Her name was Kara and she totally intimidated me.
She was my roommate when I transferred to University of Florida as a broken-hearted sophomore. (That’s a whole other column!)
She was from Atlanta, an only child, seemingly spoiled rotten. I gauged this assumption based on the frequency and size of the care packages that arrived for her weekly from her mom and by the immensity of her wardrobe.
She agonized over her clothes, her accessories and how she could put her vast amount of accoutrements together. Panic ensued before each vacation break as her parents peppered her with their future plans – centered around whisking her off to a tropical beach, a snowy ski resort or a mineral rich spa.
After sleepless nights, much scrutinizing in front of the one full length mirror down the hall in our dorm and the interchanging of endless amounts of her skirts, blouses and short shorts, she succeeded in creating an aesthetically pleasing wardrobe that appeared effortless – though in truth she was being intentional down to every detail.
I was in awe of her ability to do so. Totally exhausted by witnessing the amount of effort it took for her to pull it off, I knew two things:
- I lacked the energy to do what she did
- And that there had to be a better way to achieve simplicity and wardrobe functionality and elegance
I lost track of Kara decades ago, but I often wonder if she is still obsessively agonizing over her wardrobe choices and still stopping traffic by pulling off creative, stunning and flattering outfits.
Even though I have managed to achieve a “fairly organized” closet by color and by type of clothing, when it comes to pulling together outfits for travel, I am at a loss. Actually, I am quite crazed. I rapidly descend into a rabbit hole of monumental proportions.
I always start off by packing the same jeans, my black oversized sweater and my black high top Converse gym shoes. And then my attention deficit disorder kicks in. I lose focus and patience and I invariably end up both overpacking on things I don’t need and leaving at home essential items that could have enhanced the enjoyment of my trip exponentially. (There’s nothing more aggravating than seeing someone else sporting a stunning orange sundress on your moonlit cruise just like the one you left hanging in your closet.)
Well, dear readers, I have come up with a solution. I had an epiphany following what my good buddy Lynne off-handedly remarked about her favorite piece of travel wear: her jean jacket. “I never travel without my jean jacket. It’s always packed in my carry-on.”
That’s when I realized the perfect fashion marriage: my collection of upcycled jean jackets paired with a clothing line curated by my new friend Esther.
Esther is, among many things, a marketing professional who has turned her expertise in the direction of fashion coordination. Her specialty: curating clothes for travel. She believes that “when we travel, we tap into a bolder and brighter version of ourselves – that in these moments we dream bigger and believe we can do more. And we can.”
Who doesn’t want to effortlessly be able to mix and match to get the perfect ensembles for every facet of our trips– whether we are walking the Camino de Santiago, unwinding on sun-kissed shores or just hanging out with good friends and family in places heretofore unknown or highly familiar?
The most reported reason for travel is relaxation and stress relief. Few of us wants to emulate Kara and agonize greatly before a trip?
So here’s Iris’s and Esther’s plan:
On May 18, from 1pm to 3 pm, at my house, Esther and I are hosting an exclusive shop and learn event. The title is:
SIMPLIFY YOUR WARDROBE
AMLIFY YOUR ADVENTURE
To maximize the experience, we are limiting attendance to the first 20 women to respond.
What’s in store for you?
- Refreshments (of course, plus a signature drink of the day)
- An experiential presentation on wardrobe selection with individual pieces that are as transferable as possible across many different scenarios, coupled with the ability to mix and match
- Packing and travel tips
- A personalized shopping experience
What’s our aim?
- We want you to get the same striking results as Kara did, without the drama and exhaustion.
- We want to provide you with an opportunity to update and fill-in your wardrobes so you will ultimately travel with high quality basics providing a focal point, a striking accessory or two to up the dramatic impact and a few items serving as supporting cast to our main scheme.
