I was a bit too young to watch Sex and the City in real time. The ‘Up The Butt’ taxi ride would have gone straight over my nine-year-old head. Of course I bought (!!) the box sets on iTunes, binged the series in my early twenties and have been on a rewatch cycle ever since. Instead, the Whitney Port-fronted The City shaped my early view of New York. Peplums! People’s Revolution! Oh to be Olivia Palermo stomping the sidewalks with pinned-back side pieces and a CHANEL bag. I first visited on a school trip as a teenager, where we tried and failed to find the cheapest thing in Bloomingdale’s just to procure a brown bag, and I've been in love ever since. This place feeds me. I believe there’s been a sliding-doors moment where, in an alternate life, New York is my home base, but in this life I settle for twice-a-year visits where I clock in 20k-step days and pretend I know how to navigate the exit system on the subway. It’s the one place on earth that has me doing Google searches like this…
So I’m here! Hello from New York! My trip has coincided with NYFW, although I fudged the dates completely and have missed any fashion week-related shows or parties I was invited to, so I’m here for a little work, but mostly leisure and to do YOLO things like buy last-minute tickets to see Harry Styles at MSG!!!! But that ‘fashion-people-in-town’ overlap had me stressed when I was packing.
This was my brief:
Four nights, one overnight flight home
Two nice dinners, seven meetings
A mix of sunny days and rainy ones with daily highs of 28℃
…and here’s the kicker: I wanted to fit it all into one carry-on suitcase
Despite being a pretty organised gal, lightweight packing is not my forte. It’s a regular occurrence for the check-in worker to slap one of those bright red ‘HEAVY LUGGAGE’ tags on my suitcase, and I have been known to open my bag on the floor and attempt to offload a full Trader Joe’s haul to strangers in the queue. But for some reason I fancied the challenge of keeping it small. Like, small small. Like Away Carry-On* small. I have no idea what sparked this in me, but as a big unpacking hater, I liked the idea of having less stuff to deal with on either side of my trip. In fairness, the carry-on bag I used was the ‘executive’ size, so it’s a little roomier than most, though I completely defeated the point by checking it in, as downsizing my beauty stash wasn’t something I was ready to commit to. Whilst the taxi engine rumbled outside at 6 am, I had to use brute force and sit my whole ass down on the lid to close it, but we got there, and I’m pleased to report that, so far, so good on the style front. Full outfit diary coming next weekend.
So where did I start? Well, I began with what I would argue is the easiest category - bags. You don’t need many, and they all serve very clear-cut purposes:
In the end, I packed three. One for travel, one for everyday wear and one for evenings. Since most of what I packed ended up being extremely basic and mostly black and white, I knew I needed some colour and texture.
Alex Mill The Perfect Weekday Tote* - My love affair with this bag continues. It’s bloody massive. Perfect for all the bits and bobs and snacks and layers you bring when you’re travelling.
Valesque Cami Crushed Velvet Bag* - Something fun for the evenings. I knew I wasn’t bringing heels, so to me, this is an outfit elevator in bag form.
The Row Estelle Bag (similar from Etsy*) - The bag I thought I’d be running around town with all day. It’s not super big, is very light and goes with everything. It was a no-brainer.
Starting with bags got the ball rolling. Next up, I did the next easiest category - shoes. Like bags, I knew I wouldn’t need many, and each would have to serve a distinct purpose.
Again, I packed three pairs and ended up filling the exact same three categories. One pair for travel, one pair for everyday and one pair for any evening plans.
Emme Parsons Susan Sandals* - My nighttime shoe option. I don’t exactly have the bandwidth to walk miles in these, but a few blocks to a dinner close to the hotel? SURE.
Aeyde Tiby Flats (similar*) - Like soft little leather socks for your toes. I’m sure after step-heavy days my feet will be crying out for some arch support, but right now these are my comfort shoes.
Neous Berenices Sneakers* - I completely forgot I had these! I was going to pack another pair of trainers - which I always like to pack in case I decide I have the energy for the hotel gym - and although these are more of a fashion trainer, they’ll be fine for throwing a few dumbbells around and equally fab for travel.
Which leads me to trousers. I feel like I’m working my way down the practicality pyramid here, and if shoes and bags are at the top, then trousers are in the middle. They're more of an outfit anchor than a top, and one of the few clothing items you can wear multiple times during a trip without doing laundry (side note: I threw this spray into my luggage, and it really does work!).
The weather forecast here was throwing me off. A high of 28℃ on Monday but a day-long rainstorm on Sunday? I knew I needed range.
The Row Gala Pants* - I got mine secondhand (never buy these full price; they are nice, but 100% NOT worth it), and since everyone always says they are their favourite airport trousers, I had to try them myself. I bought these mostly for travel.
DONNI Cargo Pop Pants* - For those really hot days, I reverted back to the trousers that I’ve worn all summer long.
LESET Barb Shorts (similar*) - Same for these shorts. Plus, the silky composition means that they transition well into an evening look.
Vintage Levi’s 501s (similar*) - My current comfort blanket. Rolled-up? I love them. Worn long so they sit a little flared and drag on the floor? I love them even more. I predict at the time of writing this that, if the weather allows, I’ll wear these most days.
At this point I realised that I might need a jacket. Jet lag meant I’d no doubt be up early, and I thought it might be a helpful layer to have if the mornings are a little chilly. There was no competition here as I’ve worn my new Massimo Dutti Leather Jacket* at every opportunity I’ve had since I got it.
In all honesty, I’d been putting off packing tops. I felt pressure to find some breadth in them, but hello, I literally just wear cotton T-shirts and tanks - it’s not where I’m the most experimental. I found the easiest way to think about what to pack was to try on the trousers and shorts that I knew I’d be taking, build an outfit from there, then toss the tops I’d tried on in my suitcase. If a top worked with multiple bottom-half options, then I knew it was a winner. After I’d made more than enough outfits to last me the entirety of the trip, I edited the pile and ended up with the following.
& Daughter Ecru T-Knit* - A lightweight layer that literally arrived as I was packing. It was meant to be! I liked the idea of dressing it up for an evening out with jeans and good jewellery.
Christen Short-Sleeve T-Shirt* - I mainly packed this because I love the proportion of wearing this super oversized tee with my little silky shorts.
St Agni Linen Apron Top* - My summer ‘going out’ top. There are no sides, so it shows a bit of skin without feeling too revealing.
COS Black Baby Tee* - I mean, of course. Wearing this with my vintage jeans and ballet flats feels like an easy outfit win.
LESET Laura White T-Shirt* - Same with this. I’ll probably wear it on the plane home.
Flore Flore Black Steffi Top* - You know me, I don’t own many evening tops - but this is my version of one. I was picturing this with my shorts, ballet flats and crushed green velvet bag.
LESET Black Nando V-Neck Vest* - Another good day-to-night option. That subtle V shows off just a little more skin.
Flore Flore White May Tank* - Everyone kept telling me how hot it was, so at the last minute I tucked this tank top down the side just in case I sweat uncontrollably through everything else.
I stuffed a packing cube with underwear, one pair of pyjamas, a workout top and a pair of leggings; then it was time for the extras.
Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses* - DUR.
Monica Vinader Bangle* - My favourite summer accessory. Black tank + black jeans + this smooshed up your forearm, that’s the outfit.
Missoma Malachite Ring*, Monica Vinader Tiger’s Eye Ring* & Antica Ring Stack* - I’m just very into rings at the moment, plus they take up no space, so I threw in all my current favourites.
Lié Studios Lola Earrings* - When I was trying on outfits, one felt like it suited ‘hair up/big earrings’ better, so I opted for these.
I really put my Canva subscription TO WORK and made a collage of everything together, which was completely pointless, but oh-so-satisfying.
I was pretty chuffed with the palette, but how did it all come together? Paid subs get a look at that below the paywall, the piece I packed last minute, plus a list of the 13 things I never travel without. You can upgrade your subcription here and make my day!