She Could Scream…
but it wouldn’t help… She’s supposed to visit a client, to help them choose which software, and for how many people, they will buy. But she’s being given shockingly little direction about how to prepare! So she channels her inner calm knitting woman:
She was told that the office is very casual.
She was told that the office is casual, but that she needs dressy clothes to meet with executives.
She was told that it was always really warm in the office.
She was told that they run the air conditioning so high that it’s like a meat locker there.
AGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
She can do this…
tee – Banana Republic; earrings – Jennifer Zeuner; sunglasses – Celine; watch – Rosenfield; navy cardigan – Treasure & Bond; scarf – Johnstons of Elgin; tote – Joie; pants – Caslon; loafers – Taryn Rose; suitcase – Fabbrica Pelletterie
When she arrives, she’s just going to stop by the office to drop off her laptop and some information for all of the staff to review. She’s very hopeful that she will be able to get a better feel for things; it won’t matter that she’s not terribly dressed-up because she’s been traveling!
Sleeveless tops – Banana Republic; sapphire stud earrings – Jane Basch Designs; coral tee – Caslon; hoop earrings – Sterling Forever; cardigan – J Brand; scarf – Sole Society; bracelet – Nadri; dress – Lands’ End; bag – Esin Akan; skirt – Lands’ End; pants – 1901; slides – Sperry; pumps – Calvin Klein
And then, depending on how her first hour or 2 goes, she will have a better idea of what to wear the next 2 days! She hopes…
If she still doesn’t know what to do, she’s going to opt in the direction of dressy – her navy skirt and cardigan, with one of her tops and a scarf. Better over-dressed than under-dressed, if you want someone to believe you and trust you, right?
She may only wear her fun checked dress out to dinner in the evenings…
And she may not see her beige pants again until the flight home!
She’s pretty certain that her navy pants are going to work well for 1 of the days…
And if the advice she’s been given has been wrong, she can wear her navy skirt 2 days in a row…
As if selling software wasn’t hard enough, having to figure out what to pack isn’t easy either, but she’s confident that her choices will serve her well!
Just in the interest of wardrobes, this is what her 2 travel wardrobes (the original is from January) look like together:
Have you ever packed really badly for something? I remember once pulling out a matching dress and jacket from my suitcase, slipping into them, and realizing that the dry cleaner had shrunk my lovely outfit about 2 sizes… THAT was a fun couple of days!
love,
Janice
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TinaD says
May 20, 2019 at 7:28 amI went to a conference in NYC once and met up with a college boyfriend for a nice dinner…all I had with me was a tweed suit (English tweed, not French) and jeans worn on the flight. I looked like Miss Jean Brodie. Love the peach & navy wardrobe above, but at the words “meat locker” I’d probably have gone home & packed 5 more cardigans. It’s a tough world to be cold-natured in.
Shrebee says
May 20, 2019 at 7:53 amJanice,
I once went to a resort with my hubby and packed to include a 2 piece coordinating jacket and skirt for a special dinner there. Well, I had gained some weight, but assumed that everything still fit — wrong ! The top fit, but not the skirt. Happily, there was a new Chico’s in town and I thought that I could find something to go with the existing top — nope ! I ended up buying an entire new outfit along with costume jewelry ! My husband has never let me forget this as he went for ice cream while I was trying on different options, then returning and peering in the store glass door to see my progress !
I enjoy how you illustrate wearing each bottom as part of three different outfits !
Linda says
May 20, 2019 at 8:33 amI’ve done it far too often for someone who travels a lot. And as a short plus size, there’s no going out and grabbing something else in many places (it barely can be done here, but I can get overnight delivery at home).
Fails: One frumpy coverup at a resort where everyone else was in spectacular resort wear.
Polyster or other fake fabrics in Europe during the heat waves. Like wearing saran wrap.
Lost luggage in a remote Balkan town. Nothing available in my size.
The sneaky weight gain/airplane bloating that eliminated 90% of my packed outfits and I wore jeans to a dinner because not a single pair of pants would fasten.
Thinking my standard uniform of black pants can go anywhere, but I have often been the only one wearing black or any dark color in summer.
I probably should have learned by now, but here I am trying to figure out what to pack for two weeks in EU, one week at a vacation locale, the other in a major city.
Carol Spears says
May 20, 2019 at 10:30 amI love this capsule! The colours are those that I would definitely wear. In fact, I have several items already in my wardrobe.
Lizette says
May 20, 2019 at 11:28 amOops. I forgot about cultural colour no no’s when I went to Paris. Anything yellow is a mistake with the “yellow vest” protestors, unless the look you are going for. My yellow cardigan stays in the bag😱
anonymous says
May 20, 2019 at 11:30 amMany years ago, in an effort to lighten my suitcase, I took only one pair of shoes on a European vacation. My suitcase might have been a bit lighter, but my feet suffered terribly. Only made that mistake once!
Chloe says
May 20, 2019 at 12:08 pmHaha – I once brought only the top of my bikini on a trip to Mexico. I had left the bottom hanging on the hook in the bathroom at home! Ended up having to purchase a tiny little thing at the resort shop, which I only wore on that trip!
Stripe says
May 20, 2019 at 2:50 pmSemi-fail: not predicting that I’d need to wash clothing in order to re-wear. Not everything, but in hot California autumn, my shirts were not okay to wear twice in a trip (without a day for a quick handwash/dry!).
SUPER-WIN: packing for 10 day vacation, of which 4 were whitewater rafting, and 6 were visiting/shopping/eating. Entire wardrobe fit in carry-on bag. Included 2 top/bottom polypro sets: one teal & one pumpkin. They were fabulous on-river, and looked great layered under slip dresses while on land. Having studied this site, I also brought along a couple of scarves and shirts to expand my options. I even had enough room for a dedicated set of pajamas!
Ivy says
May 21, 2019 at 7:49 amThe worst was the time I realized that post baby weight does not equal post baby body. Nothing fit correctly, even my shoes were too tight! And of course I didn’t realize this until the night before departure. Add in the stress of leaving my little one for the first time on a high pressure business trip and I was a mess!
Janice says
May 21, 2019 at 8:16 amOh my; that IS upsetting…
hugs,
Janice
B says
May 22, 2019 at 10:06 pmPacked for a camping trip on a day that was hot and muggy. A day into the trip, a cold front came through and I only had one sweater. I’m a seasoned camper and I KNOW better! I wore it all day, every day. When I got home, it was washed and donated. I couldn’t stand to look at it again!
Nicole says
May 24, 2019 at 8:13 amI love everything about this capsule! Looks comfy and stylish.