I’m currently in the process of packing up my clothes to bring back with me to Ottawa tonight and have found it to be quite a struggle to fit not only 10 outfits, but gifts into my luggage as well. It dawned on me that instead of packing 10 separate outfits, it would be smarter to pack together separates that would work well together if I were to mix and match them all.
My first thought was that my suitcase would suffice since all of the gifts would be left behind in Ottawa. But then it dawned on me that I’d probably be bringing some gifts back as well…
With the realization that my luggage wouldn’t be any less full, I made the decision to cut down on the different articles of clothing that I’d bring and instead pack all of my classics to make sure that every single piece of clothing would match. Putting away the fancy skirts and pretty tops was tough, what with all the parties that I’m planning on attending, but when it comes to light packing, sometimes sacrifices have to be made.
I pulled out my favourite pair of denim that I’m fond of rolling up at the ankles since it matches with every single top that I own. It’s a sure-fire winner in its own right without any excess thought going into the pull.
Next up was a neutral coloured top with a neutral silhouette. I’ve owned this simple, boxy, 3/4 length sleeve shirt that I picked up for next to bargain prices at Forever 21 and have always gone back to it on days when I had absolutely no idea what to wear. It too has one of those timeless qualities to it, making it an essential in my wardrobe regardless the occasion or where I travel to.
I’m not the type of person that builds their outfit around their shoe choice of the day, so I didn’t even think about what to bring until I was done the top and bottom. My initial instinct was to bring my leather ZARA heeled booties, but after checking out the weather, I decided upon my Adidas Superstars instead. I know that I’ll be doing quite a bit of walking, and having flat shoes will be much more forgiving in the longrun.
The only other important component to any winter outfit would be outwear. Again this decision was made upon consulting the weather. It appears as if we’re going to be experiencing quite the balmy Christmas, so none of my parkas will be making the trek back to Ottawa with me. I do however need some colour beyond just white and grey, so my camel peacoat made the cut.
For being someone who doesn’t accessorize much, I felt that a toque and crossbody wouldn’t be over the top. For starters, the toque will keep me warm and it remains within the same colour family so no harm, no foul.
The crossbody itself is pretty essential as well since I’ll be running around so much I want my hands to be as free as possible to do whatever I need to.
So there you have it! Some of my important essentials to making sure that every outfit that I pack will work cohesively. And don’t worry, I’ll be documenting my “essential” outfits as I put them together one at a time in Ottawa, so you’ll see just how well all of the pieces go together.
Top – Forever 21 | Bottom – ZARA | Shoes – Adidas Originals | Jacket – Aritzia | Toque – Aritzia | Bag – Mansur Gavriel
