Los Angeles: What I Packed + What I Wore

A few weeks ago Mr. Seasons and I took a trip to Los Angeles to celebrate his birthday. It’s a short plane ride from Portland, and the prospect of warm sunshine in the middle of chilly and rainy April sounded very appealing. We stayed in a super fun neighborhood with great restaurants, shopping and walkability. I’ll share more on that later this week. Today, it’s all about the packing list and outfits!

Packing for trips is both exciting and slightly anxiety-inducing for me. I love the thrill of going somewhere different, but agonize over bringing the right types of clothing. I am an intuitive dresser, which means I like to dress for how I ‘feel’ each day. Since I’m not a fortune teller, packing can be a little daunting. I never know what I’m going to be in the mood for. I’ve found the best way to deal with this is to pack versatile items, with a few backups.

Here is my packing list in approximately the order I packed it in.

jackets + shoes:

I like to start with the biggest items first, jackets and shoes, and build my packing list around what will work with them. From there, I start building outfits I think I’ll want to wear. I snap photos of the winners and keep a list in the notes section of my phone. I packed my jean jacket because it’s been my go-to spring layer lately, and I brought my leather jacket because it’s the quickest way to dress up an outfit.

For shoes, I brought my Birkenstocks, because they’re my best travel shoe (old lady feet over here), and I am a little obsessed with this new color. I packed my Sandy flats for dressing up (they are great for walking around in too). I included my Tread by Everlane sneakers (gift from the brand) to test on LA’s hiking trails, and my Beek sandals for my hot weather looks (also a gift from the brand).

bottoms:

I was hoping it would be pretty hot in LA, so I went light in this department: one pair of DIY distressed jeans, one stretchy, comfy pair and a pair of wide leg chinos.

jumpsuit/dresses:

This part is where the packing gets fun! I included my Apron Jumper, c/o Muumuu that I love so much. It was perfect on the hottest day when we were walking around outside. AND, I packed a brand new piece I received in collaboration from my favorite linen dress shop, Pyne & Smith! This spring they released a brand new design called the Model 28 Swingy Dress. I put this to the test in more than one look, which you can see below!

Pyne & Smith is currently running a discount in support of Mental Health Awareness month. You can see all the details here. It runs through 5/14. If you prefer to make a purchase next month, I’ll be running a discount code in early June!

tops:

This is always the hardest category for me, and the one where I tend to overpack. But shirts are small, and most of the time it doesn’t hurt to pack a few extras. In addition to the blouses pictured, I packed a few white undershirts (mine are 10+ years old from Old Navy!) and a white tee. From left to right: blush crewneck sweatshirt, c/o, Butterfly Top in Rainbow Stripe, Sia Top, Silk Shirt, Linen Tank, c/o.

bags:

I like to go light on the bags when I travel so I picked two of my very favorites, which were definitely the right choice. A circle, crossbody for when I wanted to go light, and a cute, leather backpack for when I needed to pack more. When it comes to bags, I am all about the practical!

jewelry:

I took a new approach to jewelry packing for this trip. To keep things ultra simple, and in line with what I currently love about jewelry, I brought a small, interchangeable ‘capsule’ of jewelry. They’re all dainty and understated enough that on most days I wore all the items together. It made packing a breeze because I didn’t have to worry about bringing jewelry boxes or untangling necklaces. From left to right: Her Only Dress necklace,* c/o, Initial Cuff, Angle Cuff, Twist Midi Hoops c/o, Opal and Chain earrings, Memories of Sun necklace,* c/o

* save 15% with the code ‘SEA&SALT’

sunglasses:

I have to take a minute and tell you about these super cool sunglasses I received for review from Just Human. (You may have seen them on Instagram.) Just Human is a new biz in the sustainable and ethical fashion world and they recently created a debut line of sunglasses made from reforested softwood trees with mineral glass lenses. This makes them very easily recycled at the end of their life span. I like them because of the super reflective lenses (sort of like mirrored lenses, but less ‘in your face’) which have amazing clarity. And I feel pretty darn cool in the round frames.

et cetera:

I did pack a few other things not pictured above: a few backup tees, and one ultra lightweight caftan. I also packed my sweats, my slippers, workout gear, and pajamas. It really feels like vacation when you have your sweats and slippers!

outfits:

Alright, lets get on to the good stuff! Here’s what I wore throughout my trip. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, later this week I’ll share what we did, so today I’ll keep the details pretty light.

My airport style, wearing my biggest items and toting my empty KeepCup. Mr. Seasons and I both brought ours and we estimated that we saved at least ten single-use cups from the landfill. Pro tip: if you’re visiting the LA area, fly into Burbank Airport, it’s a walk in the park compared to LAX!

This is me getting dressed up, but I’m wearing ripped jeans, so I’m not really sure if it counts. Note the silk + leather.

Showing off my little stack. The one in the middle is from my dear friend Jaana (who also happens to have a great and funny new podcast), and it says ‘Doing Great.’ She and Paige have matching bracelets too!

This is me getting even fancier than before, but with a dress. I love the way this look came together. It’s comprised of some not-so-basic basics: a black linen dress with interesting shape and movement, and flats made with ‘hair on leather.’

I had fun working on my mirror selfie game, but the outfits definitely look a lot better when they’re not shot in a mirror! Note the KeepCup. Our AirBnB, while cute, did NOT have a coffee pot or a French Press (just a Kuerig), so we were very thankful to have our reusable cups with us.

Hello gorgeous! And I don’t mean me, haha. The wall, the flowers, the sky, the sound of the ocean. It was sensory overload in the best way possible.

Here’s a big hint as to what we did on this day, I can’t wait to share more later this week!

Hiking! Probably my favorite LA activity after eating. Runyon Canyon does not disappoint. Though the views were a little more hazy than last time.

Let’s talk about these sneakers. As you probably heard, Everlane started a new line called Tread by Everlane, where they are working to make the most sustainable sneaker on the planet. This is debatable, depending on your point of view, but they do make a pretty good-looking sneaker. They sent me this pair to test out. I chose black and white because I liked the look of it better than the monochrome. I like the butter sneakers, but I think they’re a little too cool for me.

I brought these sneakers to hike in. I wanted a shoe that would work for light physical activity, but still be cool enough for travel. My current exercise shoes are not so sexy (though very functional). I would not recommend the Tread sneakers for exercise, but they were great for light hiking! And by the last day of our trip my feet were so tired from all the walking that I happily wore these out to dinner. (See below.)

They are a thick, leather sneaker, and meant to keep your foot warm, which makes them a little too hot for heavy exercise. I sized up from my usual 10 to an 11 and have plenty of room in the toe box.

My last look and also what I wore for the flight home. It was stuffy on the plane, so I was glad to have some breezy items on.

There you have it! I’m no packing ninja, in fact, just the opposite. But I love looking at what other people pack, so I thought you might enjoy the look inside my suitcase.

Do you have any pro packing tips? Do you pack by outfit or item?

Check back later this week when I give you the complete dish on what we did, where we ate, and which cool neighborhood is my favorite in LA right now.