Packing Capsules for Spring Travel

Lots of travel coming up for me. For those who like these sort of posts, here's what I've come up with for my packing capsules, as I am still intent on the challenge of fitting everything into a 22 inch spinner.

Pics 1& 2 - San Diego - 9 days combined business/pleasure. (The first outfit in the series is what I plan to wear on the plane). The count:

5 tops - 3 work appropriate, 2 casual; includes one pullover
3 toppers - jean jacket + two lightweight cardigans
3 bottoms - white Maddie's, black pants, black VC tube skirt (could swap out one of these for jeans)
6 dresses - 2 work appropriate, 4 casual
3 shoes - 1 sandal, 1 heel, 1 sneaker-like flat
2 scarves
Beach/pool capsule - includes shorts which can go with the casual tops
Accessories

The business portion is complicated by the fact there will be evening activities that will require "costume" changes. For example one night we're supposed to dress up a bit, hence the red dress. Another night we may be outside on a beach, hence the sweater. I'm stressing more over the business part of the trip, than the pleasure part. Will be staying later at my sister's so likely much more casual, hang by the pool... and I can do laundry there if needed.

I probably don't need all this, BUT - I think it will all fit. If it doesn't, I'll cull down the number of dresses and bring just 1 work appropriate + 3 casual. DH is coming with me on this one, so that means I can take the Minkoff backpack as my second carry on as he will carry my laptop bag for me. He'll likely take his bigger bag which he checks, and which I can tuck in any extras as needed, which is what we did on our recent adventure.

Pics 3 - New York & Chicago in the same week, all business except for the first day & night. This business trip requires dressing up a bit more than usual, as I will be around customers and also ... New York. No formal suit required though. Note the heels will be worn in the office only; will carry them in my laptop bag and swap into them when I arrive at the office.

5 tops
2 toppers - trench & cardigan
3 pants
3 shoes
Accessories

Pic 4 - Austin for business, late Spring so it will be hot. It's an internal meeting--jeans are allowed (but I think it'll be too hot for jeans). So I can go a bit more casual, i.e., denim shirt and silver sandals or jean jacket as topper for chilly air conditioning will be just fine and is my interpretation of "jeans are allowed." I may have some time to meet up with a friend on the last day before I fly out - hence the maxi sundress. I love traveling in maxi dresses - nothing could be cozier.

2 toppers
3 dresses
2 bottoms
3 tops
2 shoes

If the shoes I have on order don't work out, I've selected alternatives which are shown.

Let me know your thoughts - what am I missing?

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10 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like these as capsules, and I'm always impressed with your ability to travel light. What's your field, again, Shiny? I thought you were more in the kind of work that might need a blazer instead of a jean jacket.

rabbit

I'll have to come back later for a more in-depth read but I love how you have layered your daily outfits (is it in ppt?) and the combos look great! Comfortable, simple, and chic.

shiny

I'm in high tech marketing. I only need to wear a blazer if I'm going to be around customers, like at a conference or trade show, and even then, there are exceptions. It all depends.

These Spring trips are all internal meetings. It's not uncommon for some of these internal off-site meetings to have a very casual dress code -- I have seen women wear maxi dresses, casual sundresses, and thong sandals to these, and men wearing shorts and polo or short sleeve dress shirts. I don't think I would personally go that casual, but I do think the silver sandals are just fine.

Those meetings that are in one of the offices still don't get too formal - because it's high tech. You can still wear dark wash or white jeans to the office. I do see a lot of women wearing dresses and skirts. Very rare to see a blazer, but you will see leather jackets, cardigans, and other interesting toppers as the third piece. I would not wear a jean jacket to any of the offices but for off-site meetings, when we are encouraged to be more casual, then.. sure!

Karie

(website)

Well done with your travel capsules! The first one does seem a little heavy in the dress dept., but as you said if it doesn't all fit you can cut down on those. The other two capsules look perfect.

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