Vacation Planning: Packing
Spring break and Summer vacations are a truly amazing thing. I love Winter – Especially the accessories – And a snowy vacation can be magical. But there’s something so cathartic about losing the layers and spending some time enjoying sunshine and water after months of hiding from the harsh weather.
Bonus? Warm weather clothes take up SO much less room in a suitcase! 🙂
So to help you get ready for your next vacation or weekend getaway here are some helpful tips and great recommendations for everything from packing and products to Summer staples and styling suggestions.
How To Pack:
- Weekends Away – Styling, Deciding & Packing
- How To Pack For Travel from Dean Street Society {Miss Hilary Rushford is an amazing writer, stylist & mentor and I cannot recommend her site highly enough. If you’ve never checked it out you shouldn’t waste another moment!}
- A Lesson In Packing from The Man Repeller
- How To Pack For A Carry-On Vacation from Refinery 29
- Travel Smarter: Tips For Perfect Packing from Apartment Therapy
What To Pack:
- Reader Request: Packing & Traveling
- 15 Travel Stapes & 15 Ways To Wear Them from Damsel In Dior
- How To Pack For A Trip ~ Tips For Being A Smart and Stylish Traveler from Inspirations & Celebrations
- Tops, Bottoms & Accessories from Poor Little It Girl
- Essential Classic Luggage – The Garment Hanger Bag from Real Men Real Style
Another important thing to think about when it comes to travel is your luggage – I live for Longchamp’s le pliage line since it’s convenient to store, easy to clean, and stylish to boot. I have the weekender and the expandable tote in black and always tuck one of the mini totes into my bag since I will inevitably need it at some point during a trip – Check out my Wanderlust post for more details.
Getting ready for your next trip? Check out the first two posts in this series: Vacation Planning: Spring & Summer Hair & Vacation Planning: Spring & Summer Beauty Routine.
What’s your number one tip for traveling and/or packing?
Travel Time: NYC & IFBCON
At the beginning of last September I headed to sweltering New York City to attend my first IFB Conference and Fashion’s Night Out – The conference was such an amazing experience that I’ve decided to further my fashion blogger education with another once-in-a-lifetime trip back East.
{You can read about my trip & enjoy some fabulous Summer fashion from September here:  IFBCON Preparation, IFBCON – Trends, Styles & Inspiration, MCLV Style: New York City, MCLV Style: IFBCON Day One, MCLV Style: IFBCON Day Two, and New York Fashion Diary}
As with my trip in September a huge part of the fun – And the stress – Is deciding what to bring for the trip. Not only is New York City a fashion capital whose streets beg for killer footwear & fun, one-of-a-kind looks, the conference is also a chance to meet inspirational people within the industry and connect with other fashion bloggers – Some of whom may have been instrumental in you decision to start a blog in the first place.
Nerve-wracking.
I was right on the edge of beginning to panic when I read this amazing article from Hilary Rushford at Dean Street Society about similar anxieties & a solution to her own fashion crisis prior to attending the Alt Summit Conference in Salt Lake City – Why I’m Not Going To Win Best Dressed at Alt Summit. After reading it – And quickly becoming enthralled by her blog – I realized that she’s one of the speakers at IFBCON this week. How serendipitous!
With Hilary’s permission to not win best dressed I decided that I needed a better way to approach the packing conundrum. Ultimately I know that for me picking out each piece & styling it in advance is the best way to go – That way I can relax and enjoy myself once I arrive. The other thing that I love is getting inspired by fashion magazines, other bloggers, and all the beautiful pictures I can find online.
Enter Pinterest. 🙂
The other thing that’s fun when you’re packing is to get inspired by the professionals. And by professionals I mean the fabulous fashion set who have been gracing New York Fashion Week {or IFBCON} with their presence for years – Jetset Style Guide – NYFW February 2013 from Hitha On The Go, Fashion Week Beauty Essentials from Late Afternoon, {What to Wear} To A Fashion Blogging Conference from Beautify My Life, 8 Looks Inspiring Our NYFW Wardrobe from Glittery Guide, and of course Bigger, Better, Bolder: What To Bring To IFB Con from IFB.
Have you ever gotten stressed out by the notion of getting packed for a trip? How did you calm yourself done & get yourself packed?
Be sure to follow my New York City adventures on these platforms for pictures & updates:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moicontrelavie
- Twitter: @moicontrelavie
- Instagram: @moicontrelavie
MCLV Style: New York City
New York City BABY!
As I’m sure you picked up, I was beyond excited for this trip – Seeing my best friend, attending IFBCON, and getting the chance to spend some quality time in NYC, a city that I’ve been having a love affaire with for years now.
{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Embellished Striped Top – Zara, Zipper Detail Shorts – Zara, Ankle Strap Heels – Fendi, Oversized Crocodile Clutch – Express, Silver Art Deco Bracelet – JewelMint, Silver Bow Bracelet – Forever 21, Silver Chainlink Watch – Vintage & Ring – Tiffany’s}
 
{You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu}
Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view
When I was packing for my trip to New York I found myself in a quandary – it was going to be extremely hot and humid but I’m a fairly formal dresser. Luckily for my internal body temperature this was the first Summer that I’ve worn shorts since Junior High, so I packed a few pairs for the trip. But how to style them? Shorts & a tank might be an appropriate bathing suit coverup, but for walking down the streets of New York City? Definitely not!
So with that in mind I paired my exposed zipper shorts from Zara with a striped tee with a rhinestone embellished collar, tons of chunky silver jewelry, ankle strap heels, and an oversized envelope clutch. I was comfortable temperature-wise, but still felt stylish enough to strut my stuff all over Manhattan! 🙂
Interesting in more fashion from my September trip to New York City? Check out these previous posts:
Did you have fun wearing shorts over the Summer? What’s your favorite style of shorts to wear when the weather heats up?
New York Fashion Diary
While I didn’t have the honor of attending any of the New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 shows – SOB – I was lucky enough to spend four days in the city that never sleeps right before the shows, parties, and FNO kicked off, and it gave me a unique chance to witness the city amping up to the fashionable frenzy that is Fashion Month.
And please believe me when I say that four days of glorious walking , exploring, shopping, eating, drinking, and aimless wandering are this city were four days very well spent!
{A little jewelry shopping at the MET – We definitely got some funny looks!}
{Yes, we are complete and utter nerds. Since 7th grade.}
{Lincoln Center, Far West Chelsea, Meatpacking District}
We also ate at three vegan restaurants, walked through Central Park twice, sprinted through Central Park once, and had a little quality retail therapy in Soho.
Check out my previous NYC posts to see what else I was up to during this trip: Weekends Away – Styling, Deciding & Packing, IFBCON Preparation, MCLVÂ Style: IFBCON Day One, IFBCON –Â Trends, Styles & Inspiration, and MCLVÂ Style: IFBCON Day Two.
When you travel to a city during a trip do you like to do “touristy” things like go to museums? Do you like to walk around a new city to get to know it and familiarize yourself with the neighborhoods?
Moi Contre La Vie 