Packing For Possibilities

Multiple destinations. Multiple climates. Multiple dressing identities. All in one suitcase.

So today is the day I stop packing for a place and start packing for possibilities.

The common denominator: lightweight layers I can mix endlessly. Vintage Levi’s, silk slip dresses, Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, vintage T-shirts, bright pops of color, and accessories that can flip the mood of an outfit without taking up any room.

Looking back, I actually nailed the Idaho list.

The one thing I’d have packed more of: bathing suits and sun cover-ups. We were at the lake until almost 9 every night, so the same few pieces got worn on repeat. Everything else made the cut. Which is always the real win.

The unexpected MVP of the trip was my hot pink Leset sweater. It’s basically an instant mood shift in clothing form. I’d throw it on over anything and suddenly my skin looked brighter, my eyes looked brighter, and the whole outfit felt more alive. Never underestimate the power of one great color.

The other hero was an oversized button-down. They’re probably the hardest-working thing in my suitcase, and honestly, my closet.

Thrown over a swimsuit on the way to the lake. Worn open over a tank and vintage denim. Buttoned with trousers for dinner. Layered over a slip dress when the temperature drops.

They’re the definition of low effort, high reward.

My favorite button down, which I wear all the time, isn’t even mine (really). It’s Marc’s dad’s old shirt, which he gave me when he was cleaning out his closet. One man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure.

As I’m packing for the next leg, I’m trying to stick to the same philosophy: bring fewer pieces that work harder. If I can wear something three or four different ways, it earns its spot. If it only works with one outfit, it probably stays home.

Since summer has been simmering along (and because I’m feeling disproportionately proud of myself for finally getting this post out), I figured I’d share a few screenshots I’ve saved over the last few weeks.

Some have already made their way into my closet. Others are still living happily in my camera roll...for now.

This is the perfect summer bag that will seamlessly transition into fall. I love the size, but what really caught my eye is the beautiful leather strips stitched together with contrast thread. It feels interesting without screaming designer, which is usually what I’m looking for.

This one went from screenshot to IRL purchase.

I couldn’t help myself. Zero remorse.

I picked up these Pleats Please pants and printed shell top for summer, and I can’t stop thinking about this purple. It’s rich without feeling loud, and somehow it works with everything. Vintage denim, olive green, chocolate brown, cream, black...I honestly haven’t found a color it doesn’t like.

The shell might look a little intimidating at first, but it’s actually one of those magical pieces that transforms whatever you throw it over. Wear it over a tank and jeans, a slip dress, or with the matching pleats, and suddenly the whole outfit feels more intentional.

In summer especially, I’m always looking for one unexpected pop of color or contrast. Lightweight dressing can sometimes feel a little flat, and this shade does exactly what I want it to.

I am a Pisces, so unfortunately I am genetically incapable of resisting fish jewelry. But, even if you aren’t lucky enough to be a pisces, you can still wear fish epherma, especially during the summer.

This pendant from Tantes immediately made me think of Calder. It’s sculptural, fluid, and interesting without trying too hard. The kind of piece that’s beautiful with the simplest white T-shirt or slip dress and doesn’t need much else.

A few more fish-themed (or nature-adjacent) favorites:

• Chan Luu Koi Pendant — incredibly beachy in the best way.

• Jennifer Alfano Pesce Pendant — an absolute dream. Unfortunately priced like one too.

• Chan Luu Calla Lily Earrings — technically not fish, but too beautiful not to include. Simple, sculptural, and the kind of earring that makes a white T-shirt feel finished.

• Chan Luu Pebble Earrings Black Horn— they play well with others. Theey are good for day to night and all four seasons.

  

  

These shorts are perfect for sweltering summer days. I love them with an oversized vintage T-shirt or a classic button-down.

The styling is where they can get interesting. Instead of reaching for a sneaker or flip-flop, try a ballet flat, loafer, or something a little unexpected like a heel with socks. I almost always like an outfit more when one element feels slightly off. That’s usually where the magic happens.

I keep circling back to that early 2000s sandal. Not quite Tevas. Not quite Reefs. A little sporty, a little outdoorsy, sometimes a technical fabric, sometimes a chunky sole. The kind you wore to a festival, or a family vacation in 2003.

Practical, but not trying to be. Nostalgic, but not costume-y.

Maybe we’re all craving a little nostalgia. Or maybe my feet just quit full rubber flip-flops.

I have my Sara slides from The Row that I wear religiously when I want something put together. But for the undone looks, the lake days, the knockaround moments, I want something funkier. That’s the gap these sandals (I’ve screenshotted this month) are filling.

From clockwise (L-R)— Banana Republic, Xero x Literary Sport, Xero sandals, and a new take on tevas. PS- I bought the tevas.

I know I already did a jewelry round up, but these feel like they need their own individual entry. When you’re packing for multiple destinations with completely different dress codes, accessories become the hardest-working pieces in your suitcase.

A great pair of ear cuffs can completely change the feeling of an outfit without taking up any space. Throw them on with a white T-shirt and vintage Levi’s, a slip dress, or even a swimsuit and button-down, and suddenly everything feels a little more considered.

These ear cuffs from Susana Vega are exactly the kind of pieces I like to travel with—small, sculptural, and impactful. When you’re trying to pack light, accessories are what save you. They let the same five outfits feel like fifteen.

No matter where we end up, I’m hoping this suitcase can keep up.

Here’s to packing lighter, wearing everything, and leaving just enough room for the things you inevitably find along the way.

Happy summer friends.

xo, Simone