After years of honing, I feel like I’ve really nailed my packing list for this time of the year, so I wanted to share it on the blog for anyone getting ready for a fun spring trip.
(Also, I wanted to share these pictures from the day my little sister Miriam and I took Charlotte to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Although I was wishing we had gone at sunset or on day with more cloud coverage, the flowers were SO gorgeous and Charlotte was obsessed).
I, personally, am especially excited to pack for a couple of upcoming trips primarily because I’m not pregnant this year.
I had a relatively easy pregnancy, but one of my least favorite parts was dressing myself. I made it a point to not spend very much money on maternity clothes–it’s really not as big of a thrill as you’d think trying to cover up an extra 50 lbs.
I wore the same 4 or 5 outfits every day and on every trip we took: leggings (the Lululemon Align leggings have single handedly carried my flabby butt through this season of life) and maternity tanks with a jacket or sweater over.
Now that I’m five months postpartum and feeling svelte and ready to party (I mean, sort of), I have a whole new appreciation for normal clothes.
I am just jazzed about getting dressed and preparing for our upcoming travel–both for planned trips and hypothetical travel that I’m still working on convincing Tyler we need to do this year.
As always, I keep it simple. I try not to spend money on trendy, cheap pieces that I know will end up in the Goodwill pile. I am a basics girl, sue me. When I find a piece that fits well and works with the rest of my wardrobe, I buy it in 2 more colors and wear the crap out of it.
The following items are just that. These are pieces that check each of my four essential boxes: comfortable, flattering, good quality, and of course: does not wrinkle when packed in a suitcase.
If something doesn’t fit that criteria, I don’t buy it. Some say picky, I say STRATEGIC.
This list has a handful of items that I consider my tried and true pieces as well as a couple of things that are on my birthday list that I want for spring and summer travel. (Hint, hint, Tyler.)
Denim Jacket
Bury me in this bad boy. Seriously. I have zero shame in the fact that I’ve worn this jacket nearly every single day for the last two years. I don’t know how this is possible, but this oversized jean jacket is the appropriate outer layer for an obscenely wide range of temperatures, be it a 55 degree day in an Australian winter or a 75 degree breezy evening during a California summer. It’s my miracle jacket, and I love it almost more than my firstborn.
Linking a few different styles here.
Madewell T-shirts
I flew to Utah to visit my best friend Regan from the Salty Blondes a few years ago.
This was during a time in my life where I was walking through the painful and confusing transition out of Nordstrom’s BP line. What would I wear now? Where would I shop? Anthro was too expensive, and I’m sure you can guess how I felt (and still feel) about the quality of Forever 21 and the like.
I can thank Regan for holding my hand through this difficult time and pointing me to Madewell’s affordable and versatile Whisper Cotton T-shirt line.
I almost exclusively wear Madewell’s shirts now. I love the Whisper Cotton V-Neck, but my FAVE is the Easy Crop Tee. It hits in the perfect spot and has a little bit of structure/thickness to it so it feels better than just a normal t-shirt, if that makes sense.
I have this shirt in multiple colors, and it’s perfect for travel because it packs easily and doesn’t wrinkle. Miriam and I are both wearing them in these photos.
Also, I’m LOVING this tank I bought the other day.
Madewell Jeans
Same story here, but Madewell’s jeans deserve their own category.
Their cuts are just so flattering. I have a handful of different pairs, but I literally LIVE in these high rise black button-through’s. They are so so comfortable. And I love the frayed edges on the bottom. These jeans have been all over the world with me.
I’ve also been patiently awaiting the arrival of my backordered 10 inch button-through’s in the “Cordova” wash–I’ve heard these are even more comfortable than the black ones.
I just feel like the price point is so good for these too. They last for years but aren’t the same break-the-bank level as a lot of the higher end pairs I used to invest in.
Shoes
I like to have a couple of different pairs of comfortable sandals with me on warm weather trips. I wear these Soludos slides everywhere, and my Sam Edelman Gigi sandals in leopard go with everything.
Dresses
I always throw a couple of dresses in my suitcase. I don’t photograph well in shorts, sigh, so I often opt for dresses when the weather gets warmer. I usually pack a mix of florals and neutrals that go with anything.
Accessories
I am BIG TIME into the scarf trend. In my hair, on my bag, around my wrist. Love ‘em. Easy to pack in my suitcase and a simple way to change up my look.
I never go anywhere without a few pieces of dainty gold jewelry on–usually from Made by Mary, my favorite ever jewelry company. I just love that a few simple pieces can dress up even my simple jeans and t-shirt go-to uniform.
And I can’t forget my Olivia Burton watch! Tyler got me this for our first anniversary, and it’s been one of my most prized possessions ever since.
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