I'm back from the US. Happy to be home... Happy to be back in a country where good coffee is appreciated and readily available.
My return on Saturday morning was marked by the usual - doing our laundry and restocking our fridge AND buying a few bundles of coat hangers from IKEA :)
Needless to say, all of my culling efforts over the past 9 months have been undone and my renewed enthusiasm for shopping has caused my past shopaholism to resurface... in my lunch break today I bought two pairs of shoes, even though I originally set out to buy chicken for tonight's dinner.
Back to the drawing board...
The ultimate packing list - In my suitcase
The last 24 hours have been horrible for me. I have come down with food poisoning! If anyone has any tips on how to deal with it whilst traveling - I'm all ears (we fly out tomorrow morning). Currently taking stuff to paralyze my intestines (so that I can stop running to the toilet every half an hour) and electrolytes to rehydrate.
Anyways, back to the subject of this post... packing. I have looked at the weather forecast for NYC for the next 10 days and the temperatures are basically like the coldest I ever experienced where I live now - obviously not unbearable but very chilly by our Aussie standards. I'm relived to see though that there is no rain in sight and Thursday is looking like it might be a balmy 17 degrees.
Although it looks like I'll need to pack my Winter wardrobe, the name of the game for this holiday is pack light and shop hard. The items in red text are the things which I intend to throw out/donate to charity whilst on my holiday.
My packing list:
Coats and Jackets
Dresses
Knits
Tops
Jeans/Pants
Shoes
Miscellaneous/Accessories
That's it. And in case you are wondering the above list includes what I will be wearing on the plane.
Anyways, back to the subject of this post... packing. I have looked at the weather forecast for NYC for the next 10 days and the temperatures are basically like the coldest I ever experienced where I live now - obviously not unbearable but very chilly by our Aussie standards. I'm relived to see though that there is no rain in sight and Thursday is looking like it might be a balmy 17 degrees.
Although it looks like I'll need to pack my Winter wardrobe, the name of the game for this holiday is pack light and shop hard. The items in red text are the things which I intend to throw out/donate to charity whilst on my holiday.
Coats and Jackets
- Witchery faux shearing lined long coat in beige.
- Etoile Isabel Marant tweed blazer in dark grey (will double as an outwear layer on warmer days).
Dresses
- Country Road seamed dress in black (can be dressed up or down).
Knits
- by Malene Birger cape knit in black
- Fleur Wood bat wing knit in light grey
Tops
- Jane Lamerton striped top in cream and almost black navy.
- Witchery statement shoulder top in black.
- Woolen bat wing top in black.
- Bat wing top in khaki.
- Country Road long sleeve tee in black.
- Layering tops.
- Seamless tops in black and nude.
Jeans/Pants
- Country Road skinny jeans in blue.
- Nudie skinny jeans in black.
- Country Road panel stretch pant in dark grey.
Shoes
- Isabel Marant Dickers in anthracite.
- Country Road biker boots in black.
- A pair of flats.
Miscellaneous/Accessories
- Scarf.
- Socks.
- Fleece lined tights in black.
- Undies.
- 2 x bras (one nude and one black)
- Pyjama pants (with daytime layering tops as pyjama tops).
That's it. And in case you are wondering the above list includes what I will be wearing on the plane.
Channeling a cashed up female retiree...
Do you ever visit the "ladies co-ordinates" or "ladies items" department in your local department store? You know the one I mean, the department where your grandmother shops? I do, as I find that they are a mecca for striped tops.
I passed through the other day - initially just for fun, but I ended up buying this tee:
The top is from the brand Jump and I purchased it from David Jones for $69.95, which is a lot more than I would usually pay for a tee on the spur of the moment whilst supposedly shopping for a Wedding card... but I liked the fit, and was experiencing a tough day at work, so I bought it.
It's a linen/viscose blend and the stripes are actually printed - so in time I think the stripes will take on a weathered appearance. I hope the top doesn't stretch too much like linen usually does. [Who am I kidding? I know it will.]
I know that the sequins are a little circa-2009, but at least it doesn't have shoulder pads...
I passed through the other day - initially just for fun, but I ended up buying this tee:
The top is from the brand Jump and I purchased it from David Jones for $69.95, which is a lot more than I would usually pay for a tee on the spur of the moment whilst supposedly shopping for a Wedding card... but I liked the fit, and was experiencing a tough day at work, so I bought it.
It's a linen/viscose blend and the stripes are actually printed - so in time I think the stripes will take on a weathered appearance. I hope the top doesn't stretch too much like linen usually does. [Who am I kidding? I know it will.]
I know that the sequins are a little circa-2009, but at least it doesn't have shoulder pads...
My US shopping list - the items which need replacing...
This time next week I will be in the midst of packing... In the meantime I am seriously starting to think about the types of things I want to buy during my travels. The items in my wardrobe that need replacing are the first to make it on to my shopping list.
Black ballet flats. I have worn my ballet flats so much that there is a hole worn through the sole. Usually with my absolute fave leather soled shoes I take them to the cobbler to have a TOPY rubber sole protector applied. On this occasion I didn't bother because I wasn't entirely happy with the fit of the shoes to invest a further $30 into them. Nevertheless they became a workhorse in my wardrobe. I am not intending to spend mega bucks on a new pair but I am after a good quality leather pair.
Black leather biker boots. My Country Road biker boots are also well worn out - to the point that there are holes in the leather lining at the heels. Given that the retail stores in the US are now starting to stock Summer attire, I am not holding my breath that I will find the perfect pair - but I'll be on the look out.
Black pumps. My go-to black pumps are pretty much wrecked. They are looking overly stretched, they are totally scuffed up and the back of one heel is damaged. Black pumps are supposed to make a woman feel elegant - but these make me feel like I can't afford new shoes (even though they are comfortable). Time for a replacement pair!
Black leather biker jacket. My beloved jacket is so well worn that the lining is starting to fall to pieces. I will not throw it out though - it will become the jacket that I keep in my car in case of emergencies. I would love to find a new black biker jacket which is perfectly fitted, not too cropped and made out of soft smooshy leather just like the one which has served me so well for all of these years.
Black silk dress with sleeves. My current Country Road number (pictured) has developed holes under the armpits. To avoid peek-a-boo moments I always now have to wear this dress layered over a black sleeved top. The replacement dress will need to be suitable for the office, but fancy enough to transition into Friday night drinks.
Black ballet flats. I have worn my ballet flats so much that there is a hole worn through the sole. Usually with my absolute fave leather soled shoes I take them to the cobbler to have a TOPY rubber sole protector applied. On this occasion I didn't bother because I wasn't entirely happy with the fit of the shoes to invest a further $30 into them. Nevertheless they became a workhorse in my wardrobe. I am not intending to spend mega bucks on a new pair but I am after a good quality leather pair.
Black leather biker boots. My Country Road biker boots are also well worn out - to the point that there are holes in the leather lining at the heels. Given that the retail stores in the US are now starting to stock Summer attire, I am not holding my breath that I will find the perfect pair - but I'll be on the look out.
Black pumps. My go-to black pumps are pretty much wrecked. They are looking overly stretched, they are totally scuffed up and the back of one heel is damaged. Black pumps are supposed to make a woman feel elegant - but these make me feel like I can't afford new shoes (even though they are comfortable). Time for a replacement pair!
Black leather biker jacket. My beloved jacket is so well worn that the lining is starting to fall to pieces. I will not throw it out though - it will become the jacket that I keep in my car in case of emergencies. I would love to find a new black biker jacket which is perfectly fitted, not too cropped and made out of soft smooshy leather just like the one which has served me so well for all of these years.
Black silk dress with sleeves. My current Country Road number (pictured) has developed holes under the armpits. To avoid peek-a-boo moments I always now have to wear this dress layered over a black sleeved top. The replacement dress will need to be suitable for the office, but fancy enough to transition into Friday night drinks.
Striped tops. I donated the one long sleeve black and white striped top which I owned because I disliked the neckline, the ruching on the ends of the sleeves and the fact that it was starting to pill. I will be looking for a number of new striped tops to add to my collection, especially plain 3/4 sleeve and long sleeve striped tops in black and white, grey and white and red and white with either boat necklines or soft scooped necklines.
Dark coloured wool coat. I'll know it when I see it, maybe there is a lucky find waiting for me on a sale rack somewhere. I'm after something in black or dark grey.
Black work appropriate handbag. My Chloe Heloise is currently at the repairers for the second time... I guess nothing lasts forever if you use it almost everyday and use it to carry cans of tomatoes home from the supermarket!
Cozy knitwear dreaming...
Ahh, knitwear... what's not to love about a warm woolly cardigan? When it adds pounds, swaps your frame, pills like crazy (a topic which by the way has its own Wikipedia entry) or makes you itch like you have fleas - that's what!
A good number of my knits were recently (immediately) culled - no qualms whatsoever, for the following reasons:
A small pile of knits survived my cull sessions and now sit folded neatly in my drawer. Nevertheless, due to fit and quality issues, all but a few are destined to be culled in the future as soon as I upgrade and buy replacements.
I really long for one of those gorgeous cozy knits (sans all the problems listed in my opening paragraph and the above list) that ends up becoming my 'go to' on a cold Winter's Saturday or Sunday. I've had a quick look online and the styles below take my fancy if money was no object (but it always is).
- I got rid of ALL my skivvies and turtlenecks as I find them to be suffocating. I am uncertain about how it is that I managed to build up a collection of 7 such styles if I despise wearing them.
- A long line grey cardi seemed like the ideal addition to my wardrobe one Winter, but in wearing it I discovered that it just clung horribly to my hips and crept up over my bottom - not a good look.
- Another long line 'lounge wear' type cardi made me feel like a desperate housewife (of which I am neither), so it was culled before I even got to wear it. It was way too drapey and and a little too "homely" even though that's what I desperately seek from a cardigan.
- Knits with extreme piling - I'm looking at you acrylic.
- I sadly threw out a couple of knits which quite clearly due to not being worn for an extended period of time had become delicious meals for moths.
- Culled also were a couple of short sleeved knits (one with a turtle neck even!) a concept which I do not understand. If you are cold enough to wear a woolly knit, why on earth would you want bare arms?
A small pile of knits survived my cull sessions and now sit folded neatly in my drawer. Nevertheless, due to fit and quality issues, all but a few are destined to be culled in the future as soon as I upgrade and buy replacements.
I really long for one of those gorgeous cozy knits (sans all the problems listed in my opening paragraph and the above list) that ends up becoming my 'go to' on a cold Winter's Saturday or Sunday. I've had a quick look online and the styles below take my fancy if money was no object (but it always is).
 |
| Top row: La Garconne 'Moderne' alpaca handknit sweater in black, heather grey and cream, Etoile Isabel Marant 'Claire' cropped pullover, Crumpet raglan sleeve cashmere sweater, Bottom row: Chinti and Parker striped knitted organic sweater, Peter Jensen waffle knit cardigan, J.Crew fisherman cotton-blend cardigan and Hope 'Ease' cardigan |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)