bring sandals. Can you wear the maxi with the boots?

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Lovely. I would probably throw in another long sleeved tissue tshirt, to layer. Have fun!! (oh, I love the Cons. I had to give my teal Cons to my daughter - boohoo.)

Nadya

Veteran

Thanks everyone! Such great points about layering - that s/s cashmere is one of my favorites, but probably not right for this trip. I'll ditch it and add a s/s or l/s tee for layering.

Denise - yes! I could wear the maxi with the boots. I bought it this summer haven't "fallified" it yet so it never occurred to me. Thanks!

If anyone else reads this, I'm frankly curious about the relatively low response rate. Was it the craptastic photos and styling? Is it much easier to respond to thread like Suz's and Ingunn's where they show more outfits as well as decent photos? I'm not whinging, just trying to read the "non-verbal communication" in the forum :-).

Anonymous

I have been really busy lately and barely checking in to the forum, so I just am seeing this now! I think this is a great capsule, and I agree about the short sleeved top.

Kat

Veteran

crazy busy here, too and barely commenting. Love your style and this post (and your wonderful descriptions) actually had me going back to look at some of your other posts for style reference. I think you've got some good advice, I'll add to the chorus re: layering options-Martha's Vineyard can be wet-breezy if that makes any sense, and I find that that makes me chillier than the actual temps may indicate. As far as responses, it is sometimes easier to give input if I can see someone IN the clothes, so maybe that is it?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I just saw this now! It could be because of time zone differences. It was probably posted when I was asleep and then drifted back to the second page...

I think this looks like a great capsule. I do think you might need a warmer jacket. It is not likely to be 50 degrees but it's not likely to be 80, either. I am with Denise that you probably won't need sandals. I really like the idea of the wrap for post-beach warming up.

Will you be required or asked to give a short reading? Often at these events this is part of the deal, though they don't always tell you in advance. In that case, you'll want something that feels presentable, a little dressier, something that gives you presence, if you know what I mean. The boots and pants would be great, but I always feel best if I have a jacket on at those times.

Nadya

Veteran

I didn't post a picture of the jacket I was planning to bring - it's a hooded olive green anorak. Not the warmest, but good for mist and rain, and I'm hoping with layering and the purple cashmere wrap in the second photo I'll be OK.

Suz - good question! We're workshopping the piece we submitted, so I don't think there will be any readings, but who knows what they'll throw at us. The audience will just be staff and students I imagine, and the black cardigan has enough structure I think it would fill in for a jacket - I do know what you mean!

Kat, Thanks for the feedback. I get that it is easier to post when you can see the clothes on. I know folks here all are busy which is why I wanted to ask about what makes it easier to provide feedback. If I do this again it would probably be worth my time to do a better job ;-). You get back in relation to what you put in!

rachylou

Veteran

I love the rocker vibe. Maybe I'd do three tops, 2 sweaters.

Anonymous

As someone who spends a long weekend at an East Coast beach every Columbus Day, my advice is to plan for it to be unseasonably hot at least some days and unseasonably freezing a few others (with pleasant weather in between). Then focus on your comfort at those extremes - what bothers you most? I can't stand my core to be overheated or cold so I always have a tank and a heavy sweatershirt/coat as options. Scarves are also essential! My legs and feet don't bother me much if they're too hot or cold so I take less options that cover those areas. Hope that helps with the weather aspect! Your capsule looks good to me. Love your outfit for the plane!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Nadya, I think you may have gotten a low response rate because you posed a kind of difficult question to answer. Since there were no outfit photos of you in the clothes, we couldn't just respond, "ooh, I love outfit 3," or something quickly like that. It took thought to go through the photos and think about what might be missing or unnecessary. The upside is that the responses you got were actually answering your questions, rather than "ooh, nice outfit in photo 3."

Perhaps it was mainly timing, as Suz said. I've often found my posts don't get any responses right away, because I'm posting when people on the East Coast are asleep. Then my post gets buried, because others have woken up and posted while I'm sleeping, and their posts get comments. (That's what I tell myself anyway!) I just wait in hopes someone will notice my post and feel inclined to resurrect it.

ETA: Oh, and I've found if I post mid-week, say Wednesday, the response is less than on a Monday or Friday or weekend. Weekend I get, but Monday? Go figure.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Firecracker, I think it's because we have different "regulars" at different times of the week. Well, some of us are alway on here (insert blushing face) but most people have actual lives and they are able to be on EITHER when they are at work (dull desk jobs) OR when they are on their "off" time.

Nadya

Veteran

Firecracker - that makes a lot of sense. And you're right, the responses I got were spot on and very helpful. Heck, just the act of putting my initial post together was very helpful in terms of clarifying what I was doing and realizing issues. (Writing is so clarifying!)

And the timing is interesting - I hadn't thought of the mid-week vs. weekend or day/night crowds. I'm quite aware of the time zones as often if I pop on when I cant sleep I see the Aussie crowd out posting, and of course the Europeans may chime in first on a late night (US Pacific time) post as they're getting up. That's one of the many charms of YLF.

Thanks for talking it through with me!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nadya, I used to be very active on a forum for adoptive mothers. When I lived on the east coast I had a certain rhythm. Then I moved to the west and for about a month I was shattered! I couldn't figure out why my regular "pals" were not commenting on my posts! Or I got frustrated because I found myself popping in "too late" to threads to make any difference. But I did get used to the pattern eventually and came to know new people, which was cool.

If you get time to be on YLF at all when you are on the east coast, you might find the dynamic different!

I do think it helps if you post outfits on the body. It's just easier for people to make sense of it all that way. But even then:

Some people prefer text heavy posts with lots of description.

Some people hate that, and won't read text heavy posts.

Some people LOVE lots of photos.

Some people want only one or two photos.

Some people like to answer a specific question.

Others like free range to say whatever....

Responses vary according to so many factors.

Nadya

Veteran

Suz,
How interesting! That never would have occurred to me ithat would make such a difference. But I can see how it would, especially with new moms who may only have narrow windows to go online. You'd kind of get to know people who are living in your same windows.

I did wait roughly 24 hours and had three lovely, helpful answers. But three is relatively low for YLF, so I truly appreciate the discussion. I've said before I'm sometimes baffled by online community norms - I swear usenet was easier for me!

(Ha! I think I that was the Internet equivalent of "Hey, kids! Get off my lawn!")