Hello, lovely readers and fellow huntresses! My apologies for delays on posts this week! I am out in sunny California for work and a mini vacation.
Believe it or not, I pride myself on being a light packer when traveling. I think all the years of my parents telling me, “just remember, you’ll be carrying this around with you from city to city” really sunk in and I’ve shied away from overpacking. Admittedly, there have been a few under-packing moments- including one year when I forgot to pack pajamas. But anyway, on this trip I was working and touring (and not under or overpacking!). My outfits had to transition from one activity to another and in one carry on!
Here’s how I styled my work look.
Later in the day, I transitioned into my tourist look.
Top: Express (approx $11 marked down from $30)
Cardigan: Banana Republic ($18 marked down from $70)
Bag: Cole Haan ($30 marked down from $300)
Red necklace: Nordstrom Rack (approx $5 marked down from approx $20)
Gold necklace: Forever 21 ($1.50)
Work look
Pants: Banana Republic ($90. Sigh. Full price. But, if you’ve read about my pants postings before, sometimes you have to just get pants when they fit and you find them!)
Shoes: Sofft at Nordstrom Rack (approx $40 marked down from approx $120)
Touring look
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack ($20)
Boots: DSW ($15 marked down from $50)
Fashion Huntress tips:
1) I love a cross-body bag for travel. For safety, I like having my bag across my chest when traveling, and I love the weight distribution for long hours of carrying it! When I found this blue Cole Haan bag (and what a steal for $30!), I knew I would use it a ton, but especially for travel. The purse was formal enough for dinners and work wear, but also was easily dressed down with jeans. The blue is also surprisingly versatile. It added a pop of color when I was wearing black and white, and naturally looks great with jeans.
2) Light packing for travel is essential to me. I have no patience for checking bags and lugging heavy bags around! As a result, I have not checked a bag in years. I like to pack items that can be dressed up or down, like my peplum top and cardigan. I generally pick one or two accent colors to wear on my trip and then pack neutrals. I picked red and blue to be my accent colors on this trip, and then the rest of my pieces were black and white: black skirt for dinners, black pants for work, black and white tops to wear with the cardigan. Light packing while still looking fashionable is definitely doable!
Thanks for stopping by readers! One more California post to come! We stopped by a hat shop that I can’t wait to share in my next post! Have a great week-
the fashion huntress 
Beautiful outfit! I love the colors of this look.The top, necklace and the bag are very pretty too! Thanks for sharing the photographs 🙂
Do drop by my blog as well : http://littlebookoffashion.wordpress.com/
Love those boots!! And the colors really pop in your pictures!
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While I understand hating to pay full price, those work pants fit you perfectly. I’m also super jealous of that Cole Haan bag! Such a steal. I would love a “how to pack lightly” lesson. It’s not a skill I possess.
XO
I think the biggest thing about traveling is having a bag that’s large enough to hold what it needs to, but small enough that it’s not big and bulky. I love taking a small to medium size cross-body for that reason too. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Cute outfit! I love using cross body bags when traveling also. I think it’s convenient and it limits how much you carry while touring which is great. I can’t believe the price of that Cole Hann bag…it was a steal….love it!
hope you’re having fun! love the cole haan crossbody and the stripes!
I really love this outfit, I need to plagiarize it for my body.
Love your outfit and your bag ❤
That is a trait I wish I had, I tend to pack everything and about 15 pairs of shoes. Such a cute look and enjoy CA!
xx Cara
I love packing because I think it’s fun to try to come up with as many outfits as you can with as few pieces as possible.
BTW, I’ve found Banana Republic pants at the Unique on Howard/Western that fit great and are in fantastic condition twice now. You may want to look there.
Ooo great! I need to visit ASAP!!! Thanks for the tip!
Love that bag! The colour it’s gorgeous 🙂 xx
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Beautiful…Love the red and blue!
I love the color combinations on your outfit! Great pictures! ❤
Diana
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Love the stripes and the color combo 😀. Gorgeous background in the photos!
I really love that red necklace…looks great with your red tops. Crossbodies are the way to go!
Great outfit transition! 😀 xx
Good tips for light packing for travel! I’m still workin’ on that. 😉
That bag is wonderful, I love the color of it! I always use a cross-body bag for travel too! I really have trouble with packing light though, but your tips definitely help! I’ll have to start packing more versatile clothing! The accent colors are very pretty too, they look great against that mural! Lovely look as always:)
XOXO
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As your mother, I can attest to the fact that you are THE QUEEN of packing for travel! I remember us always asking, “Where’s the rest of your luggage?!” You responded, “Right here,” and held up a piece of luggage that seemed just a tad larger than a hefty lunch bag 🙂
This is all true! If I could respectably carry a quart size bag for vacations, I just might. And, you also taught me about cross-body bags. Moms totally know best.
Hello lady!! Love the complete outfit!! So j you are enjoying great weather in Cali! Its cold and rainy out here..I love BR pants, and boy are they expensive!! Cole haan bags are amazing!! Loving your cross body here..
I know! I try to get them on sale, but it can be tricky when you need a specific size and style (as I do!)!!
Ohh Cali so jealous! Love that look, you really are the huntress!! My goodness such a good deal on that bag! Hat shops are so cute, can’t wait to see what else you find!
great style transition, you make it look so effortless! we absolutely love that bag and what a bargain!!
xx Vera & Rony
Seems like this bag is a definite hit. I LOVE the Cole Haan outlet!! Sometimes the prices are so amazing! Thanks, everyone, for the warm wishes on my trip! xo
Beautiful bag! I am a fan of cross-body too! I wish I could pack light when I travel. I bring too much and now, I think it is even worse with two kids, I can’t imagine how much I have to carry with me. I hope you had fun in California!