Packing for a Trip Without Bringing Your Entire Closet | What I Wore #ootd

Last week, I traveled to Atlanta, GA for the Type-A Parent Conference. I do a fair amount of traveling (always looking for opportunities to do more) but most of it is by car. I rarely fly, so the idea of packing for four days, while keeping it light (under 50 lbs seems SO easy-but not so much) and versatile, can be a little overwhelming! My 2 biggest tips?

• Get Organized
• Keep it Simple

To get organized, I use a packing spreadsheet. Stay with me here. I sketch out a grid of the days of my trip, then divide the days by Daytime, Nighttime and Extra. I simply plug in the pieces I plan to wear at each time. This lets me see any gaps, duplicates or opportunities to pack less (or more) at a glance.

To keep it simple, I try to pack in a color-scheme. I find versatile, classic-style pieces work best in the Mid-Life Mom wardrobe.  For this trip, I went with a black, white and cranberry color-scheme. I added in a traditional leopard print (shoes) and also a black and white leopard print cardigan for variety (I never wore the cardigan).

What I Packed:
3 jeans (white, dark denim, black)
1 pants (black and white polka dot)
3 t-shirts (cranberry, white and black)
3 cardigans (black, black and white leopard and cranberry)
2 blouses (white shirt, black and white polka dot top)
2 tanks (black and white)
1 jacket (black)
1 scarf (cranberry)
2 bags (1 tote bag and 1 small bag for evening)

I only needed seven outfits for my trip, but I could have easily made several more with this combination. Here are some highlights from what I did wear during the conference.

I wore this for my trip to Atlanta:

Jeans - Coldwater Creek

T-shirt - Lands End

Cardigan - Ann Taylor (in stores now)

Shoes - Target (this season)

Bag - Vera Bradley

Necklace - Tiffany

For my first day at the Conference, I went casual and comfortable:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Black Skinny Jeans (in stores now)

Top - Ann Taylor (last year)

Cardigan - Ann Taylor (in stores now)

Shoes - Aerosoles

Necklace -Tiffany

The second day of the conference I stayed with my comfortable and casual style:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Dark Denim Super Skinny Jeans (now in stores)

Shirt - Ann Taylor (now in stores)

Shoes - Aerosoles

Bag - Vera Bradley

Scarf -Ann Taylor (now in stores)

Necklace - Tiffany

For an evening look, I went with basic black:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Black Skinny Jeans (now in stores)

Tank - Chico's

Jacket - Ann Taylor (clearance rack find)

Shoes - Life Stride/DSW

Necklace - Ann Taylor

So with a few basic pieces in mix and match colors, it's easy to create several outfits and looks to last through your whole trip.

What's your best fashion tip for traveling?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On