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Home » What I’m Packing in a Travel Capsule Wardrobe for New York

What I’m Packing in a Travel Capsule Wardrobe for New York

March 14, 2015
 
Belovedest and I are leaving Wednesday for New York for what is either a very long weekend, or a rather short vacation – six days. B lived in New York a few different times (he had one of those jobs that required frequent transfers), and so we know the city very well. Our anniversary is next Friday, so we have an excuse for some festivities. Overall, it will be a nice opportunity to spend some time together and reacquaint ourselves with a favorite city.
 
My biggest packing constraint for this trip is the desire to take gym clothes with me. Normally, for European vacations, I just throw my workout routine into the shredder and assume that my walking will stand in for exercise. (uh, it really doesn’t work that way, but I continue to delude myself!) But we are going to go to the gym probably every day for an hour this trip, and that will dominate my packing.
 
So I’m going super-minimal. Six pieces for six days. I know that if I wore my jeans on the plane I could buy myself a little bit more space, but I want to be ready to hit the streets for some wandering, and then dinner, the minute we’re out of the cab. So I’m flying in a dress…
 
This is how I foresee things unfolding:
 

This pack actually is “shoe-heavy” because I’m tossing in a pair of legitimately dressy pumps to change into for dinners. I’m going to rely on jewelry and scarves to give me the variety I want since I’ll be wearing each of the dresses twice. Happily, one can always have laundry done!

I’m probably going to wear an Eileen Fisher swing coat that I’ve had for years; it’s lovely over dresses, and perfect appropriate with jeans. Impossible to wrinkle, too…And I have to say it again, the dress on the top left is NOT a baggy sack, the way it looks in the vendor photograph. I have no idea what they did to the dress to make it look that way!

dress – COS, blouse – Lands’ End, dress – Eileen Fisher, bracelet and brooch – vintage, marcasite earrings – Judith Jack, pearl stud earrings – Majorica, silver hoop earrings – similar here, silver knot earrings – similar here, silver multi-strand necklace – Silpada, silver chain necklace – Wayan Asmana, black waxed cotton jeans – Eileen Fisher, white shirt – Lands’ End, red cardigan – Lands’ End, black bandanna – Hermes, black scarf – Hermes, grey scarf – street vendor, pumps – Thierry Rabotin, boots – Munro, ballet flats – Thierry Rabotin

 
love,
Janice
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03.14.15 28 Comments

Tags: black, cool weather, dresses, grey, Hermes scarf, leisure travel, my wardrobe, Six-Packs
<<Start With a Bag: Longchamps ToteA Clothing Diary Week 6>>

Comments

  1. oekmama says

    March 14, 2015 at 10:29 am

    A very chic travel capsule. Have a lovely time!

    Reply
  2. Gail says

    March 14, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Such a carefully thought-out (and chic) wardrobe! Happy anniversary!

    Reply
  3. Duchesse says

    March 14, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    You are a goddess of packing! Have a wonderful and romantic anniversary trip.
    PS. A six-day pack would actually be plenty for a trip over twice that long, if weather conditions held steady.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Happy anniversary!

    Impressed by your minimalist packing! Glad to see another tom bihn fan!

    Reply
  5. une femme says

    March 14, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Our anniversary is Thursday…separated at birth, I tell ya! We're heading somewhere a little more….gaudy. Great wardrobe, have a wonderful time and Happy Anniversary!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    What workout pieces did you decide on. I am really interested to how you managed all these great choices and a workout wardrobe too in a small carryon.

    Reply
  7. hostess of the humble bungalow says

    March 14, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    Great post…I pinned it to Pinterest so I can study it for my Paris trip….have fun in NYC!

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    Lovely choice of clothes, but I hate those flat cross strap shoes, awful, I dont care if they are comfy or Hermes! Ditch them.

    Reply
  9. MCY says

    March 14, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    Well, Ms. Anonymous, I suspect Janice selected the "flat cross strap shoes" precisely because they are comfortable and has no intention of "ditching' a $400 pair of very useful shoes because some unnamed person tells her to…wait for it…without offering a better suggestion to replace them.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      March 15, 2015 at 12:38 am

      Its Mrs Anonymous to you dear, and I am entitled to my opinion. I am sure you have a preference to many things, and why do I have to make a better suggestion? I am not attacking anyone, merely stating I do not like those particular shoes, regardless of cost, and why do you feel its your duty to defend something so unimportant to you? People like you make me laugh, unless you are bending over backwards and fawning over someone, you assume someone else is the enemy, its pathetic. And what kind of name is "MCY" it does'nt exactly spell out a name either! Mind your own business.

      Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Good morning, I love how these anonymous persons feel they have right to dictate style to anyone but especially "our" Janice. As Janice says over and over again, everyone has the right to dress as they wish, as long as they don't lose their job or get arrested. I highly doubt those very comfortable and well made shoes will lead her to either of those fates.

    Happy Anniversary!

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      March 15, 2015 at 12:53 am

      I will repeat myself, I am not dictating to anyone about style, merely stating an opinion, which is allowed I believe? You have even stated that everyone has the right to dress as they wish, and that means making personal choices, does this mean that I am excluded from these choices just because I dislike someone else's? I also find it particularly unreasonable to "attack" someone just because their choices are different, my goodness, its just a pair of shoes! I am sure if I let people look through mine, they would'nt like some of them, however, I would not be offended, and I am entitled to my opinion.

      Reply
    • Coco Colmani says

      March 15, 2015 at 7:05 am

      It's a question of tone, dear. You hate the shoes, fine. You are indeed entitled to your opinion. But you might consider that what may have seemed like a light-hearted comment at your place sounds just rude in writing without your winsome delivery. You're not being attacked at all, you're being asked to consider being polite. As for telling people to mind their own business, you can hardly expect that when you've posted your comment on the very public internet.

      Reply
  11. SusanG says

    March 14, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Beautifully curated! Enjoy, and happy anniversary!

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    The suitcase seems great !

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    For me personally shoes should be comfortable. My grandmother had bunions etc wearing pointy toed 1960's shoes and I don't want feet like that. All Janice's shoes look like they fit the comfort bill (I love cute ankle boots). I had a curious close up look at the criss-cross shoes on-line and they have a wonderful texture to them. Janice can wear what she likes… Hope you have a great time away. Carol S

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      March 15, 2015 at 8:14 am

      p.s. I get great inspiration from Janice's blog and try to adapt the ideas presented to my existing wardrobe, style and colors. I loved the accessory families and have started accessory tables listing what I have so I can build my own. Janice has the ability to pick accessories that work well together around a common theme (and other abilities too :-)). Wonderful. Carol S

      Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    Can you please show work out gear? I've felt a need to upgrade my undies since you showed some lovely lingerie in your packing. Wouldlove ideas for workout gear that isn't for 16 year olds but not baggy and cheap.

    Enjoy NY!

    Kate

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    March 14, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    Love this capsule wardrobe and all the accessories. You will look so chic and be so comfortable. My only wish is that you would show us the Eileen Fisher coat you plan to wear over all these delights.
    Vancouver Barbara

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    March 15, 2015 at 2:52 am

    As a few others have written, I too would like to see what you included as workout clothes because this is ALWAYS a problem for me when packing. Thank you.

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    March 15, 2015 at 3:03 am

    A wonderfully thought out plan! Work out clothes are a challenge especially as I do not want to wear black.
    thanks
    Irene

    Reply
  18. Coco Colmani says

    March 14, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    Inspirational Janice! We are heading to NY from the other end of the world in early May. We have never been before so I'm particularly interested in your choices. Dresses rather than pants suggests city chic and day-to-evening over smart casual, would that be right? We'll be in museums and galleries most days with walks in the late afternoons for sightseeing, and dinner/opera/concerts at night. I'm revisiting the black pants and 'good' jeans plan …

    Reply
    • Wendy says

      March 17, 2015 at 2:32 am

      I'll also be in NYC in early May and I had the same plan of black pants and jeans. This post has been on my mind ever since I read it. Could the choice of mostly dresses be due to limited packing space? I can't really wear dresses due to terribly fussy and hard-to-fit feet which leave me with no dress-appropriate footwear. I hope I won't feel out of place wearing a more casual wardrobe in the city!

      Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    March 15, 2015 at 4:37 am

    Can you please give us some hints on New York , when you come back? I am going for a ten day vacation there in October

    Reply
  20. frugalscholar says

    March 15, 2015 at 6:54 pm

    This is so incredibly elegant. And it is within the reach of most middle-class women. Even the expensive scarves and shoes can be amortized over several years. Love the street vendor scarf too.

    Reply
  21. lrlincks says

    March 15, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    I would love to see the work out choices too. Great six pack! ;)

    Reply
  22. Deborah Montgomery says

    March 16, 2015 at 3:15 am

    Have a lovely time; you will look tres chic. I do admire your commitment to exercising while on vacation! I'm going to check out those COS dresses!

    Reply
  23. Anne and Kirk says

    March 16, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    Just back from a lovely NYC weekend…during which I needed leggings every hour – it was still chilly and blustery. I love the clothes in your post, and would like to know what you'd suggest for legs – I'm not ready to go barelegged yet! In fact every time I think of wearing a skirt I "chicken out" and pull out my leggings again.
    Have a wonderful time – I'm sure you will! NYC is a favorite of ours and we take one of the DC bus services up every other month or so for a weekend.

    Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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