how to plan your travel wardrobe | travel diary streets of Paris pt. 3

some of us are big planners.  some of us aren’t.  but knowing what to pack on vacation just means knowing what we’re doing on vacation.  seems obvious, right?  but how many of us have stood in front of a suitcase the night before a trip mentally trying to pair outfits with vacation activities?  whenever it’s time to pack for a trip, i seriously i) sit down and make a list of items i’m bringing; and ii) make sure they pair both functionally and fashionably with my activities planned. if i’m headed to the beach, then a swimsuit and coverup are on the list. if i’m going to walk the streets of Paris in style, then an outfit like the one i have on today is key:  a lightweight cashmere sweater, chic moto jacket (old, similar here), dark rinse denim, and crossbody handbag.

walking the streets of Paris

it has been such a pleasure to take you with me on my trip to France.  let’s recap where we’ve been this week.  on Sunday, i gave you packing tips and tricks. Monday was all about outfit versatility and reusability.  yesterday, we talked about the essential items to bring on your trip.  today, i want to bring all of those ideas together and focus on how to plan your travel wardrobe.  it’s not rocket science.  and nothing i say here will be particularly revelatory. but when building your travel wardrobe 

know where you’re going

are you headed to a maritime climate?  will it be unusually warm this time of year?  are there any local customs you’ll have to be mindful of?  these are the types of questions you should be asking yourself as you put together your travel wardrobe, as the answers could potentially impact the types of items you bring along.

know what you’re going to be doing  

will you be doing a lot of walking? will you be indoors most of the time?  will there be time to run back to the hotel (or cruise ship) to change?  do you need to dress up?  or dress down?  again, the answers to these questions will affect your wardrobe in a variety of ways.  

lightweight cashmere sweater |  cashmere sweater 2 | dark rinse denim | crossbody handbag

after i’ve answered these questions, if there’s one retailer that makes my life easy when it comes to one-stop shopping, it’s Nordstrom. what’s not to love about easy online shopping and free delivery when you’re pinched for time?  i even can order online and pick up my items at the store. it’s a win/win every time. and Nordstrom carries so many of my favorite brands like J.Crew, Everlane, Madewell, Halogen, Topshop, Tory Burch, Coach and so many more.

formal evening layout

i book-ended my riverboat cruise with two days in Paris.  junior style and i spent the day walking the streets, and my last evening, i headed back to the ship for a seven-course meal prepared by the chef on the cruise ship. love, love, love this feminine bow blouse from Halogen available exclusively at  Nordstrom. the black pants are also from the Halogen line, and they’re the perfect go-to pants for day or evening. add a pair of cap-toe pumps from Tory Burch convert my crossbody handbag from Coach into a clutch. 

yes, every single item came from Nordstrom. one-stop shopping makes life easier, especially when planning vacation attire.

lightweight cashmere sweater |  moto jacket | dark rinse denim | crossbody handbag

St. Germaine district.

keeping with the past few days, i’m going to leave you with a collection of shots from my walking tour in Paris.  these are mainly from the St. Germain district. 

a big thank you to Nordstrom for this sponsored post. and thank you, lovely readers, for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you fresh ideas.

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 63, 5’8, and size 8.

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