summer packing – Page 2

Quick Trip Packing Essentials

March 14, 2017 No Comments

what to pack, rue21, west town mall, what to pack for a weekend, what to wear this weekend, rue21 outfits, striped dress, distressed shorts, maxi skirt, west town mall style consultant, knoxville fashion, knoxville fashion blogger

Want to know my craziest spring break story?

It’s actually my fondest memory of the cherished week off in college…I was a student at UT and the day my classes finished up for the whole week, I took a book and sat outside Panera in the sunshine and read my book. The whole thing. I won’t mention it was a Winnie the Pooh book (the novel version – not a barely worded picture book, ok?)

It was so relaxing. And since the spring breaks before it always had me laid out sick (it was tradition there for a while) that nice little afternoon spent with Christopher Robin, was truly something to be thankful for.

I’m easy to please.

Whether your week is filled with simple pleasures or exotic vay cay’s, I’ve put together an easy packing list that will help you maintain your style on a quick jaunt out of town. All of which can be found at Rue21 in West Town Mall (right outside of Sears).

Starting from the left…

The first outfit can be the easy breezy shorts and sweater you travel down in. It can also be easily dressed up with some wedges and a clutch if you’re going from car to dinner out somewhere on the beach. Chambray tennis shoes are the…well, the chambray shirt of your closet – they’ll go with anything!

The next outfit is perfect for shopping – I mean what’s more comfortable than a maxi skirt?! Barely tuck that top into the waistband at the front for a relaxed but purposeful look.

Then you’ve got distressed jeans and a pink zipper top. This top is great for two reasons: One – you don’t have to pack jewelry because the zipper is accent enough; Two – you can also throw it on over a bathing suit as a cover up, so it can pull double duty.

And finally, this beauty of a dress. Wear it day or night, shopping, dinning – whatever! It’s so cute I can’t even think of a joke for it. I paired it with some minty blue sandals just to do something fresh. But nude wedges would work too!

I hope this helps make even vacation days – spiffy days ;)

Fashion, Spiffy, Videos, wbir

Tips that Improved My Packing

June 1, 2016 10 Comments

how to pack, the best way to pack, wbir, beauty blogger, knoxville beauty blogger, knoxville fashion blogger, elizabeth ogle, how to pack for summer trips, the best way to pack

How not to pack is high on the list of things I’ve learned from Past Elizabeth.

It’s quickly followed by “how not to pluck your eyebrows in high school”, “how not to talk to boys in your Road-Runner voice” and so on and so forth.

You’ll hear my first packing mantra in the video, but thankfully things have changed (my Eyebrows and Social Life say, “THANK GOD”).

Here is the step-by-step packing process I follow now, watch the video for additional tips YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT (I mean, I put it in all caps so it’s legit).

1. Walk yourself through your entire trip.

I thought I was a great packer, sitting in the car/plane all smug in my efficiency, but then I would get out of the shower, and need to sit in a group to discuss plans for the evening and would have to do so in my pj’s or fancy maxi dress.

Lesson learned: Walk through every step you can think of so you can have a comfortable and public appropriate leisure outfit (that could double as workout clothes if the buffet strikes too often).

2. Lay everything out then start editing down by outfits that go with the least amount of shoe-age.

I used to think I needed multiple wedges because I wasn’t about to sacrifice style for space! …Then I would end up wearing one pair only once.

Lesson learned: Pack according to your favorite most comfortable shoes (and only a few of them). You always walk more than you think you will on a trip, so pack comfortable shoes. And having just a few pairs to match to will really help refine your outfit choices and make you an overall more efficient packer. Here’s how to pick your best shoe team.

3. Add your accessories on top.

I used to pack up my clothes then go through my jewelry and pick it separately. Invariably I would miss an outfit and feel naked without the right accessories.

Lesson learned: Put your jewelry on top of each outfit you’re going to wear so you can visualize the whole look and have exactly what you need when you arrive. You can still put all your jewelry in its own bag, but this way you’ll be totally prepared.

PS: A crossbody bag (like the one pictured above) is your best purse choice – wearing it around your body makes it harder to be stolen. Just dishing out the cold hard facts.

For how to pack your makeup and for the perfect travel outfit – watch the clip!

Fashion

Summer Travels – New Orleans (WITHOUT MY BABY)

May 27, 2016 No Comments

elizabeth ogle, new orleans, travel outfit, what to wear on a business trip, knoxville fashion blogger, midi dress, how to pack for a business trip

As of Wednesday, I’ve got a full flight and two nights away from my baby under my belt. Everyone survived! Yay!

So as to make up for lost cuddle time, though, he is currently sprawled out on me taking a nap ;)

I found out a few weeks ago that I would have to go to New Orleans for a quick work trip. At first, the thought of leaving my kid was daunting, but thankfully God’s peace took over and my husband was able to work away from the office for a couple days.

It turned out to be a great opportunity for us to have some alone time. We both agreed trips with just the two of us were going to be few and far between now that we have a cutie sidekick so we took advantage of it.

I got nervous about how I would do leaving Jackson because I miss him badly after a full day of work and church responsibilities that go well into the night, but this was going to be almost 48 hours! However, before leaving I chose to focus on the fact that I would get to sleep in, take long leisurely, uninterrupted showers and eat all of my own food without having to share ;)

That coupled with the fact that I was constantly busy with work stuff, really made it so that I was able to relax and enjoy the trip.

I will be sharing my packing tips on TV on Tuesday, so be sure to tune to 10 News This Morning around 8:30.

The midi dress (pictured above) is the best thing to pack for a trip like this. Our company sponsored a reception that I had to work, which meant I would be bending down, walking around and moving every which way – this long cotton dress was the perfect solution. It allowed me to look polished (didn’t wrinkle in the suitcase) and feel comfortable the whole night!

It’s also a great option for maternity. I picked it up at H&M when I was pregnant since I knew the baby bump coupled with my long legs would make any regular length dress look wildly inappropriate.

Here are some other options I found…(first, second, third) And they are all under $40!

midi dress, nordstrom, fashion blogger, knoxville fashion blogger — Nordstrom | Lulus.com | Nordstrom Rack

I know what I’m going to be doing all weekend – staring at my kid! Just kidding (not really).

I hope you’re able to relax and enjoy the weekend. I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!

Fashion, packing

How to Pick Your Best Shoe Team

July 1, 2015 No Comments

When you’re traveling away from all the luxuries of home, you’ve got to make sure your shoe game is on point. That plus the fact that you’ve only got so much room in the suitcase, means you have to pick the best and the brightest from your team of shoes!

Are you with me!? Ok let’s DO THIS.

Here’s what qualifies a player to make the cut…

1. Versatility

Versatility is number one for a reason – it’s the most important factor. My neon pointy toe heels may look super chic and fabulous with that striped shirt dress, but if that’s the only thing they go with then they’re not worth the real-estate. My nude gladiator sandals on the other hand, will work with all five dresses in my suitcase.

Nude Gladiator Sandals, you’re in!

2. Comfort

Whether we’re packing for a vacation or for a work trip (in my case a couple weeks ago – both) comfort is a necessity. Most of the time you don’t completely know your schedule, so if at any point you end up walking around for hours, you’ve got to have a comfortable option. This means if two players are alike in a category (i.e.: casual sneakers) go with the guy that’s going to support your feet the best and build your outfits around him.

Casual Nike’s, get in there!

3. Bulk

Thirdly and really the least important is the size of your shoe. I have a pair of gladiator wedges that take up a TON of space. But this is a trickier requirement because if it falls within the confines of the first two (for example, if these wedges are really comfortable and if they’re going to go with a lot) then they make it on the team, but if they don’t fulfill any of those requirements then they’re first to get the boot. Again, if it comes down to two or three options and you just can’t decide – check to see which one will take up the least amount of space and go with it.

These rules don’t just apply to packing either. Versatility and comfort are two big factors when trying to decide whether or not to buy a pair of shoes. Sometimes we can get a little drunk on how cute a pair of shoes is, then wake up the next day after purchasing them to realize they treat our feet like dirt. Don’t fall into that trap. Respect your feet.