Next week we leave for Paris. A few weeks back, I wrote a blog post on how I’m preparing. To refresh your memory, have a look at that post: We’re Headed Back to Paris—How I’m Preparing. It’ll give you a more in-depth view of the clothing I’m taking. And I have to say, I stayed pretty close to my original pack list.
Headed back. Maybe this year I’ll actually get out of the car to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower.
I changed up a couple of things. I decided against the black turtleneck in favor for a black cashmere crewneck by Quince. I’m leaving the camel Quince sweater at home.
Staying home. I’ve replaced with the same Quince cashmere sweater in black. I live dangerously.
I omitted the black suede heels. They would be worn only in the evening when headed out to dinner. Since we are within walking distance to all the restaurants we’ll be dining at, and I’ll have wine. And I’ll get wobbly. And there’s a good chance I’ll fall. So, I’ll stick to either the black boots or ballet flats.
Allow me to ‘splain. These ballet flats are NOT Repetto’s nor are they my favorite J. Crew Ballet flats. These are J. Crew Made-in-Italy flats but they are heavier with a more solid leather sole and heel. I wear these ONLY with tights. Tights need a heavier ballet flat and these are the ones I’ll being simply because I wear tights with short skirts in the cold weather. It’s weird. I know. But it’s how I think!
Besides, the black heels were suede and last visit to the City of Lights it was more like the City of Downpour and I nearly ruined my favorite suede flats. Suede will stay home.
I’m also on the fence about the black sweater dress but chances are, it’s going to be a last-minute pack.
I didn’t pack this but the more I think about it, the more I think I’ll sqeeze it into the bag.
All I need to do is throw some makeup into my Neverfull, which is aptly named and decide which hair I’ll bring. It’s all done.
I gotta break this stack down to four items..
I’m bringing this MOB Beauty Palette..
And this mini-travel kit from Trestique. All three will fit into my Neverfull!
Surprisingly, choosing which hair to bring is worse then thinking about what clothes to bring!!!
And yes. You can pack a week’s worth of clothing into a carryon. You just need to think pragmatically. It’s all going into what is probably the greatest bargain I’ve ever purchased at CDG Airport. This Longchamp weekender for 41 Euros. It’s got to be almost ten years ago and I use it more than any piece of luggage I have.
Opened up, it doesn’t look like much but this thing carries a ton!
I packed as though my bag is either a multi-layered cake or a seven-layer salad (why do I constantly revolve my life around food?). On the bottom layer is the faux-suede skirt that I’ll get a lot of use out of. It’s easier for me to run around in short skirts.
Nice and flat this skirt is. And the weight of the other clothing will iron this for me!
I laid a plastic trash bag over it and then started with the next layer of a black and white checked skirt and two pair of J. Crew pixie pants from the year of the flood. They held up extremely well so there’s no need to not bring them. They are comfortable and, well, black goes with everything.
Another layer, I turned this skirt inside out. Don’t ask me why because there is no logical reason.
Next layer was the black cashmere sweater, a black J. Crew Tippi Sweater, two black tee’s and two white tee shirts as well as a navy sweater. The next layer is underwear and toiletries. The final layer will be hair. Shoes are in shoe bags and stuffed into the sides.
I’ll put the hair in plastic gallon-sized freezer bags and suck the air out of them for easy packing. I’m so undecided on the hair.
And that’s it.
Yesterday I did a little load of wash which was air dried. I’m also on the fence about bringing a pair of jeans. Regardless, it’s important to get this packing business out of the way sooner rather than later. With good reason.
I. Can’t. Stand. Drying. My. Clothes. In. The. Dryer. I prefer to air dry. In fact, if it was up to me, only towels would be dried in the dryer. And NO fabric softener. Not now, not ever. Never. I also prefer my clothing crispy!
It’s my job. There are three administrative assistants handling the work of seemingly over 100 people. It’s an atrocity. The company refuses to hire another admin and our workload is becoming increasingly larger and more annoying. It is also the end of the year. And all three of us admins prefer to take our time off during this time of year. We also can only have one admin out at a time. It sucks. I’m not going to even sugar coat this shit. It sucks big time. And I’m not going anywhere else to work at my age because nobody else will hire me. Besides—I’ve now accumulated good time off. I’m stuck.
Yeah. This is basically me at work. Post-it notes all over. Too much to do. I’m lucky I get to empty my bladder.
And that means working overtime for this next week as one of the admins is off on Monday and another is off on Thursday and Friday. Actually, I don’t mind going in to the office super early. Knowing I’m packed and basically ready-to-go, I’m okay with it. My gripe is working for a company that refuses to hire additional help.
Sorry not sorry. I’m leaving for a well-deserved trip away from work!!!!!
So, with the majority of my preparations done, it frees up next weekend to get a pedicure and manicure—get my lip waxed, and just relax before heading off.
Wait!! I forgot to add, my husband was so disgusted by my filthy, dough-hardened rings that he dragged me to the jeweler yesterday to have them cleaned. They look spanking new now. But next weekend the nails will be done!
Another thing is The Frenchman is bringing a huge suitcase. Naturally, we’ll be shopping and his suitcase allows us to store our treasures in there. And that’s were my boots, my blazer and the very large and secure yellow bag I purchased as Sophie Sacs will go. My husband, for obvious reasons, isn’t comfortable with the idea of me traipsing the streets of his home city with a very open Neverfull. This yellow bag is more secure.
This yellow bag will be packed into my husbands big suitcase, as well as this blazer I’ve decided on bringing and…
..these black boots. See how secure the bag is with the zippers. I really need to carry this more.
And speaking of shopping, I’ll definitely make it a must-do to stop at City Pharma to load up on my skin-care products.
My first shopping stop in Paris is ALWAYS City Pharma. If I lived there, the entire staff would know me by name!
Other shopping is for a couple of things for Owen. I do have strict instructions from Oona to not get him a lot of clothes because she has her taste and it’s more baby-hipster. The days of Eton Suits and smocked one-piece rompers are over.
I’m pretty sure I can find baby hipster clothing at Galeries Lafayette!
I’m also at a consumer conundrum –whether to purchase a beloved Louis Vuitton Petit Noe bag or whether to head over to Goyard on Rue St. Honoré to purchase an Artois bag. Both are equally pricey. Both are beautiful. Both are a helluva lot less expensive in Paris than in the States and both allow me for a VAT refund.
The beloved and now elusive LV Noe Bag. I’ve coveted this for years. And now it’s so difficult to track down that I’m getting tired and fed up. It’s a same because now…
..because now, I’m seriously considering the Goyard Artois bag. A stronger and more secure version of the St. Louis tote. Thanks to ExtraPetite for creating this comparison. Check out her blog post. The fact that the Artois won’t be as recognizable is more appealing to me but I love me a good bucket bag.
The issue at hand is acquiring a Noe bag. It’s sold out online. You can’t get it. And not every LV Boutique in Paris sells this particular bag. My husband called customer service, luckily he speaks the LV language, and we were told to call certain stores upon arrival. My thing is I don’t want to wait on a long line.
No effing way am I waiting on a line like this to buy a bag that may not be in stock.
I prefer the St. Germain location but will the Noe be in stock?
And that’s where Goyard comes in. If you have to wait on a line at Goyard, it’s shorter and less time. That’s what could possibly win me over.
I kind of like the old-fashioned home spun look of Goyard. I’m so torn. We’ll see what transpires!
I don’t know if I’ll be able to write a post during this week due to the ridiculousness of my job. But you’ll definitely hear about our trip—and the bag ultimately decide on!
I’ll keep you posted!