What I Packed, What I Did, What I Thought

plus where I succeeded and where I...succeeded only a medium amount

summer packing inspiration. stripes: laid back. nothing too precious. fun and grounded

A mid-week HI! If you’re reading this as an email, you’ll need to click into Substack to read the whole thing.

You know those weeks where Monday feels indistinguishable from Thursday and before you know it, it’s Sunday night, and the only way you’re absolutely certain of the passage of time is because it’s time to wash your hair?

This has not been one of those weeks.

I’ve been all over the southeast with my oldest daughter. We drove, we ate (well). We carefully discussed which movies and shows we’d watch at night and then we fell asleep before hitting starting them. We listened to almost all of Liz Gilbert’s Big Magic (first time for her, second time for me). Now I have about two days on my own to, as I’ve been eloquently telling people, “work on my own shit.” Which is to say magazine pitches, paid writing gigs, thinking bigger about Casual Viewing.

absolutely victimized by the heat wave

In planning this trip, which includes two hotel stops, three big driving days, and my family’s house in South Carolina as a final destination, I challenged myself to do better when it comes to traveling light and traveling well. I wanted everything I packed to work seamlessly as a cohesive wardrobe unit, and I wanted to feel like that girl breezing through hotel lobbies with nothing but the lightest suitcase and an air of confidence.

sunset + boat rope inspo

I already wrote about road-tripping. Next up I wanted to write a packing manifesto. With tidy pictures of everything and endless combinations of outfits. I held this romantic ideal of using my small suitcase only. Not the behemoth one. And if I did it, I’d move this carry on to the top of my wish list to replace it’s Target stand-in because this better version of me knows stuff.

But alas. I am still me.

I did manage to pull a cohesive capsule from my closet. I stuck with denim (light and dark) grey, navy, black, white and red. No other colors. I did win at having everything more or less play nicely together. Even my more “athleisure” type pieces got worked in, and looked cool. Everything is laid back, crisp, summery and wearable. But I overpacked. I LUGGED. By the time I got my suitcase zipped full of my clothes (I had to sit on it to zip: not the dream). I realized I had no room for a single lip gloss, vitamin, hair brush or handbag. All my sundries had to be stuffed into a second bag. Then I also needed my laptop bag, a ‘snacks’ bag and the cooler.

Then there were the things I forgot to pack, and the SOS to my younger daughter:

WHAT I ACTUALLY PACKED & WORE

Imperfectly speaking, here’s what I packed. Linked where possible.

Tops:

Tees: Red White & Blue striped ($8 and wonderful) here’s another option // Gray & navy ‘Wall Mart’ Free Assembly tees that they don’t make anymore IYKYK // Clare V. gray graphic tee that is most similar to this.” // White linen tee (similar) // Black Jenni Kayne Boyfriend Long Sleeve tee.

Going Around Tops— I don’t really go “out” I’m a cool mom, but not that cool. I do go around though: errands, laptop work from cafes, dinner with my family, etc.

Gingham lobster print (a little off brand for me, but I love it) // black and white puff sleeve // White ruffle AND navy ruffle button up (mine are Madewell and similar to this, but not exactly) Denim button up // very old Marine layer knit tank: similar // White button up (I believe mine was “Joedy” - this seems most similar. I would cry if I lost this shirt) // Breton stripe (this top is my security blanket, I don’t go anywhere without).

Bottoms: These ‘surfer nephew’-y gaucho boxers (odd but I love them, and they make me want have a gaucho pants summer) // Frame dark cropped boot cut, raw hem (similar but mine are a lot darker) // Madewell Dean Easy Straight (I cropped these myself) // Madewell white pintucked shorts (gorgeous but be sure you have nude undies!) // Dark denim shorts (I LOVE these shorts. If you told me they were Veronica Beard and cost $300, I’d probably splurge on them, but they’re Target, and they’re $18. I always size up in shorts) // Red athletic shorts // White athletic shorts // Too many dark grey Amazon yoga pants to count. I overdid exercise clothes. I’ll learn.

Dresses: Dark denim // Big flowy striped maxi dress (same brand, similar; but my stripes are thinner and less ‘green’ & more olive)

Shoes: Sneakers // Red ballet flats // Black Havaianas // Red Havaianas // Mesh // Logo sandals (similar)

the love I have for these shoes is not normal

Observations:

• The MVPs are clearly the mesh shoes and the denim button up.

• I’m not typically a ‘red’ person, but I like it. A little goes a long way tho!

• Everything really could have been lift & shifted, paper-doll style, with almost anything else. VICTORY

• I like mixing athleisure with non-athleisure clothing.

  Jordyn Sharfe
  has an amazing post about this.

• I had everything pretty much squared away a day or two before we left, which is not my usual style. Because of that, it was easy to spot a gap: dark denim shorts. I knew exactly what I needed, instead of my usual “let’s just see what’s cute” approach. So it was easy to grab a pair for $18, rather than falling into my usual habits that, let’s be honest, probably would’ve ended with a hat.

• I have not worn my “security” Breton shirt once.

• I learn by doing, and not really by any other means. If I want to write about styling and fashion, I need to roll up my sleeves (haha) and actually do it, and stop getting overly distracted by consuming.

  Harriet Hadfield
  says it better than I could have.

SO…?

I’m obsessed with themes of progress, and this is a good example, however trivial. Typically I just…pack my favorite clothes. How ever many of them will fit in a bag! I plan around certain (fancier) events, but I’ve never taken the concept of a tight edit very seriously. So while I failed on some fronts, I succeeded on others. I delighted in the time and energy I put towards choosing pieces of a (wardrobe) puzzle that fit together a cool and infinite number of ways. I made a plan, and like most plans, it didn’t go perfectly. But a loosely held plan beats no plan at all and it certainly beats one held too tightly.

Did I re-invent a capsule wardrobe, and then not even do a particularly good job at it?

Maybe!

But the exercise wasn’t really about nailing the concept. It was about engaging with intention, letting go of perfection, and seeing what felt most like me.

Which is why I’m letting this line from Big Magic echo through my week:

"Anyhow, the older I get, the less impressed I become with originality. These days, I’m far more moved by authenticity. Attempts at originality can often feel forced and precious, but authenticity has quiet resonance that never fails to stir me.”

I hope you’re finishing the week strong. Please tell me your packing tips, trials and wins in the comments.

Xx,

Jen