DH's Take on Travel Capsule - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

DH's Take on Travel Capsule

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Yesterday I showed take 1 on my travel capsule for Ireland in October.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-take-one
..Yes I know it's still months awy, but I didn't want to have to unpack my Winter items too early in order to accomodate this.. such is the life of an maximalist.

Last night I showed my husband that post and could see his disapppointment.. I was trying very hard to create a mix and match capsule not using my leather or faux leather jackets, whiich are a huge part of that season for me... Well DH said he wanted it to be "pretty", which of course I instantly cringed about... I want versatile and layers for comfort and warmth..

Right off the bat , he disliked the chambray top, the utility jackets and the houndstooth pants.. He later said it lacked the color he likes from me... When asked to go to my pants and pick what he likes, he came up with my teal skinnies, my cobalt blue with black tribal print straignt legs and purple leopard staight leg jeans.

Then the real issue came up! I was thinking day wear , he wants to know what I'm planning to wear for the pubs at night...His preference there was my black coated skinny jeans and foil coated in browns...

He says he's willing to buy me anything for the trip , but I just don't want to spend crazy amounts on clothes I'll get little to no use of afterwards instead of saving that money for the actual trip....

I don't even know where to begin now...I wanted to each take a carry- on and one checked bag to share. A maximalist trying to pair down with a husband saying take more is impossible situation...

Back to square one...

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Zibbets

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL -- I thought perhaps this was going to be a post about what *he* is planning on taking. I envisioned my husband, who basically throws an extra pair of jeans, two tee shirts, and one button-front shirt into a backpack. And then wonders why he has to go shopping on every trip we ever take!

How about a compromise? Stick with your basic plan, but maybe replace a couple of your basics you planned to take with punchier pieces your husband loves that still mix and match well. Keep it in a coherent color palette, and add some accessories (scarves for warmth and color!) that also work with that chosen color plan.

Good luck! I find packing kinda fun but also a bit stressful. I hate to feel unprepared, but I also hate lugging too much around on vacation.

Anonymous

Tracey, the coated skinny jeans would be perfect for the pubs. Women do bring on the bling and dressier things for evening, even in Killarney, but keeping to dark neutrals. Your faux leather, while you may not see it on others, seems ideal if it can take rain. The teal skinnies sound good if they are a dark teal, not aqua. I am seeing almost exclusively skinny pants.
Foil coated in browns sounds like it would fit in too. I've not seen prints much except plaid and, on older ladies, leopard; but there are lots of embellished necklines, that sort of thing. The stuff in most shop windows is unbelievably frumpy to my eye, but there is lots of embellishment. (It may be because the pieces are too big for the mannequins. )
ETA: tribal print harem pants on students, both male and female.

Neel

Veteran

OK ... I couldn't get to comment on your other post. But I really loved the color scheme and variety you had come up with less number of items. Now you are back to square one because DH doesn't like some stuff? Boo good luck lady!

Glory

Veteran

Well it is wonderful that he cares and notices so much of what you wear! I think Joy has made some great suggestions and she is right on the money about what is worn there. I think dark neutrals are the way to go with some nice accessories.

Carla

Veteran

I agree with Joy, too. Exchange the plaid pants - the red with the brown coated jeans and the black with the teal. Keep your burgundy items (I think they should mix and match with brown and teal). Swap out something with bling for the chambray top?

I don't think you need to start from scratch...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tracey, may I make a suggestion. It's not practical or effective to plan the clothes you're taking to Ireland in Oct now. It's best to assess the weather a few weeks before and again a few days before you leave. Things change a lot - and it's cold in Oct. The days are short - so even when it's mild, it's not for long. Plus, it will probably be wet.

You have done plenty of thinking about this already - and received great suggestions. Any further thought is not going to make a difference at this point.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

thank everyone....
Joy, you are so helpful and I appreciate the time you are taking to answer this Invaluable help to a woman who only takes winter vacations to tropical resorts....

Angie, Wise advice as always. If I am going to get some new items to suit the desires of DH now is a time I can find some great online buys on clearance for winter, so is an ideal time to be doing this, as this has been my M. O. to saving money...

rabbit

Veteran

I echo what Angie says about waiting, also I'm not sure that you will need to buy more clothes with the possible exception of a coat and wool sweater or cardigan.

One thing pointed out in comments in both your and carter's packing threads that I think is worth considering, but of course going with what feels best, is color.

Bright color and bright pastels in my experience which is not as recent as Joy's are very rare in the UK and Paris. The same with bold patterns. Some young people will wear them of course, but in my experience older female British relations won't. I've seen subtle traditional florals and plaids, and colors including white, navy, black, charcoal, dark hunter green, dark burgundy or very dark teal or tweeds. Lots of skirts and dresses and traditional jackets/blazers/coats, pants tend to be skinny and full length, casual sandals were almost non existent.

You will have a great time, and it will all come together -- maybe starting minimalist with a few dark neutral colored items with good versatility and warmth and going from there as you get closer to the date.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Rabbit, I 've been rethinking after all the wonderful advice and wisdom and just put together black, brown, grey, navy, burgundy, dark green bottoms and will take ti from there... Your advice echos what Joy is currently seeing there... This really is so new to me as I've never been to anywhere but Island resort vacations and not Europe and so appreciate the guidance!

One question, what about animal print?

Carla

Veteran

TraceyLiz65, you are not the only one to plan early for an exciting trip! A *year* ago I posted my first travel capsule for a UK trip (England and Scotland) for the month of September. Later I posted the revised capsule and a series of outfits. There were some commonalities, but the colour scheme changed and there were some items that I brought with me that I didn't even own when I put together the first capsule!

FWIW, early September started out cool and I was glad for my cotton turtleneck sweaters and the gloves and hat I packed. The end of the month turned warm, and I was grateful for a light silky top I almost didn't bring. The Longchamps bag was a workhorse that I loaded up with all kinds of stuff from discarded layers to water bottles and emergency rations.

Pics 1-2 first capsule, 3-4 what I brought, 5 day of departure.

This post has 5 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think that much of the "color" you might wear is lost in the pubs except for neck up. So, maybe SYC or buy a couple of light cashmere or tissue wool scarves in your best colors and then, depending on how you read the tea leaves, you could break them out--also jewelry as suggested--and then your capsules are still neutral and you haven't committed to teal pants or something that doesn't fit in as well.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Runcarla for letting me know I am not the only one to think so far ahead... My husband and I have dreamed for over 20 years of this trip and with having children it just wasn't in the cards for us.. With 3 in college in the Fall we can now do this. DH's uncle and Godfather is paying our way, so we are literally pinching ourselves, as the dream was not just to go to Ireland but to go with his dear uncle and with him now being in his 70's we are overwhelmed with joy and the memories we will make with him.

It was very helpful for me to get such wonderful feedback and change my direction. I feel so blessed to have a place to turn for such wisdom! Thanks to all who've responded and made me more confident in my plans...

I think for DH's sake I will oblige him with a few tops with some bling... It's not just about going to the pubs, but I think showing me off to his Boston cousins who've only seen me at weddings and funerals. These are wonderful childhood friends that are dear to him and quality time for us all to connect. There are so many of us going that we might possibly be chartering a plane from Boston.

carter

Veteran

I'm so glad this is a special trip for you! Also happy that you are happy to make some changes to your packing capsule for your husband. We spend so many years devoting all our time and effort (and money) to the kids, that adult trips are truly something special. It's a time to celebrate each other. He wants you to wear clothes that are more "you". What could be better than that?

Zibbets

Veteran

Totally agree with what Carter is saying. I think it's so sweet that 1) he cared enough and trusted you to say something, and 2) you're taking his suggestions to heart. You have a lot of time to plan and look around for just the right things and the items he buys for the trip will have meaning for both of you.

I hope your trip is wonderful. You seem to be a really sweet couple. <3 <3