Stylish Packing for an NYC Trip

Happy Monday everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram then you know that I was in NYC for the past few days.  I can’t wait to share the chronicles of my trip and how I traveled to NYC in style on a budget (stay tuned for an upcoming post) with you.  I also visited a small boutique full of shoes with red-lacquered soles and walked out with something 🙂  Until then I just wanted to share what I had packed for my trip to stay looking stylish while stomping the grounds of the Big Apple non-stop for those few days.  There are 3 basic rules that I always follow whenever I travel for 2 to 3 days or 2 to 3 weeks.

1. Keep it Simple:  I usually pack a couple blouses, a couple t-shirts, a couple pairs of denim and a dress.

2. Keep it Neutral:  I always stick with one neutral color and it’s either grey, black or white.  My accessories and shoes can add personality and colors to a neutral outfit.

3. Keep it Light:  I tend to travel with a pair of heels, a pair of ballet flats or boat shoes and my Havaianas sandals.

The trick is to pack light but smart so that not only can you mix and match with endless outfits but also have some room for shopping!  For my 4 days and 3 nights NYC trip, I wanted to stay stylish but also staying true to my packing philosophy by taking these items with me.

1.  Shoes:  First and foremost, DO NOT WEAR TENNIS/RUNNING SHOES under any circumstances when you don’t want to look like a tourist (unless you want to!).  I packed a pair of Steve Madden heels for parties and dinners, Skechers boat shoes for walking while looking stylish and a pair of Havaianas for the flight.

2.  Dress:  I packed a sleeveless shirt dress that I can transition from day to night merely by switching out my shoes.

3. Denim:  I packed 2 pairs of skinny jeans;  one perforated light denim for fun and the other in a dark solid color for dinners and parties.

4. Tops:  I packed 2 long sleeve shirts in linen & floral silk and a v-neck t-shirt.   I could mix and match 6 outfits with these 3 tops and 2 pairs of jeans in the event that I had to stay a little longer.  I also brought a light jacket just in case the weather changes and also to keep me warm on the flight.

5.  Handbags:   I brought along my latest obsession, Rebecca Minkoff Satchel Jules to serve as a satchel and a crossbody…very functional not to mention very light!  I always bring a clutch so that I can use it for parties/dinners as well as a storage bag for makeup and toiletries.  This time I left my clutch at home!  You forget things once you get older and also having kids.

Anyhow, I was able to stash these items along with my jewelry and beauty products in one small carry-on luggage. To make more room, I wore the v-neck, skinny jeans and my Havaianas for the flight.  I came home with a few more items and was able to fit them all in without having to check my luggage! I was really happy with my packing list because I was able to enjoy the city in style!  Do you have any tips and tricks for smart packing?