Happy Friday! We just arrived in Skagway, for a day exploring the countryside by rail, and yesterday was spent dog-sledding on a glacier! Amazing, to say the least. So it was certainly tricky packing for this Alaskan cruise, with so many different scenarios…glacier hiking, dog-sledding, formal dinners, lounging days at sea. I did a pretty good job, but would make some tweaks if I did it all over again. I’ll be sure to share with you once we’re back home.
Packing for a long Spring weekend in New York City wasn’t quite as challenging, and even though we lucked out with some really lovely weather, I brought layering options. These mild temperatures are the easiest to pack for, since the lightweight clothes take so little space in your suitcase. But to stick with my ‘pack it all in a carry-on’ mantra, I chose items that easily played Day to Night duty.
We’ll start with my travel uniform…always a combination of a maxi skirt or dress, paired with a jean jacket, and easy-to-remove shoes. The striped bag doubles as my purse and carry-on, and contains everything I need for a comfortable and entertaining flight. (See what I pack for the flight here.) Once I arrive, I switch to a compact cross body bag for hands-free exploring.
When packing, I lay everything out on the bed, and create full outfits with the jacket, bag, shoes and jewelry. Then I narrow down the shoes and accessories by those that work with the most outfits. That method means you won’t always have the ‘perfect’ shoe for an outfit, but it insures you won’t sacrifice precious bag real estate for a pair of shoes that will only be worn once. Consider your activities too, and choose based on comfortabilty.
It also allows you the freedom to mix-and-match shoes and accessories depending on your mood, itinerary, and weather, once you arrive. Then, it sounds a little geeky, but I take a quick pic of each combination with my phone…it’s nice to refer back to those options once you’re actually on your trip.
Of course my go-to dresses came with me…they take up next to no space, and always arrive unwrinkled. Not to mention, they easily transition from day to night. They also allow me to eat freely without having to worry about getting too tight around the middle. #gluttonoustraveler
Rompers are my latest obsession…some are more comfortable than dresses, and more stylish than shorts…perfect for when you want to be comfortable, but still look pulled-together. Remember, it takes just as much effort to dress like a schlep…so why not look cute?!
You’ve seen this dress in Day to Night action here, and it was perfect again for this trip.
Remember this dress from my Dressing Room Diaries day with Mr. SP? It worked great for day and night, and packed easily, as well.
This outfit was good for lounging around the apartment, or quick morning coffee runs, and the tank and scarf coordinated well with other outfits when an extra layer was needed.
Normally I travel home in the same outfit as I arrive in, but this maxi packs so compactly, and the other items were already in my bag.
It seems like a lot of clothes, but I used this method for packing, and everything fit easily in a single carry-on sized rolling bag. Many of these outfits came with me to Alaska, too…it makes packing simpler when you have set combinations you know work and travel well. Which is your favorite of the bunch? Happy weekend, lovebugs!
See more Packing Tips posts here. And our {Trip Report} with tips and favorite NYC spots here.
