packing tips Archives - Suzanne Carillo

When I pack for a trip I follow some simple guidelines that ensure I’m making the best clothing choices for myself.

Packing for me requires full outfits. When I travel I don’t like to think too much about what I’m wearing. I want to be focused on other things so I do the preparation before I leave. Years ago I developed a printable Style File that helps me keep outfits organized when I travel. I’m sure there are apps out there now that do the same thing.

7 Packing Tips How To Choose What To Bring On A Trip

1. Always try on your outfits before you pack them.

There is nothing worse than using some of your precious suitcase space for an item that you realize doesn’t fit or is damaged.

2. Can You Do Better?

If you put on your outfit and it is just “meh” ask yourself if you think you could do better. Remember the five adjectives you chose for your Style Statement and ensure you are communicating exactly what you desire with your clothes.

3. Activities

It’s easier to pack when you know what activities are planned.

4. Check The Forecast And Be Prepared

I always check the weather forecast and choose my outfits accordingly. Make sure to pack at least one alternate outfit that will accommodate a change in the forecast. Half the time the weathermen don’t know what the heck they are talking about. One time I went to Costa Rica (after checking the online weather forecast) with fall hiking gear, large boots, long pants and a rain jacket. It was 30 C and sunny the whole time!

5. Don’t Bring New Shoes

I did this once and paid dearly.

6. Bring more than one pair of footwear.

Sometimes a change in footwear is just what your body needs, especially when your days are filled with walking.

7. Choose clothing that is comfortable for travel.

There is nothing worse than being trapped in a tiny airplane seat wedged between someone doing a manspread and your other seatmate constantly flicking her abnormally long hair in your face. Ugh! (Yes this happened to me!) Add on your skinny jeans biting into your stomach folds or your cute boots cutting off the circulation to your Pillsbury Puffed and swollen feet and you’ve got an extreme case of air rage in the making. Comfort is king when it comes to travel.

Here are some more packing tips…

Outfits I Love But Didn’t Take

Last post I shared three outfits that I wore on my recent girlfriend’s trip to Vancouver. Today I’m sharing the outfits that didn’t make it into my suitcase for varying reasons.

You know the nursery rhyme, “This Little Piggy Went To Market”? I’m calling this post, “This Little Outfit Stayed Home”.

The French Spy Outfit

7 packing tips how to choose what to bring on a trip thrifted french style suzanne carillo

This bold striped black and white body con cotton dress is very va-va-voom. Shame I didn’t think to take photos without the vintage cardigan. The stripes on the dress create a very flattering trompe l’oeil effect.

This little outfit stayed home because I wasn’t sure I wanted to wear Spanx to tame the lumps and bumps. I also thought it was a bit too subdued. I wanted to bring the drama and leave a lasting impression. Ultimately I thought I could do better.

DIY Embroidered Leather Skirt Outfit

This outfit is one of my favorites with my DIY embroidered vintage leather skirt.

gucci style leather skirt vintage blouse suzanne carillo style over 40

This little outfit stayed home because I thought it might be too warm with my unpredictable nuclear-reactor-off-the-charts-I’m-gonna-kill-someone-I’m-so-damn-hot flashes.

I adore this Anthropologie embroidered dress.

anthropologie garden embroidered dress suzanne carillo style

anthropologie floral garden dress suzanne carillo

This little outfit stayed home because the dress is very heavy and takes up too much space. Also

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, I didn’t want to take yet another pair of boots with me.

Do you think I made the right choice leaving these three little outfits at home?

OUtfits I love but didn't take on my trip. Adventurous style for the uncommon woman suzanne carillo

Here is a reminder of the outfits I took…minus one last minute outfit that I added.

Outfits I love that I took to Vancouver. Colourful vintage dresses to wear over 40 suzanne carillo style

Do you have any packing tips you’d like to share?

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday

What To Wear In NYC In The Summer

This is a small recap of what I wore on my recent trip to NYC.

It was seriously HOT, and humid. Above 100 and I felt it.

I arrived wearing this cotton dress

and had to change immediately into this dress…

which is linen and much looser around the waist. Even then I was still perspiring more than any “delicate flower” should.

The next day we had the special screening of the Fabulous Fashionistas and I wanted to make more of a statement.

I wore my vintage African print dress and got a couple of compliments on it from strangers…always a nice surprise.

This dress doesn’t require a bra which is wonderful when it is so hot outside but not ideal for trying on clothes in thrift stores which is what we did afterwards. (Note to self: never ever do that again.)

That evening we met up for the first blogger supper and I wore this dress, but changed out the necklace and wore one of my own large bib necklaces that I made.

If you want to see a truly hideous photo of me wearing this dress with the necklace that adds 50 lbs onto my frame and 20 years to my age just visit Sylvia’s blog.

I’ve made an infographic to help you understand.

photos of me posted by friends online vs photos I post of myself online by suzanne carillo — image source – cute pug– yoda pug

Moving along…

The next day we spent shopping thrift and consignment stores so I decided to wear something that was fitting room friendly. I wore my newest vintage midi skirt that I purchased when I was in Elora at Sweet Trash last week.

This is the day I bought it.

If you are following me along on Instagram you would have seen two other amazing dresses that I didn’t buy that day.

Like this one.

Yes it was gorgeous and fit like a dream but it was also 100% polyester, heavy (as it was fully lined) and too rich for my wallet.

I also tried on this 1950’s hand painted skirt from Mexico which also didn’t come home with me. It was too expensive and had a strange closure that showed large gaps at my hips. Really weird. You could see my skin on either side of the dress. Too bad because I did love it and it was 100% cotton.

BUT I did get an incredible vintage lurex silver jumpsuit that I’ve yet to take photos of. I wore it to a play one evening in NY and Sylvia took a quick photo of me on her phone that she posted on her Instagram but it doesn’t do the outfit justice (the lighting is horrible and yet again I look like I weigh about 300 lbs). You’ll have to wait to see that one when I can manage to take some decent photos.

#yesiamvain

I also wore this silk Tristan dress…another life saver in the extreme heat.

My last day I wore my patterned Anthropologie jumpsuit.

I even wore it home on the plane.

Don’t worry. I didn’t have to use the bathroom on the flight back. It’s only an hour long plane ride from NYC to Toronto.

This jumpsuit isn’t touching the floor of any airplane or any other public toilet for that matter.

I also took this dress

just as an “extra” just in case but didn’t end up wearing it.

It is always good to have one additional emergency outfit I think when travelling.

Overall I’m happy with what I took.

I managed to cope with the heat and humidity and stayed true to my personal sense of style.

Of course by day two my feet were already covered in bandages, I never seem to manage to get my footwear exactly right for NY. Shoes I swore would be super comfortable, rubbed and gave me blisters in the heat and humidity. I managed to keep moving with the other pair of Clark wedges I’d brought which you can see with vintage midi skirt but I wish I’d taken a different pair of shoes as my alternate.

What worked?

Everything except one pair of shoes.

I fit all 9 outfits (jumpsuit not pictured here) into one carry-on with 3 pairs of shoes.

#imsoeffingproudofmyself

Additional items I had were; my hat, two clutches, jewellery and one black scarf which I wore once at the play as a shawl when the AC was on too high.

What I Kept In Mind While Packing

Shoes

All evening outfits had to work with one pair of shoes.

All daytime outfits had to work with two pairs of shoes (well one in the end).

Weather

Everything needed to be cool enough for extreme heat and humidity. Total opposite of the last time I was in NYC and packed for freezing temps.

Activities

As this was a style blogger meet-up I knew I wouldn’t be needing very casual clothes and didn’t bring any.

Complete Outfits

All outfits needed to be “blog worthy”. I made sure to try on each outfit and accessorize it before I packed it. Small clutches worked very well for evening and don’t take up space or add weight in the suitcase.