I think we’re all pretty tired of that platitude—you know the one—about the journey being better than the destination. But it tends to ring true when it comes to packing for a glamour-girl getaway such as my week in New York City. Nearly since I booked my plane tickets, I’ve been squirreling away special pieces to wear in the city. (Which means I have a suitcase full of unused birthday presents that have been waiting for literal months.)
As you read this, I’m likely high in the sky, kicking off my adventure in Manhattan with a mocktail and movie…or maybe listening to the “Flying to New York” Spotify playlist that I curated to coordinate with my approximate flight time. Either way, that means that my bags are officially packed, and I thought you might like to finish your peek inside. (If you missed the first installment in my packing adventure, click here.)
To have the perfect glamour girl getaway, I’m a firm believer that you need the perfect glamour girl getup…or two or ten!
I’m not made of five-star hotel money, but my mom (who grew up in the mansions of Hollywood) has taught me to budget like a billionaire, meaning I’ve been able to put together a wardrobe of pieces from top designers without making a single bank-breaking purchase. Shops like Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and TheRealReal might not be the most luxurious in the world, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their wares aren’t, as my suitcase will show!
I’ve been saving special items from birthdays and shopping splurges for many months—my suitcase might seem a little overloaded, but many of these items were purchased on a budget, proving that it is possible to enjoy luxury on a shoestring.
Reminder—I’ve included links to some of my favorite pieces, but this post is 100% unsponsored. If I link it, I love it!
My Travel Outfit
One of the things I’m most excited to be “packing” isn’t even going in my suitcase…it’s my traveling outfit! I believe in being comfortable on long-haul flights, but I’m equally as big of a believer in looking polished and put-together the second I step off of the airplane. Usually, I play it safe by wearing a monochromatic black outfit but, this time, I’m changing it up a little.
Starting with a pair of my favorite off-white slacks (I’ve had them for a while, but I’ve linked a similar pair here) with a silky Rachel Zoe blouse with—wait for it—bow buttons (out of stock online, but here’s one on Poshmark!) and an oversized Bagatelle trench—thank you, TSA Precheck! (The trench is also sold out online, but if you hunt around you can find one on Poshmark.) For footwear, I went with these Jones New York slingback flats in bone to give myself a neutral finish with a metallic twist. I plan on accessorizing with fun gold bow earrings like these for a pop of playfulness.
About Bags
I personally hate bringing a full-sized carryon (short girl + heavy suitcase + overhead bin = disaster) so I found the perfect bag for this trip—a creamy vegan leather-and-suede bag with multiple zippered pouches and dual handles, giving it the option to be used as a handbag or tote. (Again, out of stock online, but here’s one NWT on EBay!) It’s big enough to fit my iPad Pro, journal, and other travel essentials. My mom and traveling companion is carrying my other bag, a black Coach gallery tote, with the other “unpackables” (aka jewelry and lithium-ion-battery-containing items, like my DSLR camera). Throughout the week, I’ll switch out the totes based on my outfit each day. I don’t pack light…even when I’m on a day trip!
Day Dressing
Yes, I assure you that there’s still (a bit of) room in my suitcase even with all of my glamour girl cosmetics! It’s a good thing, too, because I’ve been planning my city-exploring outfits almost as long as I have my skincare and makeup regimes. Although I’ve had a few of the pieces I’m bringing for so long that they’ve gone out of stock online, I’ll do my best to provide applicable links or share a similar outfit if you’re hoping to recreate the look!
I’m especially looking forward to wearing this off-the-shoulder tweed dress from last winter’s Endless Rose collection. There are still a few left online in select sizes, and Poshmark sometimes has them, too! Another dress I’m excited about is my off-white mini with shoulder pads from Zara. It’s not available through their store anymore, but I spotted some on Poshmark and Depop. My third and final “day dress” is a black bodycon mini with a crew neck and cutout near the collarbone…I couldn’t find a direct link, but this one from Windsor is similar (with the addition of long sleeves and a turtleneck, which would actually make it more practical for this time of year).
For other days, I’ll have my cream slacks as well as a pair of black tapered ankle pants (they look similar to these) as well as a black silk skirt like this and a pleated skort like this one. Among the various tops I’ve brought along to mix and match are a black tank with an oversized bow embellishment like this one, an ivory tee with black velvet piping (this one is close, though mine is longer and more fitted), a slouchy ivory cardigan with gold buttons like this, an ultra-soft beige boatneck sweater with faint sparkle (no sparkles in this one, but it’s cashmere!), a black silk crop top very similar to this one but with a bow in the back, and a champagne swing top with a mock neck that looks a lot like this one but which I’ve had for a while.
I plan on walking in Central Park every morning, so I’m bringing a black catsuit like this one, a dusty rose set similar to this, and a basic white sweatshirt and tennis shoes.
Eveningwear
I have six amazing dinner reservations for my trip, which means I also packed six amazing dresses—one for each night! Night one I’ll be wearing a fabulous metallic bodycon dress from ZARA (available on Poshmark here) and I’ll wear another Zara dress on my second night—a black velvet surplice with long sleeves. It’s not available anywhere online, but this one from Ralph Lauren is a close—albeit longer—match. I might be a bit addicted to little black dresses, because I’m wearing another one the next night. It has an oversized white bow on the front, and it might be one of the cutest dresses I’ve ever seen—I got it at Macy’s, and it’s still in stock! The next night, I’ll break out of my color comfort zone with a sparkly ivory dress with a fun, flippy feather hem. I couldn’t find it online, but this one is close. For my final dinner, I’m going all out with a black lace cutout mock-neck dress from Bebe that I could’ve sworn was a full-length gown…turns out, it’s a midi dress, but I’m short. *shrugs*
Outerwear with Flair
Unless I’m going to Maui (aka my happy place) I refuse to travel without what I affectionately refer to as my “emotional support blazers”. I have a hobby of bargain shopping for discount designer blazers and overcoats, and I’ve been able to get several gems for a literal tenth of the price. My favorites—and the ones that are coming to NYC with me—are my L’Agence black-and-white double breasted “tuxedo” jacket (it’s from a few seasons ago, but here it is on eBay); my favorite Jason Wu “coat dress” that can be worn as either a dress or a jacket (it’s on Poshmark and TheRealReal right now!); and my black Oscar de la Renta blazer with silk buttons and lapel (I couldn’t find it anywhere online, but this one gives a similar look).
For the evening, I have two overcoat options—a black one with a fur collar similar to this one from Amazon and a vintage buff-toned fur coat that I thrifted locally but that looks a lot like this one (also Amazon).
Footwear Fete
Trying to figure out which shoes to pack has been nothing short of overwhelming, because, honestly, leaving behind a single pair of shoes feels like surrendering a tiny piece of my heart. Overdramatic? Absolutely. But it’s honestly how I feel. However, what I am bringing is so spectacular I’ll (hopefully) forget about all of the other poor pairs jostling for space in my closet. (Yes, I have a shoe problem.) For daytime, I’m bringing a pair of super-cute champagne kitten heels from Ann Taylor (these ones are similar), rhinestone-and-mesh embellished black ballet flats (similar linked here), and my go-to black velour pumps with a chunky block heel.
Evening footwear gets a little more complicated, but I managed to narrow it down to *gulp* four pairs. The first pair is of jeweled champagne heels from Badgely Mishka, one of my all-time favorite shoe designers. (These are similar.) The next pair are pink evening sandals with oversized bows on the toes, like these ones. I’m also bringing two pairs of black shoes—my favorite black satin sandals with jeweled straps and vintage Dior pumps that you’ll have to see to believe. (My mom got them for me on TheRealReal for my birthday for a literal steal!)
When in Doubt…Accessorize!
I’m a firm believer in the fact that one can never have too many accessories, and I’m taking some of my favorites with me to NYC! My two beaded evening purses are vintage pieces that I thrifted locally, but my mom got me this bow bag from Amazon to carry the night that I wear my bow dress, and I adore it. I’m also taking a black fascinator hat (like this one) for when I want to add a touch of vintage charm to my evening look. Scarves are one of my favorite ways to add a bit of flair to my outfit…I’m bringing several for my trip that I’ve collected off and on over the past several years. I can’t link them all, but they’re similar to this one from Calvin Klein. And, because I never feel more like a glamour girl than I do when I’m wearing a fabulous pair of opera-length black gloves like these, I brought them along, too.
Pajama Party!
Pajamas are one of my favorite articles of clothing. They’re just so cute, so comfy, so…luxurious. Is it overkill to bring three pairs for one trip? Of course! But do I care? No way! My favorite pair is a black-and-white bow print button-up shirt and pants set from Kate Spade. It’s not available online anymore, but honestly any of Kate Spade’s PJ’s are worth a look! I also have a pair of pink-and-white striped pajama shorts with a matching top (a la Eloise!) that look pretty similar to this one as well as a pink-and-white nightgown with old-fashioned elements that make it look similar to this. Since I’ve been known to be a little picky about hotel robes and slippers, I’ll also be bringing my pink robe from Calvin Klein and these incredibly darling pink bow slippers from Jessica Simpson.
Final Touches
Because I believe in making life as luxurious as possible, I’m also packing along my journal, a scented pillow spray, and a few unique accessories I’ve collected around town—a vintage fur hat trimmed with an authentic Tiffany brooch, vintage black gloves, and a fascinator hat. Essentially, one never knows exactly what they’ll find in my suitcase. Have I overpacked? I believe the answer is clear…but maybe you, like me, appreciate the value in being (over)prepared. Either way, I hope this post provided you with a bit of style and skincare inspiration—whether you’re headed to the Big Apple or not.
This is so fun! Have the best time in NY with your sweet mama!