Packing Light: New York City Edition

Style

So this is every item of clothing I packed for five days in New York. My goal was to fit everything in my hiking backpack (plus a little rucksack for the plane), because unwieldy luggage really affects trip quality. I hate dreading the subway stairs, or sleeping through my first day because I’m exhausted from lifting my suitcase.

I wore one outfit twice, and everything fit neatly in my hiking backpack. I brought two pairs of shoes so I could change things up if my feet started to hurt, but only ended up wearing one.

How To Pack Light for a Trip to New York City | Mighty Girl

How crazy cute is this ducky yellow hat? I know! Bryan hates it, because he is blind. Anyway, the skirt, sweater, and hat are all thrift store scores, and the neck warmer was a gift from a friend who got it on Etsy. The gloves are from Ann Taylor and I got the purse in Argentina, which is also where I got…

The magical, one-pair-of-shoes-for-this-whole-trip boots! They’re a metallic navy blue that goes with everything. I’ve actually made out with them. They taste like gumdrops.

This is me, Zoolander style, in a layered look that worked well for New York’s freakishly schitzo weather (Rain? Snow? Hot Sun? The hell, New York. You’re lucky I brought magic boots.) Everything I’m wearing here is also thrifted, except the hat, which is H&M. I’m wearing a long-sleeved turquoise tee, a sweater with a surprisingly warm silk scarf tied as an ascot, all under a corduroy blazer. In retrospect, the cardigan was a little bulky under that blazer, but I was nice and warm.

Beloved JCrew Red Pants! I’m showing incredible restraint in this photo, as it’s practically impossible not to do karate poses in these. Paired with a black turtleneck sweater and fingerless arm warmers, which were hand knit with love by a stranger (thanks again, Etsy). This look is matchy-matchy, but I’m pretty Doris Day about wardrobe matters, so I like it. I got the heavy wool wrap at a little boutique in Vermont when I was preggo. Best maternity to regular wardrobe transition ever, plus it doubles as a blanket on the airplane.

Nothing is hotter than posing alone in front of a mirror in your hotel room. Do you feel the heat? There’s the blazer again, this time with vintage wide-leg jeans and a circle scarf from H&M. American Apparel also makes circle scarves, and you should get one, as they are crazy versatile.

When I take the blazer off, I pull the scarf down around my shoulders over this long-sleeve tee I got at Target. That tee is awesome, by the way. I have monkey arms and a long torso, and Mossimo makes proportions just right for me.

These are my jammies. In a pinch, you can pull your hair into a ponytail, belt the shirt, and wear this out with flats. Or you can just watch Top Chef reruns in your hotel bed while you cram mini-bar chocolate in your mouth. It’s perfect for that.

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75 thoughts on “Packing Light: New York City Edition”

  1. OMG, please dress me!

    I love all your outfits but especially the first photo. It’s so….sophisticated and vintage traveling chick.

    What kind of camera are you using? It looks wonderful and these photos are coming out SO nicely.

    And finally on a funny note, my dad looked at me today and said, “you know, when your hair is up in a bun, it looks like a butt plug.” XD XD XD

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  2. I must know what products you use on your hair right now. It’s an emergency.

    Also, would you please buy me a wardrobe for BlogHer?

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  3. Are you available as a personal shopper? I mean, will you come to my house and fix my wardrobe? There is totally cake in it for you.

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  4. Your hair should rule us all. And I love your outfits. I looked at, considered, and didn’t buy the circle scarf at Am Apparel, but now I think I need it. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. You’ve got mad packing and dressing skills! You are the pulled-together woman I wish I could be. Alas, I am the woman in the holey track pants and messy ponytail sporting an applesauce smudge on my shoulder courtesy of my toddler son. Well, at least now I can blame it on my son, but I probably had a similar smudge pre-child.

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  8. Dang – world traveler, smart shopper, fashion icon. And you’ve got Debra Messing’s hair.

    I’d settle for kid crap from head-to-toe just to have your hair.

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  9. OK, OK, I’ll jump on the sycophantic “I love your hair” train. I have resisted thus far, but seriously! Those photos are like some Super Hair vortex just pulling me in. Thanks for the packing inspiration. I need to go buy a circle scarf now.

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  11. i have this strong desire to be like you when i grow up.

    only, i’m your age.

    besides, i’m not really a skirt girl.

    awesome packing and outfit skills!

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  15. Oh, I know…men and hats. My husband hates my cute ones. Oddly, he finds my Nike sweat-wicking caps “adorable”. Maybe it’s the accompanying spandex perverting his judgment, but still. Men are pretty freaking blind. You look AMAZING; more style than I could find in the whole of my closet.

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  18. I feel it. I feel the girl hate acomin’, fueled by the envy of your cleverness. I mean, who has the patience to shop *sucessfully* at thrift stores?

    But – I’m resisting, because it’s all too much. Adorable.

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  19. Wow. That was so impressive. I must agree, you have fabulous hair! And you have fantastic clothes. I wear skirts all the time, but I am dumpy and they just don’t look amazing on me the way they do on you. I am making a shopping list for myself though. I need better clothes. Something that looks kind of tailored. Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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  20. I also just got home from 5 days in New York! EXCEPT…..You look so Colorful! EVERYTHING I took was BLACK except one pair of jeans and one rose colored floral top. It was the best packing job I had ever done. Wore almost everything. I had 4 pairs of shoes and wore them all. I wish I had brought a hat!! and a colorful scarf. I also forgot a workout outfit.

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  22. I am seriously in AWE of your packing acumen – traveling to NYC makes me packing crazed I want to take EVERYTHING cute that I own, and did I mention that I’m in AWE… seriously…

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  24. How? I mean, how? How did you learn to dress like that and can you teach me? It is a rare day that I don’t look like threw all my clothes in a heap on the floor, smeared glue over myself and dived straight in. Whatever sticks is my outfit. I have such envy. Its going to bug me all day. How? Is it the accessories, the fearlessness with colour. French heritage? What, How?

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  28. You already know that the moment I saw you, in outfit #1, I gushed with admiration. And now that I know what else you had in your bag of tricks, that admiration has turned to awe. Too bad “big girls” like me usually strike out at thrift shops! Anyway, AMAZING! But you knew that already.

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  29. Even with all this style/packing goodness I feel a little sad we didn’t get to see the Mighty Karate pose. Great photos!

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  32. You are crazy fierce, Miss Maggie! Please, please, please do a Mighty Girl wardrobe edition with Etsy finds, ebay finds, whatever! Too fabulous!

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  34. Impressive. If I have this right: 2 hats, 3 long sleeved T’s, 1 turtlenecked sweater, 1 cardigan, 2 skirts, 2 pants, 2 tights, 3 scarves, 1 wool wrap, 1 blazer, gloves, arm warmers, 1 leggings, 1 oversized white button down shirt boots and red purse. I would love to see a picture of the hiking backpack you used. I just came back from a trip and I was NOT efficient nor did I use an easy piece of luggage to deal with… This is a timely comparison in travel styles. Thanks for sharing!

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  35. Thank you for bringing some wonderful Doris Day color to NYC, I’m sure you made many folks happy with those bright colors. I’m trying to do the same with my bright red coat. Too many frowns around here (course I work near Times Square, so that may be partly why). Those boots are fantastic!

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  36. Okay, okay. I am inspired to pack light and chic (because apparently it can be done) from here on in.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  37. but your ADORABLENESS! where can i buy that?! can i get some on etsy?? 🙂

    LOVE the target long-sleeve t-shirts…i think i have one in every color (2 or 3 each in black and white)…i have to resist the urge to wear one every day. they go with everything and are so comfy!

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  38. On my way to NYC in about a month….starting to contemplate wardrobe/packing (always my least favorite part of any trip)….AWESOME ideas and suggestions. When I grow up, I want to be stylish like Maggie Mason.

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  39. Maggie Mason. Fashion Icon. Who inspired me to go buy a circle scarf on my lunch break.

    FYI. My boy fails to see the charm in my cutest hats as well. Loves a ball cap on me though. Interesting trend…

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  40. The picture of you sitting cross-legged on the bed? I had to look at like 4 times because I thought you tossed in a picture of Debra Messing, and I could not figure out what she had to do with your fantabulous wardrobe. I want to be you when I grow up.

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  41. I think I’m enjoying the exuberance of the comments as much as the post that prompted them. If only every morning could start out with such positive, stylish, happy vibes…

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  42. Love that the sandwich board you’re standing next to says HOT HEROES! Anyone who can pack that well and manage to create some super cute outfits and look adorable is indeed a Hot Hero!

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  45. I love the way you wear color like you’re winking at your audience. And what a fierce Blue Steel you do there on that hotel bed!

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