PACKING LIST: East Coast
PACKING LIST: East Coast
A quickie list of what an "over-packer" and a "carry-on only" type packs for a week on the East Coast.
The Over-Packer
I am a horrible packer and am constantly shamed by my family for how big and heavy my bags are anytime we travel. I have made a conscious effort to be more organized (these packing cubes help) and perhaps I am making progress. I yearn to be that packer who can fit two weeks of travel into a carry-on but no luck thus far. But honestly, I don’t really care about my poor packing skills because I would rather travel knowing I have everything needed for any possible type of weather or occasion ;) So there - no shame here! This Anya Hindmarch bag is the epitome of staying organized and it’s working (at least for my carry-on). For this 7-day trip I packed in my large Away luggage suitcase and it still had room - no cramming needed.
I recently traveled to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York City. The temps ranged from 40 degrees to high 70s - so of course I needed to pack a range of layers. Fall jackets are my downfall because I want to pack so many and love the crisp New England air to bundle up. But this trip I attempted restraint and packed four 🙈. What can I say? The weather temps were throwing me a curve ball. Here are the staples I packed and a few extras for the what-ifs…
I basically lived in all black, and these pieces (top, jeans, shoes, and suede blazer) were on repeat. I don’t have these boots, but I want them and think they’d look great with this knit dress. I also love my Mark Cross Grace Box. I wear it as a crossbody and love how feminine and structured it is. For the warmer days, this La Ligne dress was perfect with a Jenni Kayne cardigan. To mix in some color with the pieces on repeat, I love this La Double J top and will add it to my wishlist. I am also an animal print lover through and through (on trend or not—but when is it ever not?) and just bought these pants by Reformation.
I always travel with a baby pillow. It sounds high maintenance, and I guess it is, but it helps me sleep along with the brown noise soundscape from the Calm app. Also, Eberjey pajamas are my absolute favorite. I also love Mark & Graham’s travel jewelry case—very organized and cute too. A good alternative to packing a bottle of perfume (and risking it exploding in your checked bag) is packing a fragrant body lotion, and I think Kai Body Butter is an oldie but a goodie and one of my favorite scents.
My hair, skin, nails, and eyes seem dull these days, and even duller when traveling. I have been trying out the K18 hair mask and think it is doing wonders—I really do. For skin, I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: I really love YSE Beauty’s skin glow primer. It has sun protection and evens out skin tone. And for my aging vision (I am more nearsighted), I have been loving these lightweight titanium aviator glasses.
Anyway, I think within the week I was traveling I wore pretty much most of the clothes I packed, and what I didn’t get to wear I am still glad I had as an option ;) See more of my packing list (and what I wish was on my list) here.
xx
Brooke
The Carry-On Only Type
I’m a bit of a minimalist to Brooke’s maximalist. If you see us traveling together, she’s the fab looking one for sure! It took one Heathrow lost luggage nightmare as a family of six to rid me of my checked luggage days. Anything short of a ski vacation goes in a carry on. I love this expandable Away. It basically takes all of my sons sitting on it to close it after I pack, but I still technically pack in a carry on!
I, too headed to the northeast for parents weekend. It was much warmer than I expected, but I have a rule that if I pack it, I have to wear it so I was quite warm some days:). I love this Sezane coat that was on an earlier list of ours. It feels collegiate, but also age appropriate. I wore it to the airport over my travel uniform: jeans, t-shirt, blazer, sneakers. One half of my suitcase is always filled with shoes: running shoes, fun flats (a nod to Brooke’s love of animal print), boots, and slides. I go almost nowhere without this Jenni Kayne skirt. It doesn’t wrinkle and looks good with everything: long sweaters, blazers, and denim shirts (I am currently obsessed with this one from The Great) which all made the packing cut. The shirt under this sleeveless chunky turtleneck turned out to be the perfect weight for the weather and then the sweater sans shirt is dressy enough for dinner. For pants, I packed one black (I wear these as much as anything in my closet), additional jeans, and a pair of cords from La Ligne.
It feels like summer in San Francisco right now (no complaints) so I basically dressed all weekend as if I was doing an apple picking photo shoot in some crisp air to make sure I got to wear all of my fall faves:). A very unnecessary move was packing two additional coats, but I was somehow able to squeeze them in. I tend to stick with classics, but if I want something fun and trendy without breaking the bank, I always look to Zara for great design and prices. This peacoat is classic and somehow modern also and the quality is insane for the price. This Herno jacket takes no space and can be worn with literally everything. Two La Ligne sweaters in cream and navy along with these pajamas and running clothes rounded out my packing list. While it isn’t pretty, but very industrial, this Away weekender holds my laptop, current book, readers, notebook, toiletry bag, the never ending needlepoint project that I haul around pretending to finish it by 2029, and last minute things that I forgot (no chance I am opening that suitcase again before leaving!).
Brooke is our makeup and product guru, but I always travel with this mask for the first evening after the plane. Also, when my face is bright blue, it indicates to my kids that “Mom needs a minute”. I always make these for the plane (well, actually every week to keep in our fridge) for a little protein to avoid hunger pangs on the long flight. I also stuck this exercise band in and it promises that I will one day return with sculpted arms- stay tuned. After writing this, maybe I am not quite the minimalist I think I am. If you see me in the airport, I will look the part- total poser. Just don’t stand too close; my bag might combust. See more of my packing list (and what I wish was on my list) here.
xx
Jenny
Also, don’t miss our past issues: BIG Birthdays, FORE Golf, FRESH Face, Spooky Dinner, and A Few Fall Faves
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