So a few entries ago I posted pics of the sage outerwear I found from BR that will be the basis of my wardrobe palette for this trip. As it turns out, I don’t really want to look like I’m on safari every day of the week so I added two more colorways, the grays/blacks…
and the metallics, still in tune with the same neutrals…
I’d love to take my dark gold reissue flap seen above on this trip, but I’m not sure it’s the hardiest of my bags and can survive the rough parts…so it might not make the final cut. The bag is always the toughest decision!
I’ve packed 4 pairs of shoes–heels, flats, and walking shoes, all black or grey. Trying so hard to pack light so as to have an excuse to shop a bit once I get there, but it’s not looking good!!
See you when I reach the first destination…
With Libya now on the front pages, I hope we are still doing what we can to support the relief efforts in Japan. Their days ahead are long and troubled. I know we are burned out from all the natural disasters that don’t seem to stop, but I also know the American generosity knows no boundary.
Anyway, I came across a blurb for this canvas tote from Kate Spade (as one of the many fashion-related charity pieces from various designers) that anyone could buy for $18, and finally found one at the Kate Spade outlet in Cabazon. They’ll mail it to you anywhere for $5 more. It’s fashion and charity all mixed into a tote that you could use the next time you go to the grocery store.
Hang in there, Japan. We’re going to help you.
Tags: charity, Japan, Kate Spade
The problem with using a big bag is the temptation to haul all your necessities and the kitchen sink simply because you have all that space. So as you limp around with one shoulder weighed down by all these things that you don’t need but have in your bag just in case… don’t you want to shrug it all off? Well, I for one have liberated myself from what I call my Boy Scout (“be prepared”) OCD. When I’m on the road, I always think I need to lug all this stuff around just in case I get stranded in a rainforest, desert, or ocean. But really, do you think a machete, foldable tent, or astronaut ice cream could really save me if I somehow got lost in the Amazon? The answer is no, because as soon as I see that there’s no indoor plumbing I might as well just give up and pray an alligator will make me its quick dinner (and wouldn’t that be ironic if I were carrying a gator bag?!). And still, my travel bags would be full of such ridiculous things that have never yet been used once.
Surely I’m not alone in this. I’ve seen some of you dart between traffic on the streets of NYC carrying not one but two huge totes, day after day, as you go to work. And I’ve seen others of you in HK hauling serious luggage on your way home. What is it about us? Are we conditioned as women to carry everything we’ve seen our moms carry in their bags when we were young? Mom, do you have a kleenex? Mom, do you have any candy?
On this trip, I’m going to give myself a break. Or I should say my shoulders and back. I’m trading in a roomy tote for the slim Louis Vuitton Thomas bag from their Damier Graphite line.
It holds my coin purse, phone, digicam, passport case, sunglasses, and small sketch pad. When I get a tablet, it should also fit in there even if I might not be able to zip it up completely. That tiny coin purse that you see is used when I’m overseas since I can fit my credit card and insurance cards in my passport case. But I’ve also recently downsized my wallet. This functional and flat Insolite coin purse is now my wallet–I’ve managed to fit all my true necessities inside this compact wallet…
and when folded, it is not much bigger or thicker than my iPhone:
Hey, men have been able to survive forever with small billfolds so why do we women need such huge wallets??
I’ve been a loyal fan of the Vuitton canvas accessories for a very long time; they can survive anything so maybe this messenger bag will become my ultimate travel bag…we shall see after this trip. But I know some of you are perplexed given my obsession with a certain label. What, you say, not a single set of interlocking Cs anywhere on her accessories? Well…let’s see in the next entry what else I have in my luggage, but sometimes it’s good to change things up. If my Chanel bags could talk, they may be saying Don’t you want a chance to miss me? 
Tags: Chanel, Damier Graphite, Insolite coin purse, Louis Vuitton Thomas
I first fell in love with Banana Republic, many years ago, when I saw their safari-inspired clothes. This was way before I got to go on my first safari, but in my mind, I always dreamed of being in Africa in the perfect bush jacket and khaki riding pants. Then the company went through growing pains and hiccups and for the last few years I’ve decidedly spent more time at JCrew for my basic or fun pieces.
But yesterday I walked by a BR store and made out like a bandit. They had just marked down things to at least 40% off and then offered another 25% on top of all sale items. How do you say no to that! So I got a twill cotton band/military jacket in a sage color…
a water-repellant jacket with an adorable ruffle collar in the same shade, and luckily the length was just right, just long enough to cover the behind…
and a pair of stretch khakis. I scored everything in size 00P, and even the pants didn’t require any alterations…I only write about the sizes because I know there are other shrimpy gals out there who have trouble finding pants that fit, so when I find a miracle I have to shout it out! I’m bananas for Banana right now.
There’s also a soft grey leather jacket from their Heritage line on hold for me–here’s the nutty story. It’s about $135 after all the discounts and still I wanted to sleep on it. Mostly because I need another leather jacket like Imelda needs more shoes, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t know why it’s easier to make an executive decision on a very expensive item, but on smaller purchases we (or I) have to really mull it over. Is it the female gene, or is it just the crazy gene?
So based on the pics today, I think I’ve found the color scheme for the wardrobe I’m packing this weekend. Lots of muted, paler colors to go with the bags I’d like to test on this trip. It feels like a never ending quest to find the perfect travel bag! Anyway, in the next entry about how to downsize for a long trip, I’ll reveal the accessories.
For now, in the paraphrased words of Imelda, maybe just one more leather jacket won’t kill me…
I know, I know, this one entry per week is no way to run a blog, but I’ve half a mind these days with looming deadlines (and still no decision on a travel bag for the upcoming trip!). So yesterday while multitasking on my bff (aka my smart phone) while standing in a very long line at the DMV to renew my driver’s license,
I was thinking this very place is the perfect cross section of the Los Angeles population. You see people of all races, sizes, shapes, and levels of sanity here. And with most people in your typical southern Cal sweat-gear, I stuck out like a sore thumb in my very bright Chanel cardi, but hey, you’re stuck with a gnarly photo for a few years so why not at least try to wear something cute in it !
I’d actually made an online appointment for my visit–God help you if you didn’t; with a few closings of DMV locations, the lines are super long now at the ones that do remain open–but it still ended up taking over an hour to wait in line to spend exactly 2 minutes in front of a very bored person, who asked me to read a few lines above her head with my left eye covered, then my right eye. Thank goodness I’d just gotten new contacts so I had every confidence to pass the “eye exam” with my new-found 20/20 vision! Then an impression of my right thumb was taken, a photo snapped, and I was sent on my way. BTW some crazy guy jumped out right in front of me, waving his arms in the air, before the photo was taken, so I’m sure in six weeks I’ll receive my license with a ridiculous expression on my face. Great way to spend $31, but heck, I bet the cardigan will look cute!
