A process for packing

How I packed & got dressed for 4 months in the South Pacific

I have a (loose) formula that I follow when packing for a place. This method is for creating a cohesive vibe while you are away that really feels right to your location, and for making it easy to come up with different and compelling combinations using what you’ve brought.

I love to immerse myself in a culture or place. What I wear is a big part of that.

Disclaimer: This is not advice for how to pack for a trip in just a carry on suitcase. At the same time I think it decreases your chances of overpacking (it’s not a good feeling to be lugging around more than you will wear). And while I understand the desire and sometimes necessity of packing as minimally as possible in certain situations, I believe that when you can, bring what you want.

First: Identify a few key items & a color palette.

Key items: You know the temptation you get to buy a few new things before an upcoming trip? These are those things but within certain parameters. 1) try to keep these purchases relatively small 2) make sure they feel like the place you are headed 3) know that you will wear them again and again on your trip. These items should breathe new life into what you already have. I already owned the Sunrise shell necklace below, but I bought the swimsuit, beach towels, flip flops and orange mesh pants. For me this time new beach towels were a key item because although I’m not wearing them I knew I would be using them everyday and that they would be an ever present visual element.

1. Maryam Nassir Zadeh X J.Crew bathing suit & a hawaiian sunrise shell necklace my husband & daughter bought me on Maui last year (here and here in PURPLE are two much more expensive but absolutely stunning alternatives by Marisa Klass 2. Venroy beach towels 3. a pair of Havaianas (sold out) but also like the solid purple ones 4. mesh sherbert colored pants I found at a random store in Montauk last summer.

Color Palette: The color palette is usually 3-5 colors that you are feeling at the time, that fit in with the place you are going. Very importantly, they complement one another and you enjoy their various combinations.

Hawaii color palette: shades of purple from lavender to violet, sherbert oranges & shades of red. I added yellow when I found the beach towel above.

Next: Look through your wardrobe and pack things that either a) feel fresh when paired with the key items and/or b) are within the color palette and appropriate to wear where you are going.

Last: Add items that don’t necessarily fulfill a or b above but either just “feel” like the place you are going OR items that need to be added for practical reasons. For example, I threw in blue & white floral Rosie Assoulin drawstring pants, a vintage “Hawaii” t-shirt I got here a few years ago, a coral necklace, and a light blue embroidered vintage chinese silk jacket among other items because they all felt fitting to Hawaii. Examples of items packed for practical reasons are versatile shoes for the hiking I hope to do, a few white t-shirts and tank tops, and a classic blue and white striped button down shirt.

Finally, I always leave room to pick up a few things locally. I love finding things that are unique to a place. They serve as a souvenir and carry a certain sentimentality. I got a $10 vintage scarf at a craft fair that I’ve been tying around my waist to shake things up and a beautiful white shell necklace at a local market. An elegant tahitian woman makes these necklaces and places the shells in such a way that they look like flowers, it’s like wearing a lei. I like to think that someday my daughter will wear it and my husband can tell her that he got that for her mother when we were living in Honolulu when she was a little baby.

Tahitian shell necklace. I found a few statement shell necklaces that have a similar vibe. This, this and this.

Below are some images of what I’ve worn. You can see items worn multiple times, combined in different ways, how I paired the key items and how a color palette made all of this easy. You can also see how green and blue sort of became second tier colors. By working within a color palette, you can come up with endless combinations because everything looks good together. Also included, some photos of life, because it always imitates art.

The color palette at its best. Coral beaded necklace (This one is very similar) Skims bodysuit, old Aquazzurra sandals but these are a well priced alternative and these are very chic with a little heel.

1. Vintage crochet cover up, Aquazzurra sandals but if you are a size 36 or 37 I LOVE these 2. My Marisa Klass obsession continues with this lion’s paw shell alternative or this multi shell on turquoise strand necklace. Chiffon scrunchie, sold out in red but I have the cream and black too, Skims bodysuit 3. A lei specially made for my husband's Honolulu shop opening 4. Orchid bikini top, Another Marisa Klass necklace option, mesh pants 5. Skims bodysuit, red satin wrap skirt 6. Skims bodysuit again, mesh pants again, Aquazzurra sandals again.

1. When the plumeria were in full bloom, J.Crew swimsuit but this is another shimmery purple one piece 2. Lilikoi foam mai tai 3. Tahitian necklace, white t-shirt, last season Doen skirt 4. Outside one of our favorite breakfast spots Koko Head Cafe, Top & jeans 5. On our street 6. Best packable straw hat

1. 1944 Mai Tai at Kaimana hotel 2. Vintage crochet top, mesh pants 3. Fresh backyard papaya 4. Crochet cover up again, a Dries Van Noten men’s bucket hat I had made smaller to fit my head, Venroy towel 5. Marilyn Monroe in the exact shade of sherbert orange Pucci pants as my mesh ones 6. Coral necklace, alternative lavender one piece bathing suit.

1. Same crochet cover up worn backwards, another Marisa Klass shell necklace bc they are too good 2. Vintage pucci slippers, found two similar on ebay here and here 3. Another bikini top silhouette in the same color as this one, tahitian necklace 4. vintage t-shirt & best velour sweatpants love in all colors 5. Pucci coffee table book at Kaimana hotel 6. Hand dyed onesie for our daughter by friend and NYC based amazing artist Field Kallop

1. Old Doen dress, another alternative statement shell necklace w/ aquamarine 2. Mango & coconut shaved ice from Monsarrat Shave Ice 3. my daughter in a vintage set found on Maui last year at Holoholo Surf 4. Sold out Rosie Assoulin pants & vintage t-shirt found at Single Double 5. Rosie Assoulin top sold out & vintage silk jacket 6. Striped shirt + red hibiscus

1. Kalapawai Market 2. Sold out Rosie Assoulin top, vintage scarf & white cotton mini skirt 3. Sold out Rosie assoulin silk shantung shirt & pant 4. Vintage swimsuit worn as dress 5. Vintage crochet top 6. This Rosie Assoulin top is the most flattering shape, I would get it in any iteration, this red one still available, vintage skirt.

The key items pants have really pulled their weight 3. Vintage raw silk top. 4. sold out Row t-shirt but found it for kids available here 5. Top

This bathing suit went from playing tennis to going for a swim to out for drinks in one evening. For drinks I paired it with the yellow lace Doen skirt and this necklace. Here is another one piece in a perfect shade of lavender.

I’ve loved pairing the havaianas with almost everything. I wear them 90% of the time. Honolulu is a casual place and they make the dressier items that I brought feel better.

The method I’ve laid out works especially well for an extended stay, when it’s not short enough to plan out every outfit or when you don’t have time to or want to. I’m in Honolulu for 4 months but I tend to use this for any trip that is a week or longer. In a way it can be a lot of versions of the same thing, but if you’re intentional about your choices and you enjoy the color combinations I find that I don’t get bored and that I can always come up with something that feels good.

xx

Jamie

P.S. Most of the items linked here are in my Hawaii Shop along with other things I’ve curated.