Admittedly, this packing list is a bit niche. But all of the pieces I brought with me have been on repeat this past year (and will continue to feature in my upcoming travels). They’re tried and true for a reason.
Right before Thanksgiving, I headed down to Quercus — a 5,000-acre, privately owned estate just an hour outside Atlanta (full review on Travel + Leisure coming soon). The weather forecast was ideal: slightly chilly and a bit of sun, meaning I had full rein to break out my barn jacket, denim button-downs, and cowboy boots. In between sporting clays, exploring the property via golf cart, eating exceptionally well, and bonding with horses, I spent lots of time in my cabin, decked out in my coziest attire, accompanied by my latest Sarah J. Maas read and a roaring fire.
Here’s everything I packed — all of which I’d recommend for any trip where you achieve that ideal balance of outdoor activities and doing absolutely nothing.
Chunky, waterproof ankle boots
Yes, you may have seen these in last month’s newsletter… and yes, I wore them again. They’re a nice alternative to hiking boots (and they look better with jeans).
Comfortable cowboy boots
Collecting cowboy boots has become a hobby of mine. I found my current favorite pair at a vintage pop-up in Wyoming, but I’m also a staunch fan of Tecovas. Their boots don’t need a break-in period, and the quality is always solid.
Crew socks
Since the cold weather arrived here in Virginia, I’ve been on a crew sock kick. These are especially cute and fit the “at home” vibe of the resort.
Top: Versatile denim, oversized denim button-down, turtleneck dress
Packing rule of thumb: Spend time finding the jeans that you love, and stick with them. I’m partial to Madewell styles (though the sizing is a bit all over the place). I’ve also been doing a lot of denim on denim lately, courtesy of an oversized button-down, like the style above.
When I’m traveling during the fall or winter, my suitcase usually contains a wrinkle-resistant (like a knit) turtleneck dress. It’s just the right amount of elevated, so you always have something “dressy” to wear, but it’s also casual; you won’t look out of place if the setting is less casual than you anticipated.
Middle: Oversized sweater, simple long-sleeve tee, my most flattering leggings
After I packed my denim and dinner attire, I knew I wanted to lean into all things cozy (but still relatively put-together). A good sweater, an easy top, and leggings did the trick.
Bottom: Baseball hat, sweatpants, quarter zip sweatshirt
My Sunday night flight home resulted in a flat-out 0.7-mile sprint through the Charlotte airport to make my connection. Thankfully, I was wearing clothes I could move in, and I could hide my sweaty face with my baseball hat.
My favorite carry-on suitcase
This was a quick two-night trip, so I brought my trust Away suitcase. This plus and duffel or tote bag as a personal item is my go-to luggage recipe.
Barn jacket
I’m fully on the barn coat trend — though, I will say, I have been wearing mine for a few years now. I truly think it’s the perfect travel coat. It’s durable and keeps out the cold, but it’s not a nuisance to bring on the plane.