Petite Fashion Challenge #14 – Holiday Emergency

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This month’s Petite Fashion Challenge, hosted over at Couture Coco, is:

You have a pre-booked dinner date on the first day of your holiday. But the emergency is your luggage is delayed. So this month’s challenge is to style your travel outfit into a special evening look using whatever you carry in your purse and anything else immediately at hand (ie no running out to buy a new outfit!).

In college, I traveled to Ireland to visit a friend who was studying abroad, and after a disastrous number of flights and layovers that included one flight being canceled, begging to be placed on the next flight, missing a connecting flight due to the first canceled flight, and begging a second time to be placed on the next flight…my bags never even left my starting point at Los Angeles (surprise, surprise). For 3 days, I had no other clothes that the ones on my back, which made for very boring photos and a very grumpy Kelly.

I learned my lesson, and now almost always travel solely in carry-ons, but for the sake of this challenge, I’ll pretend all my clothes and shoes have been checked and delayed, leaving me forced to live out of my carry-on. My travel outfit:

pfc-14-before

I am not a glamorous traveler by any sense. My travel outfits are simple and comfy:

  • Super stretchy and comfy jeans to keep my legs warm on the freezing plane.
  • Comfy sweater that mixes and matches with whatever else I have in my (delayed) luggage.
  • Blazer jacket, worn on plane for warmth and because it takes up too much room in my luggage.
  • Flats for running through terminals when I’m inevitably running late for my plane.
  • Warm scarf to double as blanket when the plane air conditioning blasts down on me mercilessly.
  • No jewelry for ease of going through security screenings.
  • Carry-on bag for magazines, snacks, and other necessities.

No matter what, there are a few things I always pack in my carry-on. This includes anything of value like jewelry, expensive handbags, and electronics (camera, etc.), and my basic toiletries and makeup. For this challenge, these are the items I’ve brought along:

carry-on

And now, for my very plain dinner outfit:

pfc-14-after

  • Since my heels are in my checked luggage, I’ll have to wear my flats, which I’m not happy about.
  • To detract from my sad footwear, I added a bright statement necklace that I had packed in my carry-on, and ditched my scarf.
  • Since rolled cuffs on jeans look casual, I un-rolled them and tucked the extra length underneath for a sleeker look.
  • I rolled my blazer sleeves and added a few more pieces of jewelry to jazz things up.
  • Thank goodness I packed my nice handbag!
  • I added a darker lip color.

I would look pretty dressed down for a nice dinner, but I think I could pass as acceptable in this outfit. What do you think?

Be sure to check out the other participants, which you can find over at Couture Coco.

Travel Outfit – Theory blazer, size 00 :: Old Navy sweater, size xs :: 7 For All Mankind skinnies, size 23 (similar wash) :: Chan Luu scarf :: Coach flats, size 35

Dinner Outfit Additions – Chanel handbag :: Stella & Dot necklace (c/o) :: Stella & Dot bracelet (c/o) :: Vintage link bracelet :: Daisy Knights ring

Join the Conversation

25 Comments

  1. I like your outfits!  Haven’t flown in jeans in a while.  Do you find them comfortable?  Even the softest jeans have been a little stiff in my experience.  

    BTW, where’s your carry-on bag from?

    1.  Only a few of my jeans are comfy enough to wear on a plane for hours. These 7FAM’s are super stretchy and comfy. My carry-on is by Caribbean Joe, and I picked it up at Nordstrom Rack a few years ago.

  2. says: Lisa Ng

    I love your travel outfit! Practical and chic! And your dinner outfit is great too — love that necklace — great pop of color and I would have never liked it on the website, so tks for making me rethink “catalog” photos — great job! I think you’d fit in at any nice restaurant. 

  3. Great job! My travel outfit is very similar to yours so I would definitely be in a rut if I had a dinner date and didn’t have my luggage. This challenge is making me a little nervous! Haha. Adding bold lipstick is always a great way to add polish to an outfit!

  4. says: TOBeautyReviews

    I think you did a great job Kelly! I never wear jewellery either, I’ve even had issues with the bobby pins in my hair LOL! I do sometimes carry my non metal costume jewellery in my purse or carry on. And I always wear a scarf or shawl too to serve double duty as a blanket LOL!

    Maybe I’ll take tips from you and “fancy” it up a bit by trading in my standard hoody for a blazer to look more presentable. But hoodies are soooo comfortable in drafty planes LOL!

    1.  LOL! I’d never consider bobby pins being an issue going through security, but now that you mention it, they would set off the detectors wouldn’t they? I mostly wear the blazer because I don’t want it to take up room in my luggage, so I wear it on the plane instead. I’ve also worn trench coats on planes if I’m going somewhere cold or rainy. Makes me feel fancy. =)

  5. says: Marisabel R

    I had to scroll back  and forth a few times because I thought you changed outfits! It is amazing what taking off a scarf and tucking in the jean hem can do! Great job on the tough challenge 

    1.  Hi Karmela! Keep an eye on this thread in the AN Forum:

      http://forum.alterationsneeded.com/petite-fashion-challenge-sign-up-list-t354.html

      The very first post gets updated with the bloggers who are hosting the next challenges, and check the last few posts of the thread for PFC updates. I also usually announce it in my Friday “Weekend Links” post. The hosting blogger will let you know how to sign up in her announcement post. Hope you get to participate next time! =)

    1.  Hmm…not really. I usually use my thumb to measure as I’m rolling, so the two pant leg cuffs will be equal widths. If you have hard-to-roll jeans, I find that rolling them before you put them on makes it easier to make them even and neat.

  6. says: witheachpassingday

    This was definitely one tough PFC. I think you did a wonderful job. You always look chic and classy regarding if you are dress down or up. 

  7. says: New Petite

    Oh I understand the woes of luggage not making it through with you with the numerous connecting flights!! You look lovely and thats how I travel too.. only replace the blazer with a jacket. 

    You look lovely!!

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