#packingtips

Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips

March 16, 2023 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

On this Signature Style- What you need for a getaway or resort trip! Some cute dresses, outfit ideas and packing tips.

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again for Signature Style with Cindy. Sorry for the delay in this post. The storm left me without internet. I hope you all have been faring okay. Given our never ending bad weather here in California, any of us are trying to plan an escape to the sun!

I was lucky last week to get a little escape with a three day trip to the desert to see the BNP Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells. Flying into Palm Spring looked like we were landing in Siberia, but on the ground it was a balmy 76 ! It felt great to be in the sun.

One of my biggest issues on these resort trips or quick getaways is how to pack smarter. I want so to not be burdened by a heavy case and too many choices.

On last weekend’s tennis trip I brought my Longchamp carry-on with a small crossbody, light scarf, comfy sandals and a tennis themed read… With a small suitcase of course! These Tory Burch Cloud Sandals are a favorite I have in two colors.

How to pack smarter:

Think outfits not pieces. Only pack outfits for each day. If you’re going out at night that could be two outfits a day. That way you won’t pack extra random things.
Use items for more than one thing. For example-have at least one dress that can work as a coverup, and use a scarf for sun as well as warmth on the plane, have a light jacket that can work over a dress as well as with shorts and on the plane..
Wear shorts/pants more than once and just change up tops.
Bring sandals and sneakers that work for dresses as well with shorts for treks out..i.e. not your beat up jogging shoes.. (Unless you plan on running on your trip.)
Wear a dress on repeat and just change up the look with accessories or scarves or a jacket.
Stick to a color palette. If you pack all blues for example, or black and white, you can mix things easier and shoes and accessories work with everything.

You do not need more than one sweatshirt, leggings, tank, white T. Just re-wear and make your life easier. Get creative. My friend Bari and I were laughing on this trip because we were saying why did we feel the need to bring multiple sweatshirts? Like who was going to notice we wore something twice? Don’t do it. Minimal is freeing and gives you less to manage . I promise you will thank me.

My Resort/ Getaway Packing List

We don’t need much on warm holidays away. Remember you don’t even need a day outfit on days by the pool or beach. You will likely live in a swimsuit and a coverup, which you can even wear to breakfast, so make sure you have at least one good swimsuit you feel great in! That is the most essential on these trips.

Swimsuit or two that flatters, fits and feels good to be active in.
A cute coverup. If you bring multiples make sure at least one can double as a dress too.
A hat that travels well. I love this hat and also a baseball cap for hikes/walks. I like this one.
Sandal or flip flop (I love these Ola Kai) for the beach/pool, sneakers, and a fancier flat sandal.
Bag for the pool/beach ( can also be a basket you use for carry-on), crossbody for night and days out.
Sunglasses and possibly sunglass readers (cute ones here.)
Light jacket – my favorite here I adore.
Shorts for days
Cute tops in light fabrics
Dresses for hot days or nights out.
White pants. ( I rarely wear these, but nice to have options if they weather turns cool.)
Sunscreens. I love this, and this.
I wear a light pant or jean on flight with my sneakers and light jacket.

Key Pieces

This linen jacket is one hardworking piece I have taken all over the place and is my first go-to on a warm weather trip. I just took it to the desert and it’s great for the plane too. I find the linen to be soft and a few wrinkles never make this look bad. I wear it over dresses as well as with shorts and pants. Cindy also has this.. You need something like this in your closet. Love the raw edges.

Blazer with shorts

I started pairing a linen blazer I have with shorts, and wore that during our tennis tournament with sneakers. It’s a look I am seeing all over and a fresh look for spring and summer too. Look for a light jacket. I wore it on the plane with jeans and a sweater wrapped around my neck for warmth. Some easy linen blazers here , here, and here and here. Some cute shorts in new lengths here and here and here.

This cute short and jacket look has a lot of possibilities day to night..

Sandals

I love these Birkenstocks to go with shorts to dresses..and these Roxanne flats are nice for evenings and come in many colors, but I love this teal.. and the classic TB flip flop in black ( or gold) is fancy enough for evenings and will look good for years.

Dresses/coverups..

I love having a few dresses on a getaway. I will use them for both coverups and to go out in.

I bought this Juliet Dunn dress I had my eye since last year on from My Theresa (first time ordering from them.) This dress is an eternal best seller as it works on a lot of body types. It comes with a nice slip that you can wear or not if you use as a coverup. I think this will be great for dinners or a warm weather trip and summer – if it ever happens!

They also have an option in this darker color and these darling dresses. Especially love the ones with ric rac trim! These aren’t inexpensive, but are special pieces. I saw a gal with one of the coverups in Hawaii and I fell in love with it. You could also search for them on sale and that is how I found mine.

The dress on the left is a Faherty cotton dress. It’s a small American made brand that I love and their dresses are excellent quality. I have two and this blue one I bought last year. I do see it now on sale in a pretty peach. The pink is a dress by dBa and it’s a shirt dress that I will use by the pool, also sold out in this print- but similar are here. ( Sorry for the indoor photos because well non-stop rain here!)

Elan makes the cutest coverups and prices are good. I have this black one, which I wear so much from a prior season.

Elan has more coverups here . I especially like this blue one, this one in white , and the yellow

Other long ones I like -this beauty by Johnny Was, and this cool Missoni looking stripe…

This gauze option by Anthro is perfect in a pretty green and a black. You could pair this dress with a mid length cotton slip and wear it to dinner too, double duty and less to bring!

I need another coverup like a hole in the head, but I just ordered this floral coverup at J. Crew I had my eye on. They also have it in solids and gingham. Super cute styling with the side ties. Both 25% off now.

Swimsuits

Swimsuits can be a challenge. I have found J. Crew ones to be excellent quality for the price and love the half shoulder versions. This suit flatters, and is still sexy and not frumpy. I have this in Safari and and love the stripe and other solid colors. I also have this version with a shoulder bow too. The half shoulder is super cute with a long skirt or long pants or cute shorts.

This is also adorbs in the floral .. If you need one, I love this rash guard with the tassel in black or navy..

Beach totes/ evening bags

The other thing you need is a good tote, that you can take on a trip and use by the pool/beach. I love the look of this bronze braided one .

You can’t beat this for $58 and it’s a classic you can tie a scarf on or a tassel.

I also have this honey pot from Claire V..I use it at night and added a strap from another bag to make it a crossbody for day. J Crew now has a cute similar bag too.

I have the medium Market tote by Mersea that I LOVE. It’s a bit stiffer to travel with but good for a weekend away you drive to- or perhaps get the larger size and use as a carry-on, or the extra small for evenings. They also have this adorable Ciao version now. See them all here

Another option is a small bag for evenings… a small crossbody or perhaps a woven clutch like this cute option. My original one is (also J. Crew 10 years old), and I still use it! Get a decent one and it’s a good addition to the closet.

Don’t forget sunglass readers. Those are so nice to have if you are sitting reading buy the pool or beach. I love these by Caddis. The pink is darling. They also have more here and here.

I hope this has given you a few ideas and inspiration. Great places for resort clothes are Tuckernuck, and Tommy Bahama, as well as Mersea which has a new travel collection. Play around with last summer’s coverups and shorts and see what still works and what you need before you shop. You may be surprised what you have in the closet after this long winter. I had forgotten about a few things.

I hope you have some sunshine in your future!

If you missed February’s Signature Style, I shared how French women wear red and how you can adding to your wardrobe can give you a little bit of chic and brighten up your darks this time of year.

Please pop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

I also have posts on what to pack for Hawaii , what to bring to Bora Bora, the BNP Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, and Carmel/Monterey.

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Signature Style- Travel!

July 8, 2022 By kimwheeler 34 Comments

Hello it’s that time again for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah. This month we are talking about travel and packing and what to wear. We are finally getting back to nearly normal travel and it feels like the whole world is going somewhere. This pic above right was the last time I was in Europe, Fall 2019 at Heathrow in London. I’d love to go back right now! Right now I have two trips on the horizon, a conference in Atlanta in July ( should be a challange to choose the right things with high temps and A/C), and a fall trip to France with Max if all goes well. That’s still in the planning stages.

I love travel more than almost anything, so just thinking about what to pack gets me excited. We have traveled a fair amount and I’ve gotten better at this art of packing. I really enjoy having my travel essential all ready to go. I have a system down and it takes the stress out of it!

Travel essentials are my TUMI case I’ve had now almost ten years. It never fails me and though has some exterior wear, works like a dream and I can really overload it if I have to with its expandable sides. This suitcase and my carry-on are probably some of the best investments I have made. Neither aren’t cheap, but they have paid for themselves many times over. I can’t tell you how many cheaper cases and carry ons I have gone through before I bought these. I can’t see needing to change them ever! Good investment pieces.

My bags for the last conference I attended prior to the pandemic..

My carry-on is a Longchamp large Le Pliage Tote that that I bought at Heathrow in Harrod’s duty free and I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. It’s tough, lightweight and I can get tons in it. If I’m limited to a carry-on and the suitcase, I’ll take it as my one personal piece and tuck a crossbody purse in it.

If I can check a bag, I take the Longchamp and a tote purse. If it’s a beachy destination, I’ll bring a basket bag as the tote with a crossbody in it. For travel involving trains, transit and multiple hotels, a small carry-on is less slogging and so worth packing efficiently in two pieces.

I stack everything vertically in this tote, so I can see it.

In this I fit a crossbody bag, my makeup bag, two to three pouches, an extra pair of shoes, a book and magazine, a cashmere wrap and a hat upside down with another scarf. I do the same with any handbag tote I may bring.

One of the best crossbody bags I have ever had is this Bombe bag by Tory Burch. IT is ultra light, has two zip pockets that can hold a good amount. . It now comes in many colors, but the black I’ve had for years and it is still so easy to pack and take..

I love zip pouches and packing cubes. Have you gotten on the packing cube bandwagon? Some people love to pack with full outfits in the larger ones. So far this is what I do..

My zip pouches hold-

1) Cords, chargers, plugs and convertors.

2) Kleenex, face/hand wipes, hand sanitizer, Tide wipes, masks, sunglass readers, extra earbuds with cords for movies, and an eye mask for sleeping.

3) A pair of black leggings, a black tank, and a long sleeve t-shirt, a pair of underwear, and a pair of socks. Love this from Target (orange pouch ) that fits those easily. (I like having an extra outfit or emergency pieces in case of a bag being lost or spilling on the flight.)

4) Jewelry roll. I try and keep to basics and just an extra necklace or ring and a pair of dangly earrings. I have a few jewelry cases. The box ones seem to be more popular now and I love this one by Cuyana and this by Mark & Graham.

5) Cosmetic/skincare bag. I love this Everlane bag that was a gift from a friend. It has many side pockets that hold products vertical and is well designed.

My suitcase packing method.

I have done the pants flat out on opposite sides forever and it works to prevent wrinkles- ( demonstrating below). I then fold shirts and dresses stacked together placed on the center, and then pant bottoms folded over all that.

On the zippered side of the suitcase, I use my packing cubes (love these eiffel tower travel bags ). I use one for underwear, another for pajamas and swim, and another for shoes or workout clothes. Everything else on that side is rolled.

Packing cubes are hugely helpful and I want more. I also just ordered these from Mark & Graham which come in three shades and can be monogrammed..

A less pricier option, Target has this nice smaller set online.

What to wear on the plane..

For the plane, I have a formula which is cotton tank, jacket, jeans, and a sweater. That makes me feel polished and gives me a jacket to wear when there. Once I sit on the plane I fold my jacket and store above in the overhead and wear my sweater. I wear slides usually and take my heaviest shoes in the carry on. If it’s winter, visa versa.

The jacket will vary.. This is one look with a navy jacket I own and a map scarf. I’ll wear a white tank and jeans or camo pants.

I have this heavier black Veronica Beard blazer for cooler times and the sweater gives me options and warmth on the plane. My new Mother jeans are the right length, leg width and comfort for this kind of trip.

The Cinq a Sept black top above is a light silk top with grosgrain trim and is perfect for all year layering. It feels great on and goes well under a blazer and pairs with pants and skirts.

A few different ways I wear a jacket traveling.. Always with a sweater for options. Right now in summer I love this linen Tommy Bahama jacket I bought in Hawaii. Going to Hawaii, I’ll bring the linen one or a black windbreaker from Lululemon (similar here.)

These jeans are Veronica Beard with elastic waist which are super for flying. I also have my eye on these Kinsey Cropped Boyfriend Stretch Comfort Jeans by AG that are the right pant width and look and sound good for travel. I also bring a pair of black pants or jeans in my bag.

Pack outfits, not items.

I pack outfits for each day, and not just pieces. In my head I make a mental plan of what I will wear each day to avoid overpacking and if it’s a longer trip, I will try all my outfits on in a mirror and take photos to remember what I’m wearing. To those outfits, I will add sleep clothes, a swimsuit, something to workout in (just in case), undergarments, a cozy cashmere wrap, a small robe ( I just got this) and socks. I also try and stay to 4 pairs of shoes.

A few pieces to consider

I love a good summer sweater for such trips and Banana Republic Factory has this light stripe in navy,(like I’m holding above) or tan. J.Crew has this beach sweater I have in antique white -on sale now. It’s a good option to wear on the plane and on chilly nights.

Button ups are good for coverups and to layer. This top from Anthro left, looks like a great material for travel and can dress up or down. This J. Crew one center, is a pretty option in chambray, white or navy and this button down can be layered with leggings or under a jacket or tied with a skirt. Speaking of leggings, my favorite Lululemon ones still look like new and I’ve had them five years and I take them on all my trips.

Another versatile travel piece recently bought is the pull on Savannah skirt with zip pockets from Athleta. It feel so light and would be perfect for city travel. Here I have it with the tank and the crossbody. You can pair it with a tank and jacket, or dress it up in the evenings, or down with sneakers and a sweatshirt.

A few more of the items mentioned in the post here..

I hope this has been helpful and I hope you have some travel in your future.

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Well, that’s my take on travel packing, now please see what Cindy and Sarah have for you in travel tips! I can’t wait to see their ideas. They always inspire me. Please share any travel tips- packing or style wise in the comments!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here!

Kim

You might also like last month’s Signature Style post on lipsticks, with new favorites and ones I have loved forever.

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