Moment of Truth: capsule wardrobe?
I HATE packing for long trips.
I own one suitcase, a carry-on, into which I must cram six weeks worth of clothing plus “gubbins.” (Gubbins = lotions, potions, makeup, cords & chargers, COVID test kits, masks and remedies, etc.). The backpack is for my laptop, notebook & airplane amusements.
Whine whine whine (First World problems).
“I wish I lived closer,” responded my color colleague, Karen Snow, “This is my favorite kind of puzzle!” Here’s her strategy:
Start with your activities and the weather.
- First, pick your shoes and outer layer options (sweater, jacket, sun shirt).
- Then fill in with clothes–more tops than bottoms, and more bottoms than outer layers. These must work with the fewest shoes and outer layers.
Lightweight layers will take you far. - Accessories (scarves, jewelry) can dress you up or down.
But what if my expected activities and weather are literally “all over the map?”
- Grandson’s graduation – S.F. Presidio – outside and maybe chilly
- Hanging out with sister in Nashville – casual, hot and humid
- College reunion near Boston – including a fancy dinner and an all-white outfit for the traditional alumnae parade.
- Beach-hanging/swimming– with cousins on Cape Cod and grandkids in France
- Walking/gawking, museum-going and dining in Paris
- Hiking in the French Alps
1. Start with shoes-–hahaha. My hiking boots (see Alps, above) are the elephant in the suitcase. If I pack them I’ll have space for little else. So I’ll be clomping through ten airports in them. I also need chunky athletic shoes for most walking, plus a sleeker pair for Paris, so I don’t scream “American tourist.” (My daughter snorts: “Mom, in France they already know you’re American because you’re so smiley.”). Also beach shoes and raincoat.
2. The clothes. I piled at least 100 pieces on the floor and whittled it down to about 20– gray or taupe neutrals, with gray, taupe, blush or blue tops. Two loose dresses that will be comfy in the heat. (Lucky I have a personal color palette which means the pieces will hang together and be readily mixable.)
3. Accessories. Three scarves, 1 necklace, plus all those space-hogging gubbins, including my Aeropress coffee maker.
I’ll report back on what actually got worn. (While traveling I still can respond to emails and texts–will resume color work in early July.)
MEANWHILE…the BEST testimonial ever, inasmuch as she has 69,000 (😳) Facebook followers.
Geneen was my student at Thin Within back in the late 1970s. I moved on to other adventures in 1980 (weight problems resolved for good). Geneen went on to create her own wonderful programs and has changed many lives.
“So y’all, check out Joy’s book…”
You have NO idea how much it means to a totally unknown author like me when a well-known colleague with thousands of active followers speaks out like this. Word of mouth is the only way such a book spreads, so sharing with people you know, reviewing it on Amazon* (pretty please 🙏), buying or gifting it, asking your local library or bookstore to carry it — anything you can do to help spread the word– I’d be super grateful. Lots more about it at my author website, https://www.joyoverstreet.com.
Thanks!