May 28, 2025
Yes, this is a photograph. I consider excellent photographs to be art! And since today’s heroine is a photographer, this seems like the perfect work of art for her:
Our heroine wants to pack and then not think about her clothes again! She will check the weather each morning of the long weekend photography trip, but she’s MUCH more concerned with her camera gear than she is with clothes…
AND, she wants to be pretty “blend into the background” of the area of high desert where she’s going. It will probably be cool much of the time – she’s not going until autumn – but she will want layers in case it warms up.
All in all, these are perfect colors for her:
She’s comfortable driving out in her lightest colored clothes, along with her amazing scarf that’s dyed by placing flower right onto the scarf! Fascinating…
yes, they have workshops on how to do “flower pounding”…
Splitneck sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; earrings – Anthropologie; cream tee shirt – L.L.Bean; flower-dyed bandana – Dye Kween; pants – L.L.Bean; suitcase – Tumi; crossbody bag – Sol and Seline; loafers – Franco Sarto
This is pretty much a Wardrobe Slot-Machine – any combination of 2nd layer, top and bottom will work! And for some of us, that’s how we want to travel. Our heroine has nobody to impress, although she will be going out to dinner with other photographers from the tour. They’re not a group that cares much about personal style!
So she packs warm pants, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a backpack to carry extra lenses, filters, a baby tripod…
Corduroy shirt jacket – L.L.Bean; small scarf – Elizabetta; earrings – Bling Jewelry; sunglasses – Ray-Ban; flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; brown sweater – L.L.Bean; backpack – United by Blue; dark coffee sweatpants – L.L.Bean; sand poplin shirt – Alex Mill; maple brown jeans – L.L.Bean; hiking shoes – Forsake
She puts everything on her laundry rack the night before she leaves, and makes certain that she has undergarments, socks, and some pajamas! She tosses in a waterproof jacket too, although it’s not a frequent problem where she’s going:
Although her wardrobe isn’t her big priority, she does take a few moments to ensure that she’s got what she needs, and that she won’t have to worry about finding acceptable outfits at hand in the pre-dawn darkness:
Have you ever traveled with a serious photographer? I once went to Paris with TWO very serious photographers – never have I see SO MUCH EQUIPMENT…
They were delightful company – they saw things that I never did, even though I’ve been to Paris a ton of times. What a gift!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, our heroine was being sent on a work trip to an office NOBODY HAS EVER VISITED. What to pack?
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
What a winner of a wardrobe for this heroine! I can also see this being perfect for going on a mountain cabin weekend in northern New England or the Adirondacks too. This would be aces for someone wanting to explore Acadia National Park in September too.
I have to say that the stand out piece for me is that amazing scarf from Anthropologie. I looked it up and saw that it comes in a t-shirt and socks too! What a stunning piece and what an extraordinary idea. I love the idea of using this scarf to tie the heroine’s hair back in a ponytail too! This was a great find, Janice.
This is my favorite so far!
Always love what you put together, especially these combinations!
Everytime you post those LLBean khaki Wrinkle free bayside pants with the elastic in the waist, I agonize over the purchase : ) Does anyone know how they compare to the lakewashed fully elastic waist with the drawstring? I have 3 pairs of those in MT because I don’t like the cropped pants Just wondered how the bayside pants compare. I’m big in the hips, butt and thighs!
One of the reasons I show these so often is because I have a pair in Heritage Stone that I’m wearing to death. They’re second-hand, and they have a few small areas that are frayed (which makes me so happy…), but there’s no chance of a hole anywhere. I can’t imagine how I could wear these out!
hugs,
Janice
That is the beauty of this brans. Classic, comfortable and indestructible.
Sharon, I live in Maine, not too far from the LL Bean Flagship store AND the LL Bean outlet. I am fortunate enough to have seen all of these in person. The stonewashed pants here have a hidden elastic waist. They also are a bit dressier, I think, because they have belt loops and I only wear them with a belt. The lakeside drawstring waist are more casual and fit more like a sweat pant, but in chinos fabric. The lakeside ones are also quite a bit thinner in material and are more of a warmer climate weight, whereas these stonewashed one are more substantial.
I hope this helps!
Sharon, also, I am a standard size 8 in LL Bean but have a curvy bum and thighs. Both pairs of these pants fit me just fine. You don’t need to size up from your usual size. They’re not made for stick thin people. The drawstring ones are roomier, but they can border on baggy. Don’t be scared off by the stonewashed. They do fit us pear girls well!
When I looked at the color wheel I did not think I would like it at all – but I really do! I’m not a “brown” or a “sporty” person – but the wardrobe would be great if I were!
I feel the same way! I could do this if it were shades of blue. I love the overall vibe.
Love this, trying to figure out how to convert this formula to “technical fabrics” that pack smaller to allow use of 30L backpack for one bag travel. It’s hard finding pants in colors that work and aren’t geared towards hiking only. Tops seem easy enough to find with many merino or performance fabric options and styles.
I like the tech fabric for hiking as well. I haven’t hiked in jeans for nearly 30 years. Brands like Title Nine and Stio will carry colors and styles that work two ways. Good thing you don’t have to be terribly dressed up if you’re dining in what we in the west call shoulder communities. They sit near major recreation attractions such as National monuments, national parks or national forests or put in and takeout points of wild and natural rivers.
As for packing light and practical for such a trip: zip off pants (convertible to shorts) are nice. Base layers can go under light pants on cold mornings and double as pjs if you’re aiming for very light packing. Unless you’re ascending a seriously rugged mountain, you can get by with Well built trainers.
Wardrobe slot machine indeed! I also call it sudoku packing. It makes sense and even though it’s casual I think this heroine has great looks and options. Heck throw in a tee shirt dress and a skirt and you could cover everything but super dressy. And frankly we never seem to need that on our travels. Fun pearls or a silk scarf dress up MANY outfits.
The photo and topic remind me of the book I’m reading–Packing for Mars, by Mary Roach. *L*
Lovely! I would describe these colours as chocolate brown, taupe, ivory and camel.
Its interesting that there is a bit of silver or gunmetal in the picture too, so could be paired with silver, charcoal or bronze metallic!
At the moment I am seeing chocolate brown and caramel! mmm! makes me feel hungry!! :) xx
Coffee, chocolate, caramel, whipped cream… it’s so tempting!
hugs,
Janice
Oh, Janine, you’ve outdone yourself again with this capsule.
I love everything about it.
Oh, no! You lured me back to the widget office and now I want toknow what happened when she got there!!
Same here @_@! Please revisit this heroine, Janice. I searched for part II, but no success. I think I confused it with the observatory one (where she gets to be almost alone, it was really good too!).
Wow, lovely neutrals.