Designing your (travel) wardrobe - how do you go about it?

[Amazona]

Right, so I just started a new job. I work for a large corporation and I feel like I want and need to look a bit sharper, especially for kick-off parties etc where I will be bumping shoulders with our country management and others from our country head office.
Long story short, we have a said kick-off party next month so I started to plan what I need to pack; what I need to take with me, what I want to wear for meetings, dinner, evening program and so on, just in case I need to purchase something.

And my first thought? No, it wasn't "What clothes/shoes do I want to travel in?" or "Do I just go for the ol' LBD for both the dinner and evening program or do I need two separate outfits plus smart casual for daytime?". Nooo, it was "What bags do I want to bring?". Of course, what else would it be; it's me we're talking about - Mrs. Jeans, Tee and Superstars Will Do 'Cos My Bag is Amazing!
I still find this a bit alarming.

Who else does this? Am I the only one who starts from bags and goes on from there? Or is this a common thing?

 

[tealocean]

This is so fun! It used to be scarves for me, but now I've gotten into bags, and as I add to my collection, I think about which ones will FIT when I travel. It's so true, with a great bag, your look completely changes. It was a lot easier with scarves because they're tiny. Have fun with your new job! It sounds great!

 

[Amazona]

@tealocean that actually sounds kind of sensible, I think...maybe? Like, I know I'm mad for putting bags above all else, but scarves are almost like clothes, right? Or at least they're made of same stuff as clothes are made from.

 

[tealocean]

@tealocean that actually sounds kind of sensible, I think...maybe? Like, I know I'm mad for putting bags above all else, but scarves are almost like clothes, right? Or at least they're made of same stuff as clothes are made from.

Yes, scarves were more sensible, but now I've added bags to the equation & want to change them with my outfits, it's more complicated because they take up more room. I don't think you're crazy to plan around bags. You'll be able to take simpler clothing and change your look with bags. If you figure out tricks for packing them, please share! More of my bags are structured, but I have a couple smaller/flatter ones I use for travel though I prefer the structured ones.

 

[CoachMaven]

Oh, I totally do this! Not for work necessarily, as I don't travel often for that, but definitely for vacations. I plan which particular bags I want to take- where they will be used and what outfits coordinate with said bag. I thought I was the only one

 

[Bitten]

I definitely approach travel packing holistically - clothes tend to be a little more on the simple side, so accessories generally can come to the fore - and this always includes an LV shawl

With respect to bags specifically, I always take one larger bag and one smaller bag. Depending on whether the travel is for work or play, either a structured tote style OR relaxed hobo option + a clutch/cross-body convertible. Out of my own collection, this could vary between:

Tote
- LV Neverfull
- B35
- LV Mahina L or Michael Kors Skorpios

Clutch/cross-body/wallet hybrid
- Chanel WOC
- LV SC clutch

This way I have a travel/work bag plus a smaller option for evening functions or on a leisure trip during the day when I want to go hands free.

 

[papertiger]

When I travel everything has to work doubly hard and earn its place in my luggage. Wherever I go I only take clothes that roll, don't need ironing and hand wash/dry fairly quickly. If I go away for 4 months I take one week of clothes and just wash (maybe buy a few local extras along the way). Can't stand huge and heavy suitcases even with wheels. Long story short I take flat(ish) travel tote, one cross-body and clutch/wallet/pouch thing. Bags are really important, even more so when you're away from home. Same story with shoes/boots, one pair on my feet another packed and possibly a pair for evening and that's it. Everything has to work together.

 

[Amazona]

It's very interresting to hear what everyone else does.
My packing has become pretty minimalist over the years but new views on the matter are so refreshing!

Yes, scarves were more sensible, but now I've added bags to the equation & want to change them with my outfits, it's more complicated because they take up more room. I don't think you're crazy to plan around bags. You'll be able to take simpler clothing and change your look with bags. If you figure out tricks for packing them, please share! More of my bags are structured, but I have a couple smaller/flatter ones I use for travel though I prefer the structured ones.

I pack my more structured bags full of stuff so they don't take up an obscene amount of space in my luggage/travel bag. Sort of like apacking cube thing, only I use a handbag instead.

 

[tealocean]

It's very interresting to hear what everyone else does.
My packing has become pretty minimalist over the years but new views on the matter are so refreshing!


I pack my more structured bags full of stuff so they don't take up an obscene amount of space in my luggage/travel bag. Sort of like apacking cube thing, only I use a handbag instead.

I like this! I have softer bags for travel so they pack flat, but I may have to try this so I'm not so limited in choices. I actually got an extra bag in my favorite color (a softer leather tote-ish style) for travel so I can have my favorite color with me even if it's not the most stylish bag. It would be better to bring a favorite!