wearing lately: summer weekend suitcase

Now that we've moved back to Michigan, my summer travels are only short distances, since it's just a little over an hour to my parents' cottage on Lake Michigan from our new house - but going there on the weekends still means plenty of summer suitcase packing, and as always, it pays to be smart about the mixing & matching so that I have everything I need and still fit it into a weekender bag. Here's what I brought along (aside from the beachwear, of course!) for 4th of July weekend:

lightweight cardigan (similar) | eyelet tank (similar) | chambray shirt | skinny jeans (similar) | striped dress | belt (similar) | sunnies | navy shorts | flat sandals (similar) | beach bag (similar) | necklace | espadrilles

It can often be chilly in the mornings and evenings when we're staying on the lake, so it's always essential to have a good mix of layers. It's pretty casual since we don't tend to leave the cottage much when we get there, aside from going to the beach, but it's always nice to feel a bit pulled together when I come up from the beach and clean up for happy hour/dinner. For the 4th we also had a big extended family get-together to go to, so that was an excuse to dress up even a little more (plus make my family match me, ha!).

And while the color scheme was perfect for the holiday weekend, I think the nautical vibes make it fun all summer long, which is a good thing, because I didn't even come close to wearing all the possible outfit combinations on a 3-day weekend - so I think I'll just pack this same stuff up when we go back next weekend, and I'm good to go. Here are a few outfits I did wear, when I wasn't in my bathing suit (and here are a few outfits I wore from this same capsule on a different weekend):

If you've got some summer packing to do, here are some insights into how I plan my mix & match suitcases. Happy travels!

Sharing on Thursday Favorites, Mix It Mondays, Summer Style, Just Jacq.

wearing lately: July weekend suitcase

If my go-to weekender wardrobe for June took advantage of the opportunity to play up the great summer neutral colors, then the July beach weekend suitcase is most certainly time to pull out the red, white, and blue mix & match palette (though of course that's actually coral, white, cobalt, in my wardrobe).

striped blouse (similar) | jean jacket | white tee | espadrilles (similar) | sandals (similar, similar) | hat | necklace (similar) | bikini (similar) | shorts (similar) | sundress | beach tote (weekender tote option) | skirt | sunnies

This dress is this year's addition to my lineup of fabulous fit & flare sundresses (see the striped version here - or here!), as I just couldn't resist it in this favorite cobalt shade. Such an easy piece to toss in the suitcase (doesn't wrinkle!) and pull on after a day at the beach, especially when paired with a great accessory like this necklace that I just can't stop wearing lately.

Stay tuned for next week's outfits from this selection, when I repack this suitcase (no thinking involved - score!) for the next beach weekend and style the skirt for our next #momstyleremix: colored bottoms.

Sharing on Hello Monday, Summer Style.

wearing lately: summer weekend suitcase v. 2

Last weekend we were up at my parents' cottage again, and since my mini summer capsule was so perfect for our 4th of July trip to the beach - not to mention that I hadn't come close to wearing all the outfit combos possible in it - I just decided to pack the same bag again this time around!

lightweight cardigan (similar) | eyelet tank (similar) | chambray shirt | skinny jeans (similar) | striped dress | belt (similar) | sunnies | navy shorts | flat sandals (similar) | beach bag (similar) | necklace | espadrilles

Above is a reminder of what was in it, and below are the outfits I put together on beach weekend #2 (see the first round out outfits here). It was a bit hotter and sunnier this weekend, which was fabulous for lots of reading on the porch (in earshot of a napping toddler) but still cool enough in the mornings/evenings with the lake breeze and a couple of big storms rolling through that I was glad again for my layers.

My book matched so nicely with my Saturday morning going into town for groceries and browsing the local bookstore outfit; by that evening (after spending all afternoon in the sun in my bathing suit during a great Hendrik nap time) I had moved on to a new book with a happy hour and dinner on the porch outfit to match. The last outfit was my reluctant have to come in from the sun and pack up to go home look, complete with Peter's old Cubs hat to mask the lovely (not) cottage day hair.

Now I think we're home for a couple of weekends, but I'm already scheming what my next mini weekend capsule is going to be for August and Labor Day weekend!

Sharing on Hello Monday with Jenna and Carylee, Mix It Mondays, Summer Style, Just Jacq.

wearing lately: Jamaica suitcase

Next up in the spring break recap: what to pack! I know from past tropical trips that I really don't need all that many clothes: workout clothes for the morning walk, a bathing suit and cover up to get me through till dinner, and then an easy dress or two for the evening. But I just get too excited about these mix & match suitcases - and the chance to wear some long-lost summer items in the midst of winter - so I packed it all.

graphic tee (similar) | striped tank | eyelet tank (similar) | sweater | maxi dress | romper (similar) | skirt | shorts | leggings | necklace (similar) | birks | hat | flip flops | cover up | sunnies | nikes | swimsuit (similar top, bottom)

In my defense, even if not all completely necessary, this whole lineup actually would fit in a carry-on suitcase without any problem (never mind that we checked our bags... lots of diapers in there). And despite spending most of the time in my bathing suit(s), I did actually manage to wear each item, even if they didn't all get photographed. A few examples:

Though it did end up being mostly bathing suit/cover up (and who can argue with that as a sign of a good vacation?!), here's what I envisioned for the lineup, in case you are looking for any tropical packing ideas of your own:

Travel days

• Black Nikes - comfy and warm (vs. sandals) for the plane, these can look sporty cool and then double as my workout shoe for the trip
• Leggings + sweater - layered up with a tank so it's warm enough for leaving the north and then easy to strip down when heading south

Excursions

• Shorts + graphic tee or striped tank for an active outing; both options work equally as well with Nikes or Birks, depending on what the activity is
• Skirt + graphic tee or striped tank + Birks for a more cultural type of outing, like if we had gone to the rum plantation
• Bathing suit + cover up + flip flops + hat for beachy or boaty kinds of outings

Dinners

• Skirt + eyelet tank for a relaxed but nice look
• Maxi dress knotted at the bottom for something super easy but fun 
• Romper + necklace for something equally as easy but put together

Lounging

• Leggings - though it wasn't the case on this trip, usually there's a lot of overly cold air conditioning to combat, so I always have some leggings along for hanging out in the evenings
• Sweater + maxi dress - again, not necessary as the temperature (and air conditioning) didn't dip too much on this trip, but the travel sweater would double as a cute topper for the maxi dress if needed

Sharing on Hello Monday, Mix It Monday.

mix & match suitcase, black & white edition

Typically when it comes to a beach-related trip, I default to navy and white as my base palette for packing (like with last year's beach suitcase) because it always feels nautical. But last summer I decided that my post-pregnancy bathing suit was going to be a great, classic black bikini - which I found at J.Crew in time to pack for our Florida trip this spring. So when it came to getting ready for a trip to Michigan, part of which we'll be spending at our favorite place - my parents' cottage - I would try a black & white suitcase instead, with some well-placed pops of color of course.

Doing a mix & match suitcase like this is really helpful in not overpacking for a relaxed beach/family trip like this one. I always start throwing a bunch of extra (usually random, so not that helpful!) stuff into my bag, just in case, but really, when it's a few days of hanging out by the beach and a few days of catching up with family, one just really doesn't need to pack that much. (And that's one of my favorite things ever - when you don't need real clothes until about 6pm because you've gone straight from pjs to running shorts to bathing suits.) Other than a graduation open house and maybe a dinner out, I really don't have anything other than relaxation to get dressed for... so it makes sense to pack light and be smart about it.

So here are 8 outfits from 8 items (not counting shoes/accessories) perfect for sitting at the beach, enjoying happy hour afterward, reading on the porch, stopping by the farmers market, visiting family, and maybe a little shopping/dining out. And if I was maybe over-optimistic on the high temperatures for the week, I'll just do a little more layering - and remember these great outfit options for later in the summer!

Shop the suitcase:

Sharing on Friday's Fancies, Mix it Mondays, Style Sessions, and What I Wore.

mix & match suitcase, baby edition

Now that we've got a baby in tow, I'm packing for two these days (okay, three actually - I usually end up packing Peter's suitcase too, so we can get out the door on time). And for Hendrik's suitcase I try to do just as much mixing and matching as my own - since we have access to laundry facilities - in order to reduce the amount we need to carry along but still be able to make a good variety of outfits. So here are 8 outfits for a little man made of 8 pieces (1 pants, 1 shorts, 3 onesies, 3 sweatshirts) for a mild weather vacation.

There's actually a bit more in his suitcase (also needs PJs, swim diapers, and a few more onesies/pants so I don't have to do laundry every day), but even with just these 8 pieces and a couple of accessories (shoes/hat), I could have made even more than the 8 outfits pictured. And even with the extras mentioned, since his clothes are so tiny, they don't even really take up a whole suitcase - which is good because he also has diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, burp cloths, bibs, stroller, toys, bouncy chair, blankets, pack & play, etc., etc., etc.

Shop the baby looks!

wearing lately: European winter suitcase

Amazingly enough, Copenhagen turned out to be a "warm" destination at the end of January, with the polar vortex arriving at home - but even so, it was still winter, so a mix & match suitcase with plenty of layering options was still the way to go! Here's what I packed in my little carry-on suitcase (not including my running gear!) for the 5-day trip:

chambray shirt (similar) | striped turtleneck | beanie | sneakers (similar) | wedge boots (similar) | printed blouse (similar, similar) | black sweater (similar) | shawl scarf (similar) | leather jacket (similar) | black jeans | skinny jeans | packable puffer (similar) | long cardigan (similar)

I would say that in general for much of Western Europe in the winter time you're going to get weather kind of like the Pacific Northwest - temperatures in the mid 30s/low 40s, quite possibly a bit wet and gray. So this suitcase would work well for many European destinations; there are a couple of things that I would say are essential no matter which country: a packable puffer for warmth but also for not taking up too much space when you're not using it (you can even use it as a pillow on the plane when it's all packed up into its little case!), shoes that are really comfy for a lot of walking but also that can stand up to wet weather, a scarf that can double as a shawl (can look elegant when put over all-black, but also is a great plane blanket), and then of course plenty of layering options. A color palette with lots of black always feels European to me, but I added in a little burgundy for pizzazz.

For Copenhagen in particular, when I learned from this book that leather jackets + long tees are part of the Scandi "uniform" for women, I added mine to the packing pile immediately. Though it takes up a decent bit of my small suitcase space, I loved the outfits it could make for dinners/other outings, and it fits really well under my puffer, so it worked out great.

traveling in comfort | touring museums

 sightseeing/walking around | going out for dinner

 

doing meetings | and more meetings

visiting cool coffee shops | traveling home

Here are just some of the combinations that can be made from this set, for everything from travel days to sightseeing to my work meetings - actual purpose of the trip, ha! I also recommend this convertible backpack for travel in general and especially work travel - nice to have the backpack straps for travel/sightseeing, but then for my meetings it converts into a tote for a more professional look.

I loved all of these outfits so much that I'm totally going to be re-wearing all of them in the coming weeks. They were perfect for travel and sightseeing and work meetings, but they'll be just as perfect for working from home, date night, running errands, etc. here!


Sharing on Style on the Daily, Trend Spin.

wearing lately: spring work trip suitcase

Another work trip, another mini-capsule wardrobe packed in my (carry-on) suitcase... this time I'm headed to Denver for the annual conference of the academic organization that publishes one of the journals I manage. It's only about 3.5 days, but there are a variety of meetings and outings to dress for, which means I need both professional and casual - which means remixing for the win again.

striped shirt (similar) | white tee | black blazer | patterned skirt | skinny jeans (similar)  | dressy dress (similar red dresses) | black dress (similar) | tote bag (similar) | scarf (similar) | necklace (similar) | nude pumps | black flats | sneakers

Once again, I've got just 7 items to make 7 different outfits (plus accessories/shoes). Going with a palette of black & white plus coral makes it easy to mix & match everything, and packing a blazer also helps do both professional and on-the-town-ready (plus an extra layer for the plane when I get cold) without having to pack extra items. Springy, work-appropriate, and plenty of personality - pretty pleased with this suitcase!

Traveling and trying to pack light? Here's my process:

• The first step is to decide whether my neutral is going to be navy or black for my base pieces (pants, skirts, dresses), which helps dictate the shoe choices. 
• Next I typically pick something to add a pop of color - even better if there's a piece that has a pattern or multiple colors, like a patterned cardigan or scarf - and I make sure anything else coordinates with the color(s) in that, to maximize mixing & matching. 
• I also add a scarf and necklace in that same pop of color to jazz things up and provide a little variety. 
• Then I plan out specific outfits for each event to make sure every piece can be used at least 2-3 times in different outfits... 
• And then I super hard fight the urge to throw a bunch of extra "just in case" items into my suitcase.

I used to way overpack, but actually physically trying on my potential outfits ahead of time helps me avoid it, because I know that the outfits work and don't have to give in to the fear of arriving somewhere and realizing that my intended outfits are no good (and therefore needing to have lots of extra just-in-case stuff in the suitcase).

In this case I kind of broke my own rules with having the dressy dress - it only gets one wear, but with the overall packing light, I decided I could afford the space to have something fancier to wear to the conference dinner that hadn't been seen yet (and who doesn't love an excuse to get fancy in a red sheath dress like this, or these?). Though in my defense, I could wear it with a blazer if needed for more meetings. And I could totally do more outfits than just these 7 with these items as well!

If you want more tips - I'm filling in for Dana on Something Good while she's on a work trip too, and I've got some more advice to share there!

Sharing on Thursday Favorites, What I Wore to Work, Mix It Mondays, Style Sessions.

wearing lately: winter capsule London suitcase + linkup

Operating from a capsule wardrobe, with its limited size, makes everyday dressing faster and easier by eliminating the overwhelm of too many options - and it's equally helpful when it comes time to pack for a trip! When you start from a thoughtfully curated place, it's easy to pull just a couple of really versatile pieces to mix & match into all the outfits you need. In this case: outfits for a work trip to London (plus a little something for sightseeing on the side!)

gray cardigan (similar) | flocked tee | popover blouse | black sweater | ponte pants (similar) | skinny jeans | a-line skirt | wedge booties (similar) | quilted jacket (similar - great price!) | leopard wedges (similar) | printed scarf (similar) | sneakers | necklace | crossbody

My trip is quite short, arriving on Thursday morning and leaving on Sunday morning, so all I need is a very small suitcase - thus the above packing list, with just 7 items of clothing pulled from my winter capsule. To round things out, a couple of accessories and a coat, and then 3 pairs of shoes to cover the range from meeting dressiness to walking the city/airport comfort.

I like dark neutrals as my base for travel, because they're really versatile, seem most appropriate and chic for big cities, and because they don't look quite so dirty so fast if you're re-wearing. Ponte knits (pants and skirt here) are also awesome for travel (and sitting in meetings) because they don't wrinkle and are really comfortable.

And here are 7 outfits that I can make with those 7 items! I find that it's smart, when you're packing such a limited set of options, to try on all of the outfits beforehand - even when they're all amazing on paper, sometimes they just don't quite pan out, and it's nice to figure that out before you arrive and realize your meeting outfit just won't do.

These outfits cover everything I need for the short trip: two meeting outfits, travel outfit, sightseeing outfit,two dinner outfits, and a going out (to see a show) outfit.

Final crucial component to packing for a quick trip is smart bag choice! I always use my LL Bean rolling duffle (neatly rolling everything into packing cubes inside) as it is roomier than your typical hard-sided carry-on suitcase - but still allowed as a carry-on! The Lo&Sons OMG bag that I got as Hendrik's diaper bag is also amazing for travel, so I always steal it for trips... The pockets are great for organizing all your in-flight essentials, including one for your laptop, and I also love that one of the outer pockets zips open on the bottom so you can slide it over your suitcase handle for easy carting through the airport.

And new for this trip, a fabulous Kate Spade crossbody c/o Shopbop. I's nice to have something smaller than the laptop bag for sightseeing and dinner outings, but also something big enough to carry around my camera. This bag is so classy for going around a big city and the crossbody strap is so nice for hands-free carrying - but then I also love that it has the shorter strap that can turn it more into an evening type bag for going out to dinner if you remove the crossbody strap.

So that's what I'll be wearing out of my winter capsule for the rest of the week. What have you been wearing from yours lately?

Link up any winter capsule updates or outfit posts below. Also be sure to go check out Jacqueline's update (plus her awesome introduction as one of the two new Unfancy guest bloggers!) - and please link back to us so your readers can check out everyone's too. Our favorites will be featured in next month's newsletter (sign up here if you want to be on the linkup reminder list).

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing on Mix It Mondays, Style Sessions, What I Wore to Work.

mix & match suitcase, summer baby edition

I learned from our Florida trip this spring that while it's nice to plan outfits and pack around a cohesive color palette for a baby's suitcase, it's not really worth trying to pack as little as possible in terms of clothing for him... Hendrik's stuff really doesn't take up that much room, and he gets it all dirty so fast! It's more sensible to make my suitcase as efficient as possible to free up room for him.

But for our trip to Michigan this week I still had fun creating a cute little man capsule wardrobe - here are 8 outfits from 8 of the items I packed for him (which in theory should more than cover us for the length of time we'll be gone, but in practice will get used up right quick):

Though he'll have more than this in his suitcase - plenty of pjs, extra onesies and pants, a bunch of burp cloths and bibs, and of course a case of diapers - it's nice to know that the "main" items (pants, sweatshirts, shoes) all mix & match well, so they can be used with any of the under-layer onesies, and he has about a zillion outfits available for when the inevitable drool soaking, diaper blowout, and sweet potatoes everywhere wardrobe changes become necessary. I still aim to pack light for everyone when we have access to laundry facilities, but I'm upping his allowable quotas to maybe, hopefully cut back on at least one of those daily loads I was doing in Florida!

Shop the suitcase (or similar):

wearing lately: Paris mix & match suitcase (+ giveaway!)

When I think chic French style, I immediately think of black + white stripes, and red accents. So I had a super obvious palette for packing my Paris mix and match suitcase! With such a simple palette, and access to a washing machine, a week of outfits was very easy to pare down to a carry-on suitcase.

peplum tee | striped tee (similar, similar) | blouse (similar) | sneakers | no-show socks | nikes | map | wood watch | black jeans (similar) | ponte dress (similar) | skirt | flats (similar) | cashmere wrap | sunnies | necklace | crossbody (similar) | red lipstick | rain coat

I actually threw in an extra dress and a pair of sandals at the last minute as I had a ton of space in my suitcase, and the forecast was for nearly 90 degrees (!!) several of the days. But other than undies and a pair of workout shorts/t-shirt, this was it - and I didn't even end up wearing those extras. The keys to packing light pay off as usual: everything goes together in terms of color palette and style, layering is possible with all outfits for changing weather conditions - and also I'm not afraid of re-wearing an outfit (especially because we did laundry midweek).

Here's the general outfit breakdown:

• For sightseeing of the walking tour or climbing the Eiffel Tower variety: some black Nikes make for very comfortable but still reasonably chic hours of walking, and doing them with black jeans + a striped or peplum tee makes it feel a little more streamlined than your usual "American tourist" sneakers vibe. 
• For sightseeing of the Louvre variety: for a little dressier version of a sightseeing day spent in museums that's still comfortable for lots of walking, I do a dress or skirt + striped tee with some leather sneakers.
• For dining out: pulling out some fancy flats takes the dress or the skirt + blouse up a notch for dinner (or black jeans + blouse + flats, when the weather cools). And some red lipstick of course!
• For travel days: jeans + tee, and a cashmere poncho that is the perfect plane blanket.
• For picking up our daily baguette: anything! With 3 boulangeries within about a block of us, I could get my hands on one easily, comfy shoes or no.

Besides the main clothing items, there are a few (perhaps unexpected) essentials that I recommend in pretty much any travel capsule:

• A cashmere poncho like this can be worn multiple ways, like a poncho, a cape, or a scarf, which means it looks good with dresses and jeans, and also that it's a lightweight and very packable source of warmth for whenever you need it, like on the flight or when the sun goes down in the evening.
• No-show socks prevent blisters and shoe-stink. A must have if you're traveling with sneakers!
• Laundry detergent pods for doing a load of laundry - part of how I can pack so light is staying at an apartment with a washing machine, so I tried to take advantage of that, rather than include extra things in the suitcase.
• A watch - I must admit that my normal one is just for looks since the battery has been dead for ages. But when I'm traveling in a place where I don't use my phone that much, I like to actually wear a working watch to keep track of the time! I love this Frankie watch from JORD - the wood material is lightweight, the black + gold accent coloring is perfect with my capsule wardrobe, and the oversized shape feels quite stylin' (bonus: custom sizing so it fits my small wrist just right!).

By the way: Interested in your own fab wood watch? Go here to enter a contest for a $100 voucher! Even if you're not the winner, you'll still receive a $20 e-gift code just for entering. The contest ends October 4.

And as for actual Paris street style, I didn't notice a ton of commonalities, I think because it's sort of fall fashion time, but the weather was so hot for most of the week. Many ladies were in a lot of dresses + sandals still, while others were in stylish jackets (but must have been sweating their buns off). I did see a lot of dresses/skirts with sneakers though, so I felt like I fit right in. Some had New Balances, some tennis shoes like mine, but the most had these Stan Smith Adidas in white. And what I didn't actually see was a lot of stripes on people on the street... but that's okay, I still love my Petit Bateau souvenir anyway.


This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by JORD Wood Watches, but all opinions are my own. Sharing on Hello Monday.