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how to pack for a transatlantic trip in one suitcase

10/8/2013

2 Comments

 
    At the end of this week my parents are heading to Austria for a friend's retirement party and my mom is worried that she is going to over pack. Although she read through my tips for packing the perfect suitcase, she got stuck on tip #2: lay out all the items you are planning to bring as outfits. Her goal is to bring a limited number of pieces while still having options if she finds out a last minute amendment to the dress code. So for five days (including 2 dressier evening events) I have curated a portable wardrobe of 11 pieces and 6 accessories that create 26 outfit options.
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    When you have a long flight you don't want to wear the pieces that are going to be integral to your vacation wardrobe. Jane isn't planning on wearing jeans during her time in Vienna, but since it is a good backup to have, it is perfect for a plane outfit. By wearing a pair of dark wash jeans, a long sleeve printed tee and cute sneakers for the travel leg, she gives herself casual options without taking up valuable space in her suitcase. Just like it is important to plan for the possibility of a dressy occasion, you should always pack something that can be dressed down in the event you go for a hike through the hills or end up at a dive bar. Plus, no matter how comfy you think your ballet flats and heels are, you will want a sneaker in case of blisters.
    In addition to the plane outfit, my packing list includes a blue patterned wrap dress, a blue wrap cardigan, a white lace long sleeve tee, a long taupe cardigan, a teal silk shell, a grey ruffle cardigan, wool trousers, a grey silk shell with beaded detailing, and ivory dot ankle pants. I kept accessories to a minimum with a reversible metallic belt, a teal patterned scarf, a single necklace to be chosen by Jane, one pair of ballet flats for day, and one pair of heels for night. Since the photos in this post were taken previously, many of the outfits show alternate accessories, but in the interest of suitcase space, I have limited the options.
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    Although there are many options for mixing and matching these pieces, it is always helpful to have an idea of your daily outfits so that you don't waste your trip trying to get dressed each morning. You can change your mind later, but start with a plan.
    The key for a short trip is to have every able to mix and match. This means that you will want to stay within a single color palette. Although I am utilizing lots of neutrals, the color pops are all cool. Since the weather will be in the high 50s for most of the visit and nearly every outfit will require an extra layer, I have added a third cardigan to the rotation even though it is not completely necessary. A way to avoid the extra cardigan would be to pack tops with longer sleeves instead of silk shells but it is difficult to find cute long sleeve tops that are not tees. However, your outer layers are also most likely to get dirt or food on them, so it is better to be prepared with an extra piece than to try to locate a washing machine in a foreign country.
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    When using neutrals as the bulk of your wardrobe it is important that you still maintain visual interest. The grey cardigan has three dimensional movement as a result of the the ruffles so even though it is a single dark color, it feels light and fun. The lace front on the white tee adds a subtle texture, the tie on the blue wrap cardigan can be manipulated into various bows and knots and the ankle pants have an unobtrusive pattern that prevents the color from looking flat. All of the cardigans I chose are variations of the norm. The unexpected twist (wrap, long, or ruffle) add an extra pop even if the color is neutral.
    I have chosen my favorites combinations not just from a style point perspective, but so that the collection as a whole is interesting and diverse. There is no point in packing a versatile wardrobe if it looks like you are wearing the same thing everyday!

Day 1: Wool trousers with grey silk shell, blue wrap cardigan, teal patterned scarf and ballet flats

Day 2: Dot ankle pants with teal silk shell tucked in, grey ruffle cardigan, metallic belt and ballet flats
Evening 2: Blue patterned wrap dress with metallic belt, necklace and heels (photo below the break)

Day 3: Jeans with printed tee, blue wrap cardigan, teal patterned scarf and ballet flats
Evening 3: Wool trousers with teal silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan, metallic belt, necklace, and heels (photo above right)

Day 4: Blue patterned wrap dress with long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and ballet flats
Evening 4: Dot ankle pants with white lace tee, long taupe cardigan, necklace, metallic belt and heels (photo to right)

Day 5: Wool trousers with white lace tee, teal patterned scarf and ballet flats

    Changing the way that you style an outfit can make a big difference when you are limited by your wardrobe options. If you wear a blouse untucked one day, then the next try tucking in your top and add a belt through the loops; alternate each day between a scarf and a necklace; and if you have the option to skip a cardigan or outer layer one day, do it! The key is to keep any one piece from looking too familiar and to prevent your outfits from looking formulaic.
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Curious what all 26 outfit options are? Keep on reading:
1. Blue patterned wrap dress with metallic belt and necklace (see photo)
2. Blue patterned wrap dress with blue wrap cardigan and necklace (see photo)
3. Blue patterned wrap dress with grey ruffle cardigan and necklace
4. Blue patterned wrap dress with long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and necklace
5. Jeans with white lace tee and teal patterned scarf
6. Jeans with white lace tee, blue wrap cardigan and teal patterned scarf (see photo)
7. Jeans with patterned tee and teal patterned scarf
8. Jeans with patterned tee, blue wrap cardigan and teal patterned scarf
9. Dot ankle pants with white lace tee, metallic belt and teal patterned scarf (see photo)
10. Dot ankle pants with white lace tee, long taupe cardigan, necklace and metallic belt (see photo)
11. Dot ankle pants with teal silk shell, long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and patterned teal scarf
12. Dot ankle pants with grey silk shell, long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and necklace
13. Dot ankle pants with white lace tee, blue wrap cardigan and necklace
14. Dot ankle pants with teal silk shell, blue wrap cardigan and patterned teal scarf
15. Dot ankle pants with grey silk shell, blue wrap cardigan and necklace
16. Dot ankle pants with teal silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan and necklace
17. Dot ankle pants with grey silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan and necklace
18. Wool trousers with white lace tee, metallic belt and teal patterned scarf
19. Wool trousers with white lace tee, long taupe cardigan, necklace and metallic belt
20. Wool trousers with teal silk shell, long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and patterned teal scarf
21. Wool trousers with grey silk shell, long taupe cardigan, metallic belt and necklace
22. Wool trousers with white lace tee, blue wrap cardigan and necklace
23. Wool trousers with teal silk shell, blue wrap cardigan and patterned teal scarf
24. Wool trousers with grey silk shell, blue wrap cardigan and necklace
25. Wool trousers with teal silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan and necklace
26. Wool trousers with grey silk shell, grey ruffle cardigan and necklace
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2 Comments
Jane
10/10/2013 02:04:48 am

Woohoo! This is fabulous, Alice. Thank you so much!!
I am so glad to have all this versatility in my outfits because there are a lot of activities on our agenda.

Reply
Jane
10/16/2013 08:32:40 am

Just reporting that my outfits were both stylish and practical during my week in Vienna. I never felt like an "ugly American!"
Thanks, Alice!

Reply



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