3 Days in NYC {What I Packed}

[trip style = urban]

Whether I'm packing for an urban escape, spa weekend, or fam-jam beach trip, I edit and re-edit my suitcase contents as meticulously as Anna Wintour analyses the pages of Vogue before print. To me, packing is like fashion Tetris: When everything fits—in every sense of the word—it's beautiful. 

Following up on the Only Packing Tricks You Ever Need to Know hints I wrote about yesterday, my toddler is the one who inspired me to decode the details of how I packed for my three-day trip to New York. While he's more an aviation fanatic than a Tom Ford-in-training, he always wants to see photos of everything I do, see and taste when I travel. With his interest as my inspiration, I give you New York... through the eyes of my wardrobe. More NYC updates to come.

A snippet of my suitcase style based on the weather and my NY wanderings. 

My Vancouver --> New York airplane outfit, a go-to getup that is similar every trip {other than a few tweaks based on destination and trip type}. Slip-on shoes for security, comfy jeans, a soft T to "up" the cozy-factor on my red-eye flight. I finished it off with a lightweight blazer to befit my surroundings in Cathay Pacific's gorgeous YVR Lounge, in my Cathay Pacific business class seat, and my arrival the Four Seasons New York Hotel Downtown. 

Post-flight: Same jeans, new top. I love it when hotels offer a place to freshen up when you arrive in the AM before your room is ready. Here I'm in the Four Seasons' spa all spiffed following an early arrival.
Photo by @NomNomYVR

Loose and lightweight dress for a day of sightseeing starting at the Oculus transportation hub and upscale shopping space. Believe it or not: these shoes are very comfortable for the miles logged traipsing around New York's urban jungle. 
Photo by @NomNomYVR

In denim, yet again, on floor 101 of the One World Observatory at the top of the One World Trade Center.
Photo by @NomNomYVR

What I packed into my New York carry-on:
- Running shoes and workout gear
- Going out/chic sightseeing shoes
- Skirt
- 5 dresses
- Jean shorts
- 4 tops
- Other: toiletries, jewelry, belts, scarves, bathing suit, "crushable" hat, camera, hair straightener, clutch purse

Other Dispatches in this Series
Next Up :: NYC
Cathay Pacific's GORGEOUS New Lounge at YVR

[Photos by @TripStyler, and @NomNomYVR's incredible photo skills where listed]

The ONLY Packing Tricks You EVER Need To Know

[trip style = any]

Last week I met up with some travel industry friends who are on the go so much they put the jet in setter. The topic of "how we pack" for trips came up. I told them I almost always galavant with a carry-on—whether it's three days in Santa Barbara or three weeks in Stockholm. 

"Wait, how do you do it?", they asked. "What about your tech and toiletries?" I told them that for me, packing light comes down to one major factor: A highly edited suitcase {which includes decisions such as small toiletries and efficient camera and computer gear}.

With this, here are my rules for achieving an ultra-edited suitcase. And guess what? Even with my choosy packing, there are still outfits I don't even wear...

5 Rules for Packing an Edited Suitcase  
1/ Check the weather
The forecast will largely influence your travel wardrobe picks. Get a sense of the weather a few days in advance, and re-check a day before leaving since conditions can change.

2/ Review your itinerary {or major vacation to-dos} and pair outfits with each event
Last week I was in NYC. Since I had a pretty good idea of the activities I'd do each day, I chose an outfit to "suit" each Manhattan must-do, which helped guide the garments I placed in my bag.

3/ Shoes are your biggest opportunity
One of the basics of a well-packed bag is limiting large {or copious amounts} of shoes. Shoes take up too much real estate, so only bring footwear that will work with a few of your chosen garments.

4/ Select a go-to airport outfit
A go-to airport getup takes the guesswork out of getting out the door. On this topic, I tend to wear my biggest shoes and/or jacket on the plane, so these items don't add too much bulk to my bag. FYI: If you ask nicely, most flight attendants can hang up your coat for you. 

5/ The hack of all packing hacks: A portable washing bag
If your trip is longer than five days—about the amount of clothes you can fit into a carry-on—start to mix, match and repeat outfits. As things get dirty use this quick portable washing machine technique {hint hint: it's with a freezer-size Ziploc bag}.

[photos by @tripstyler] 

Jetset Style :: Blanket Scarves

Cozy has evolved from function to fashion. First came the Snuggie—a sleeved infomercial blanket—then the Poler Napsack—a personal #campvibes sleeping bag—and now the blanket scarf: the oversized scarf trend that, thankfully, won't die.

If you're in the dark about the blanket scarf, it's an oversized, square{ish}, thick, scarf that not only gives you permission to wear a throw blanket-sized accessory outside the house, but also doubles as an actual blanket whenever you need one. Picnic blanket? Check. Plane blanket? Check. On a recent fight from Amsterdam, I gave my airline blanket to my seat mate, who was travelling home from Africa. She was freezing after a month of heat, and I was toasty, covered by my Aritzia blanket scarf.

A few favorites

- Zara soft geometric scarf {$40 / 51 x 55" / 100% acrylic}
- Aritzia gloomy days blanket scarf {$85 / 51 x 63" / 100% wool}
- Oak & Fort blanket scarf {$48 / 62 x 62" / 100% acrylic}
- asos oversized square scarf {$40 / 59 x 59" / 100% acrylic}

A little outfit inspiration

A scarf-tying tutorial

Can't see the video? Click here.

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Crop it like it's Hot
Comfort Class
How to Dress like a Parisian

[collages by @heatherlovesit, outfit inspiration photos via #myaritzia, nymag and lovely-pepa.com]

Jetset Style :: Crop It Like It's Hot

We know fall is around the corner when daylight hours dim, leaves crunch underfoot and sweaters come out of hiding. But when the temperature is too warm for wool and too cool for sandals, how should we dress? This year’s answer may shock you: Culottes.

No, this isn’t an 80s #tbt post—this cropped style is the trend of the year. Not quite pants and not quite shorts, culottes are often described by what they’re not. They also have several ridiculous names like gaucho, flood and palazzo pants. No matter what you call them, they’re comfortable and versatile, and they’ll be the perfect packing item for any fall escape.

Guys: While culottes are a major player in avant-garde men's fashion, they haven't hit the high street. GQ writes that men should wear trousers, jeans and chinos that fit slim through the leg and stop before hitting the top of their shoes. Ease into this shorter style with no-break pants or roll/cuff your longer pants. Feeling adventurous? Try jogger-cuff pants or culotte-style trousers.

Styling tips

• To lengthen the leg, pair with heels. A pointed or exposed toe will even further elongate your silhouette.
• This style also works well with sneakers, loafers and sandals for a more casual look.
• Seek out a high waistline to give the impression of even longer legs.
• Wear one color head to toe or try a jumpsuit paired with a leather or denim jacket for a sleek culottes-in-disguise look.
• Layer a sweater or graphic sweatshirt over a tank or tuck in a denim shirt or turtleneck in cooler climates.
• Throw a boyfriend-style or double-breasted blazer over a cropped shirt or tank.

Did you know? During the Victorian Era, women wore wide, skirt-like trousers for activities like horseback riding, cycling and tennis.

Clockwise from top left: Zara cropped flowing trousers, Topshop moto straight indigo culottes, Topshop halterneck culotte jumpsuit, Jesse Kamm sailor pant, Everlane , Aritzia eckhardt pant

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: Comfort Class
Jetset Style :: Linen Love
How to Look French
Jetset Style :: How to Dress Like a Parisian

[collages by @heatherlovesit, images via the cut, instagram @c.phraph, clay austin photography, gq, jesse kamm, a portable package, the fashion eaters]

Jetset Style :: Comfort Class

[trip style = any]

Have you ever noticed the celebrity travel uniform? If you don't count Rihanna's affection for street-wear onesies, it consists of sunglasses, jeans, light jacket, fantastic bag and hat {not required but recommended}. These savvy stars know that the key to airport style is layers, and while the price tag on their travel uniform may be higher than the average traveler's, they've nailed a look that's both comfortable and classy. There shouldn't be a divide between first class and economy in airplane fashion, so we've coined a new term: comfort class.

Celebrity travel uniform trends

• Bomber jackets
• Black & white color palette
• Striped tees
• Short crew-neck sweaters
• Structured handbags
• Black or white sneakers
• Brimmed hat
• Jeans or black pants
• White tees
• Blazers

Always looking outfit inspiration, we spotted these stylish high fliers rocking the comfort class look.

Bomber jackets are a stylish & smart layer

Hats aren't just for incognito travel 

Black & white is a classic color combo

Cropped cashmere & structured satchels will never go out of style

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Dos and Don'ts of Airport Wear
Fashion Friday :: Runway Style
Fashion Friday :: Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Fashion Friday :: Airport Style

[images sourced via elle, in style, marie claire, glamour, and collages by @heatherlovesit]