August 23, 2013
One of my very longest-standing readers recently asked me about packing with only four garments – which of course is entirely possible. She also requested a variety of colors, rather than my usual four by four of one color. This is easily enough clothing for a 3 or four day trip – even longer, if you have laundry facilities available, and you could easily pack in a tote bag. Keep the 2nd pair of shoes light and flat, add just a few accessories to keep things lively, and make sure you’ve whittled your toiletries down to the absolute necessary minimum.
Cardigan – Dear Cashmere, blouse – Isabel Marant, trousers –Dorothy Perkins, loafers- Rebecca Minkoff,, earrings – NightFox Jewelry, cashmere wrap – Nordstrom, watch – Skagen , tote – Lacambra
Necklace- JACCO , pants – Vionnet, floral tee- J. Crew, flats – Kork-Ease, wine tee shirt – Standard James Perse, scarf – YuhOkano, sweater – Rag and Bone
love,
Janice
I am still travelling out of my streamlined suitcase, and Janice, you have made a convert out of me. I think I look good and well put together thanks to a handful of scarves and my go-to pieces of jewellery. (my mum insists that I am wearing a different outfit every day). Those Grey ballerinas are very pretty.
OK it's official I'm a hopeless VF's ADDICT. I'm lying here in bed at the Monastery (at a wellness retreat with Tibetan monks) everyone is asleep and I have snuck onto my iPhone hitting up the Internet for tonight's instalment lol
I agree! I'm not in a wellness retreat, but I got up early to sneak onto the computer (before the rest of my family wakes up) to enjoy at my leisure…without the "Mooooooooom…there's nothing to eeeeeeat!" mantra begins.
So thankful for this post! My new, very small rolling suitcase arrived yesterday and I was seriously thinking it would not work for a week's trip I have planned. Can't wait to put my colors together to make it work. Thank you Janice for your marvelous ideas.
Love! Love! Love! This is an amazing capsule wardrobe. I can easily see throwing in some skirts and a dress to round the collection out to become, well, an entire mode of dressing. I do love my black, but the navy, gray (and slate blue) and burgundy are among my favorite actual colors to wear.
I REALLY do love this collection!! I have discovered that I do not like wearing the same color head to toe, especially dark colors. I feel too somber in outfits like that. The colors here are beautiful and everything works together. I don't think one would get bored quickly with these garments. I would love to see a few more examples like this one.
I went on vacation in New England this summer with a wardrobe almost this small. I had 1 pr. jeans (for plane), 2 pair capris, 1 pr. shorts, 1 tank, 2 s/s t-shirts, 1 3/4 t-shirt (plane again), 1 lightweight dressy blouse, 1 pr. sandals, 1 pr. sneakers (plane), swimsuit, p.j.'s, robe, lightweight jacket, and flip-flops. Plus 4 pr. undies and 2 bras. It seemed like a lot but it all fit into a small no-wheels carry-on about the size of the tote in this post. I stayed with various friends and relatives (or their vacant houses) and did laundry a few times. I could have left the jeans or one pair of capris, jacket, and dressy blouse at home. I also took a long scarf to wear on the plane (I always get chilled while flying). I carried a small cross-body bag had a lightweight folding bag packed in carry-on — I used this as a beach bag, etc.
What I love about this post is it gives a beginner an idea of how to start investing in better pieces. Between the plane outfit and the bag there are 7 items of clothing. I could save enough fairly easily to buy seven nice pieces of clothing and get started with a higher quality wardrobe. Thanks, Janice, for the inspiration. jw
agreed! and although these aren't my colors, it's always fun to see how keeping to a couple well-selected colors makes a wardrobe look so intentional instead of just thrown-together.
Janice, you are AMAZING! Such a beautiful and simple wardrobe for home or travel. I would love to see something similar with black as the neutral. Thank you for all the wonderful inspiration you give us every day.
YES! Please do more of these. I need tips for biz/conference events with professional meetings and fun events in the same three day trips. All in a larger rolling computer bag–while still having room for the laptop, tablet and a few file folders. So effectively packing in a tote. I often have to go right from the plane to the professional meetings in a cab without stopping at hotel first, and can't arrive at the firm or event all bogged down with totes and luggage and purse and etc. This is exactly the kind of packing wardrobe I need! This would fit in my bag no problem. This could be dressed up using sheaths or skirts, too. Love the addition of the colors. THANK YOU.
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!
This is very inspiring, Janice! Thank you. Elizabeth.
Thank you! Thank you! It's perfect! I tried to imagine how to put this together, and you have made it look so easy!