November 14, 2011

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Back-Up Plan






































This is a back-up outfit I packed on my recent trip to Europe. For the most part, I packed complete outfits and had just enough to cover my 16-day stay. But at the last minute I decided to pack another full outfit *just in case.* I never wound up wearing it, however, I did wear two other outfits with this striped shirt (see them here and here) and was happy to have at least brought the pieces with me (the cargo pants are the only thing that never got worn). On my last vacation, I counted the days wrong and wound up not having enough outfits (!) so having one too many was just right. Do you usually over-pack or under-pack?

Inspiration photo: Calivintage
Blazer: Express, $25
Shirt: Moda c/o MJR Sales, $10
Scarf: c/o Happy Scarf, $20
Pants: Sanctuary Surplus via Nordstrom Rack, $40
Belt: H&M, $20
Boots: Bakers, $90 (similar)
Purse: c/o It's in the Bag, $99
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $19


1. Piperlime navy striped tee, $29.99
2. Kohl's blue striped tee, $7.99
3. Forever 21 navy striped tee, $8.50

19 comments:

  1. LOVELY !!!

    xx

    www.ilovenystyle.blogspot.com

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  2. Olive and black looks great together!  Love the stripes and polka dot mix too. For someone like me who is scared of pattern mixing, this actually is something that I do wear.  Heather

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  3. This weekend was actually the first trip I've ever really packed outfits and planned out each day. I also brought one backup outfit, and was especially careful to note things that I brought that I didn't use. 

    It was HIGHLY successful and the first time I've fit everything into my smallest carry-on. Even more impressive was that I was going to Wisconsin and the clothes were bigger and bulkier. Definitely a believer of planning now. 

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  4. I am definitely an over-packer...better to have too much than not enough! ;)

    www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com

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  5. I think I usually over-pack. Even if i don', i usually end up shopping at least one or two outfits on every trip! Love the print on print look!

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  6. i love this look, you look amazing!
    www.modernsuburbanites.blogspot.com

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  7. I love the outfit, although I tend to be shy when it comes to mixing prints : stripes and dots... never done it !
    I also tend to over-over pack when I go away (for 1 day or 2 weeks, it's the same). I always think of the 'what-if"...so I pack more clothes than I need and always end up with 2 or 3 outfits not worn. And every time I come back home I promise myself that next time I'll pack less!

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  8. I ALWAYS over pack. Better safe than sorry, eh?

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  9. If I have space, I always OVER pack.
    http://work-it-blog.blogspot.com/

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  10. Mary, that is awesome! I think planning outfits is definitely the best strategy for packing if time allows. Glad to hear it was successful!

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  11. yes i definatley always over pack. I can't help it because I never know what I want to wear. This is an awesome outfit!! 

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  12. I just found your website and I LOVE it!! I love that you reuse clothes you already have to help others be inventive with their wardrobes instead of encouraging constant buying!

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  13. Thank you and welcome to the blog! :-) I definitely encourage re-using what you already have and you will see me wearing the same items over and over again on this blog!

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  14. i love everything about this outfit, can't believe it was just a back up!
    brett

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  15. I always OVER pack too - ever since I took a beach trip with bathing suits and shorts and the temperature never got over 68 degrees with a lot of wind (it was March, but it WAS the beach in Destin! LOL!)  By the way, I'm loving the navy and white stripes with khaki - your pics have been inspiring me daily!  I was going to give my closet a thorough cleaning out, but now I only going to get rid of the pieces that no longer look good on me - cause I'm realizing that all of my other pieces can still work in new outfits.  Thanks!!!!

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  16. I always over pack. I'm going away for 2 weeks in July and looking for some help.

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  17. Karen, have you seen my post on "How to Pack"? I wrote it after my 16-day trip to Europe, tons of tips including the mistakes I wish I hadn't made! Hope this helps. http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2011/11/how-to-pack.html

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