If you happened to catch my previous post, then you’ll know that Michael and I recently traveled to Roanoke, Virginia to celebrate our fourteenth dating anniversary (which still boggles my mind!). And if you’re new around here, well, after I return from a trip I like to share my real-life packing list and my thoughts on the outfits from the trip. Before I began traveling frequently, I would seek this information out from other bloggers and on Pinterest – so it’s only fair for me to put in the time to share it with you.
Looking for more packing lists? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
For some context: the itinerary for this trip included some city exploring, great food and drink at places casual and upscale, stargazing during a meteor shower, and a strenuous hike. As always, my goal was not to overpack – I don’t want to bring unnecessary items or feel burdened by my belongings – but as I’m enjoying getting dressed lately and I wanted to dress up for both of our fancier meals out, I packed a little more than usual here.
[Just a note – I don’t believe that traveling light equates to bringing as few items as possible. Instead, traveling light means you bring only what you need and want for your trip – traveling without burden. This is not a minimalism competition to see who can bring the fewest items]
After a brutally hot summer in Charlotte, packing for comfortable (sub-80°F) weather was massively appealing. And as fashion is feeling a little more fun again, I really enjoyed the opportunity to play with fabrics, shapes, textures, and some color here – all while keeping true to my personal style. I even reached into the depths of my closet for this trip, pulling out a one-shoulder dress I purchased around the time we started dating. I knew I was hanging on to it for a reason; it’s been really fun to see a resurgence of the neckline, even though the overall shape of the dress feels less contemporary. This, of course, harkens back to the importance of personal style. Shifting silhouettes from slim and short to wider and longer has been a slow process, but it has been a pleasant one because I’m familiar with dressing my body and my favorite garment colors. I also think there is something about trends from your past coming back that adds a layer of familiarity…
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…whew, I think I’m getting a bit derailed here.
In any case, I hoped to feel entirely comfortable in my skin and in tune with what others were wearing all weekend (although it shouldn’t be your primary motivator for getting dressed on a trip, I think there is value in dressing to match your setting and surroundings) – so I considered the clothing needs of our itinerary: Hiking requires sturdy boots and supportive-yet-breathable clothing. City pavements need comfortable shoes and easy-moving pieces. Stargazing prefers cozy layers to be added as the night cools. And celebratory meals ask for nothing less than pulling out all the stops (in this case, heels, but ones that can handle those very same city pavements). I pulled together a range of mix-and-match pieces on my clothing rack along with some favorite pieces of jewelry, and then neatly packed everything in my carry-on suitcase and nylon tote. Here’s what made the cut:
ROANOKE PACKING LIST
Crop Top | T-Shirt | Linen Sweater* | Linen Jumpsuit* | V-Neck Jumpsuit* | Linen Pants℅ | Wide-Leg Jeans* | One-Shoulder Dress* | Linen Blazer* | Cardigan℅ | Tortoiseshell Sunglasses | Athletic Top* | Hiking Boots | Athletic Leggings | Sneakers℅ | Heeled Sandals℅ | Slides℅ | Wire-Frame Sunglasses | Belt | PJ Top | PJ Pants | Clutch℅ | Purse℅
ROANOKE OUTFITS + REFLECTIONS
Though I was a bit heavy-handed in packing, I wound up wearing everything in my suitcase over the course of the long weekend. The cooler weather meant I reached for my third layers (i.e. my perfectly imperfect blazer* and the snuggliest cardigan in the most fun color) in the mornings and evenings, tying each look together in a way I’ve really missed this summer. Yet when the sun finally warmed up at midday, I still felt content in each outfit without that extra piece. Ultimately this packing list felt like an absolute success: I wore every piece, felt comfortable in every setting, and was happy with the look of each outfit. I’m bookmarking each and every look above for the future, so expect to see them again sometime!
*this item is no longer available and I've linked a similar product
Looking for more? You may also like:
- Weekend Getaway Guide: Roanoke, Virginia
- Checking In: A Review of The Liberty Trust in Roanoke, Virginia
- Traveling Light: A Packing List for Richmond, Virginia
- Weekend Travel Guide: Richmond, Virginia
- Checking In: A Review of Linden Row Inn in Richmond, Virginia
- Savoring the Season: Your Guide to the Perfect Summer Getaway in Summers County, West Virginia
- Traveling Light: A Packing List for a Weekend in the Mountains of Southern West Virginia
- A Car-Free Summer Weekend in Chapel Hill, North Carolina – and Everything I Packed
- Traveling Light: Columbia, South Carolina Packing List
- Traveling Light: Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach Packing List
- Traveling Light: Packing List for a Weekend in Dunwoody, Georgia
- Traveling Light: Charlotte, North Carolina Packing List
- Traveling Light: Minneapolis–Saint Paul Packing List
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What do you consider to be some of the signs of a successful “pack”?
If only I could master this skill!! I’m such an over-packer. What a win to be able to wear everything you brought!
I know you can do it! I usually feel most creative with my outfit choices when I’m limited by the number of things I can bring. Give it a whirl next time!