indiana71

Member123: Funny that you should ask about the piece of luggage. When I retired, a friend gave me a set of Pierre Cardin luggage from Penney's. I used it once with the intention of replacing it with a better quality. Well it's 5 years later and we're STILL using it. The one in the photo is the 28-inch size and it's travelled alot without any sign of wear or tear:cool:.

I do like the new spinners...so maybe after this cruise...

Wrinkles have never been a problem, probably because I use so much tissue paper;). Once the suitcase is packed tight and closed, it doesn't seem to matter whether it's been 1 day or weeks.

There's nothing wrong with buying more underwear - it's one of life's lovely luxuries. Go to Victoria's Secret and stock up! You will feel devine:)!

What to Wear Under White -

IMHO When wearing any outer garment that is white, my undergarments are always beige, tan, champagne, whatever. White underwear shows right through and certainly colors or prints would be seen. But something that is close to the color of your skin looks much better - smooth & even.

Now that we're under 10 days, I can check weather.com for the temperature in Bayonne NJ. Looks like the mid 70s so a summer outfit should be good for the entire day.

You know me, I love bright, fun clothes; so tropical print Capris, a white knit Talbot's top, raspberry Aerosole sandals and some locally made jewelry fit the bill. The big white tote gets to make this trip. Nicknamed "Big Whitey", it was a giveaway several years ago with Lancome cosmetics. Big Whitey will hold Day One essentials like travel documents, some makeup and maybe a pair of heels if I decide to be a little less casual at dinner.

Member123: THANK YOU so much for reporting back:). It pleases me so much to know you were helped by reading this thread. Thank you also for listing what needs tweaking and what went perfectly.

Using your IPod was definitely a great idea. I'm not very techno saavy but reading your post could just inspire me....

AND NOW - packing has begun. In this photo you can see how I layer everything. The tan cami is laid out flat. The yellow and red Bolero cardigans are folded in half underneath. Folding adds wrinkles and is bulky so I do as little of it as possible. The next layer will be tissue paper and then DH's shorts. I'll post more as I proceed.

At least once a week I spend a little time at Starbucks sipping a cappuccino and reading a magazine.

Today Allure had my attention. They review all price ranges of beauty products and give great advice. Two tidbits are worthy of passing on (more than 2, but these are of interest to those of us who travel).

1. 3floz.com has a myriad of products that come in - yes - 3 ounces. Perfect for airline restrictions.

2. For those of you, who, like me; do your own manicure most of the time...and frequently paint more than nails...Kiesque's Liquid Palisade is recommended. It's described as a gel that works like blue painters tape does to home renovators. The website is interesting. It's liquidpalisade.com. If anyone tries this product, please post a review. I didn't check the price.

RealLilSwole: What a lovely way to honeymoon - on Oasis:cool:! You will love that ship. There is so much to do (or not if you choose). In any case, your honeymoon cruise will be full of good memories.

Since you have been shopping and planning, you won't waste time deciding what to wear - it's all been done ahead:)!

Come back after your cruise and give us a review. Photos showing what you wore are always welcome, too!

A tan looks healthy, exotic - even (according to some) makes us look thinner. Who wouldn't want all that??

BUT - we all know tanning is unhealthy, gives us wrinkles and most of all, causes skin cancer. And yet, like smoking and overeating, some people just can't give it up.

Self-tanners, for me, have never been successful. And that's after several attempts with different products before a couple cruises.

Spray-on tans have recently become available in my small town and I haven't talked to anyone who had one. Don't know how long they last.

I see women (and men, too) my age who are showing the ravages of too much sun exposure. It isn't healthy-looking or exotic any more.

But like that piece of chocolate cheesecake that keeps calling me, about this time before a cruise (less than 2 weeks), I think, "That sundress or those shorts or THAT swimsuit would look better next to something other than milky-looking skin."

Maybe I'll call the tanning salon about the spray-on instant tan...

What would you do:confused:??

Here's how I take my earrings. Using the Day of the Week compartments makes organizing easy. If we're cruising more than 7 days, I take 2 of these.

And if there's room in a compartment for a small bracelet or neck chain, that goes in, too. Otherwise I use a jewelry roll and put each days in a little jewelry plastic bag with a Post-It label for the day it's to be worn.

d'sdarling: Because you bought it at White House Black Market, I'm sure it will be perfect for cruising:cool:! You are very smart for being concerned about sun exposure, wear it proudly!

CudaGirl: You are off to a great start:cool:! Keep looking at the clothes that are still a wee bit tight - incentive to continue healthy eating.

How good you will feel when onboard, knowing your look is put together and there's no need to spend time going through clothes.:)

hjennings: Welcome to cruising! It will definitely be warm in November in Mexico & the Caribbean.

I love that you're a trendy dresser. Cruising on Carnival will give you the opportunity to wear fun, bright-colored outfits. I would suggest shorts (or Capris) and tops on sea days, sandals, too. Of course you will need swimsuits, coverups and flipflops. Don't forget a beach bag to hold sunscreen & whatever else you need poolside or at the beach.

For dinner and evenings, I like sundresses or skirts with peep-toe slingback heels or wedges.

Take a light jacket or sweater, too. On deck at night, it's always windy and can be a little cool.

If you're flying to the port, there are packing restrictions to consider; check the airline's website.

Make a list of what you already have that you want to take. Then note any items you might need (like CudaGirl in the post before yours, saying she needs a pair of shoes).

If you list the outfits you want to take here, we can give you suggestions/advice, etc.

You are going to LOVE cruising:eek::)!

Keep us posted on your packing list progress.

stacis64: You got it exactly right! Cruise dresses are "fun but dressy":). They aren't fussy and uncomfortable at all.

Thank you for your observation!

ourturn: What great photos! Thank you for sharing. Your 3 dresses are perfect for evening. The blue one - so classic; the one-shoulder dress is beautiful and the gold one - you sexy lady;)!

Key West Pictures: We have the same pose in front of the"bullet" at the southernmost point. It's so much fun looking at travel pix. And your shoes (photo in front of the ship) look very fashionable yet comfy.

It's obvious that you spent time putting cruise outfits together and it paid off because you were certainly one of the best dressed!

Anyone Else Who Wants to Share Cruise Photos: We would love to see them:cool:.

ourturn: Nice to see you here again:) Post pictures when you have time!

These 2 photos are of my big bargain finds. The first is from Penney's. It isn't a petite so my wonderful alterations specialist worked her magic. Shortening the hem made all the difference!

The pink purse is called a "Pouchee" and is really made to fit inside a bigger purse for those who change purses frequently. It has several compartments & will be used often.

The 2nd dress came from a consignment shop. My alterations specialist had more work to do with this one - it needed taken in a bit in the midriff.

I added a vintage oval pin for a little interest at the top.

I'll post a couple more photos as I go along.

It's now time to start putting the chosen outfits on a chart:cool:!

The Process Has Begun! A couple photos show how it starts...

First: Possible outfits are put together, including accessories.

This is an example of a Casual Day:

Since the form I use for preliminary planning wouldn't copy in a table format, here's a picture of them. You can see that changes are often made. (Sorry about the scribbling...)

Second: TryOns begin. If the look is good, I put a checkmark on that form. If not, the process starts again (hence the scratching out and scribbling).

DH is often asked his opinion. One outfit that had never made it on a cruise was tried again. DH said "It doesn't look very Caribbean." Yes...it was removed.

Here's one that DID make it. The sundress will go to dinner the evening we're in Bermuda and the Bolero is added when we leave the ship to have a nightcap near the dock.

LabLoverT: Thank you for the kind words:)! It's nice to know this thread is helping you to feel good in your clothes while you cruise. Once the planning is done, all that's left is to enjoy warm breezes and savor every moment of your cruise:cool:.

Stacis64: Thank you also, for the kind words. It is a small world! Indiana PA isn't a big town and doesn't offer a wide variety of shopping venues, but it's a great place to live.

Speaking of shopping venues...I DID plan my outfits for Bermuda last week...BUT a stop at the mall yielded 2 sale items (half price + a 20% off coupon!) I couldn't pass up;) - a halter dress (for dinner) and a bright pink lightweight jacket (perfect for SailAway from Baltimore or Port Liberty NJ).

I will post photos after TryOns, maybe tomorrow afternoon (more likely Friday).

As the process begins, I want to list in detail how it gets done. Today it all began for The Next Cruise.:cool:

Choosing Outfits - Step One:

Today I took worksheets with a heading on each one for every outfit change starting with Travel/Sailaway/First Night Dinner, At Sea days (a sheet for each), Casual dinners (a sheet for each), Formal Night, All-Day Tour, Return Travel, Misc (swimsuits & cover-ups, PJs).

Next, pull outfits together (no special order, just whatever catches my eye first). Make a note of every item from under garments to accessories.

Questions I Ask Myself: Am I wearing the same color combinations? If yes, mix up the outfits so colors vary.

Are there any shoes that can be eliminated? (This is painful for me:eek:, because I LOVE shoes). If there's a pair being worn only once, can another pair take it's place.

And last - Is there anything I need to complete any of the outfits (shoes, jewelry, appropriate under garments).

The process took me 3 hours to select 10 outfits.

Reading my notes, I realized the orange wedge sandals were being worn only once, so one outfit was changed and the pink wedge sandals get an extra wearing.

I won't have time until next week to start Step Two - Try Ons.

Meanwhile - Happy Mother's Day!:)

lilianani: Thank you for sharing the website. I love fascinators but honestly, they are delicate and would be difficult to pack. Too bad:(. But wouldn't we all feel more feminine wearing one!

:(Cancun01: Finding real hats, nice hats, in my town is impossible, too. Before retiring (as a school secretary) the female superintendent was known for her hats and they were beautiful. We always waited anxiously to see her when she entered the office.

As a young girl, I wore a new hat for Easter - but don't recall wearing one any other time...but I also wore gloves and matching shoes and purse...

SPEAKING OF PURSES/HANDBAGS - Vera Bradley is a popular brand in my area. The prints are pretty and the handbags well made. BUT - does it matter if the pattern clashes with your outfit:confused:? I've heard differing opinions. Maybe I'm old fashioned and need to update my attitude...

Being a fashionista, I watched endless hours of "The Wedding" of William and Kate...for the clothes and commentary, of course.

Were you as taken by the hats as I was?:eek:

What is the protocol of Hat Wearing? Are they (especially the fascinators) suitable for formal nights? And if they are, will we rush out to buy one (or more)?? Will airlines allow more carry-ons so we can tote hatboxes??

Aside from the headwear, there were many hits and many misses in the rest of the outfits. Kate, her mother and sister, looked Gorgeous. With an endless budget, wouldn't we all.

All in all, it was a nice respite from the bad things happening in our world.

For any of you who have been affected by the destruction in the South, my prayers go out to you.

Member 123: BON VOYAGE!! Enjoy every moment and please give us a report after you return.

I love that you said "this is just elevating the cruise a notch for me." That is the feeling I get, too; and when someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning for you, there's time to devote to yourself;).

Your story RE formal night is a good lesson for all of us.

Flying to a cruise port at least a day in advance is what many folks do and it's the best way to be relaxed and not worry about making connections.

Have a Wonderful Cruise!!

Yes, at 4 AM, the television was on! I've been watching ever since, waiting to see "The Dress" and all the other apparel and was not disappointed! Kate was beautiful, Pippa had a lovely dress and all the hats - all so civilized.

5326jan: You have a good fashion sense! It sounds like choosing outfits and packing is close to effortless and you always look great. Thanks for sharing the info:).

This is from Cruise Critic:

Tip 8: Mix and match. If you can make your clothes do double duty, you won't be hit with excess bag fees or find yourself fighting with your spouse about who gets the last hanger in the cabin's small closet. Stick with one color theme so you can re-wear bottoms with different tops, or bring shirts that can be dressed up for dinner on one night and worn sightseeing the next. Opt for the layered look to handle differing temperatures in the various cruise ports. Change up the look of one formal outfit with different accessories (jewelry, ties, scarves), rather than bring two suits or cocktail dresses. Remember -- you will never see most of these people again (with thousands onboard, you might not see the same person again before the cruise ends!), and most won't remember if you wear the same outfit twice.

It's good advice, very sensible...BUT for me, cruise dressing is about wearing bright, happy colors so choosing one color scheme doesn't work. Admittedly, if I take black Capris or shorts, it's nice to know they could be worn twice and look totally different with other tops...

Member 123: This thread might be titled "Caribbean" but it really applies to ANY cruise destination (except perhaps the Arctic Circle where only fur-lined parkas are required;)).

You are doing exactly what the rest of us want to hear about - telling about what you're taking and the process of packing it all.

My DIL gave us a luggage scale last Christmas and, even though it wasn't necessary for driving, it was interesting to weigh our luggage. None of it was overweight for our 9-Night cruise.

I have a roomful of cruise clothes and pick and choose from what is there. Since our next cruise is so close to our last, I haven't had time to buy end-of-the-season sale items. (I'm not bragging - it's taken me several years to accumulate cruise clothes. Since we don't live in a warm climate, the warm weather cruise clothes stay in the closet/drawers most of the year.)

In a week or 2, I will post pictures of the steps taken to choose outfits and the packing of all the outfits.

AND your suggestion to look at the digital photo right after it's taken is so sensible. I glance, but don't LOOK at it. I'll keep your suggestion in mind - especially for posed formal-night occasions. Thank you:))

Please post after you return!

Cancun01 - The television ad for Chico's could be for any of us planning a cruise! Have fun when you go shopping!!

Also - TJ Maxx has a great ad, saying don't be a Fashionista, be a "Max-onista". A TJ Maxx is being built in my town so in a couple months I can check it out.

Member123 : Yes! Please let us know about your cruise, if you were pleased w/ the packing process (selecting outfits to packing) and any suggestions you have for the rest of us who are still counting down days until Cruise Time!

Photos are welcome!!

Below is the LBD I wore on the last cruise (and on several others). It looks like a black strap is showing BUT I wore a strapless bra... it must be from my black evening bag - not GASP :eek: a bra strap. That would be a huge Fashionista No-No!

LESSON: When posing for a photo, be sure everything "under" is under!

The dress is from Ann Taylor and the fabric is easy to pack, the shawl - DH bought it for me years ago on a New Orleans trip. The silver shoes are from Shoe Show (a great find - I never find well-made shoes, in my size in a discount store...until these:)!)

Member123: Thank you for the kind words!! You are going to be very pleased that all the hard work of planning and packing will pay off!

Yes, I have pieces of outfits that can be mixed and matched for longer cruises/vacations. You are being a good Fashionista:)!

Solving the Split the Clothes Between DH & My(Your) Suitcase Situation: It takes a little more effort but I find if both suitcases are open and packed at the same time, it's not difficult. In fact, sometimes it's easier because little items can be fit in; or if there's a larger space, a bulkier item fits well.

Thank you for posting. You WILL look FABulous on your trip and all the effort will have been done in advance:cool:;)!

Andee: I agree that for work, when wearing a suit, pantyhose covered legs look more professional. It's what I always wore, too. But is that because that's what we've known? Since I've been retired for a couple years (as a secretary in a public school system), my opinion might not be currently in fashion.

Cruising, however, seems to have a different style sensibility. Pantyhose looks out of place IMHO.

More comments are welcome - post your opinion please!

NEXT TOPIC - While watching Good Morning America this morning, Robin Roberts is in London and a guest was Tim Gunn. He had a great quote. "There is a difference between fashion and clothes." He didn't exactly say what the difference was...a co-anchor had on a British flag printed skirt. It was made out of bunting and was safety-pinned together. He said it was "fashion".

How do you interpret what he said? I think a fashonista likes to wear "clothes" that are in fashion - but it's only my opinion...

What do you think

WHO STILL WEARS PANTYHOSE???

I was choosing an outfit for Easter and thought it might be prudent to wear pantyhose since it's supposed to be chilly.

In the back of one of my undergarment drawers I found 8 (yes eight!) packages of brand-spanking new, unopened pairs of pantyhose. :eek:

Before retiring 5 years ago, I wore pantyhose to work every day - everybody did. It would have been gross to not wear pantyhose and anyhow I don't like to wear heels with bare feet (That would have been unthinkable back then...).

But NOW - no one wears pantyhose. I realized this 2 years ago. DH and I were standing in line at a funeral home in late spring and ALL the females were bare legged (except me) no matter what shoe style they wore.

I don't know how this trend came about...guess I wasn't a serious Fashonista then. Who started it? Where did it start?

Ah well - the point is I'm going to put those 8 brand new pair of pantyhose in the closet with Garage Sale Stuff and see if some un-fashion-conscious lady buys them...

I tried on a pair of very sheer, sandalfoot pantyhose and they just looked weird, so it's bare legs and high heels for Easter Sunday.

If they ever come back in style, I'll have to replenish the supply. :)

Cancun01: What a beautiful outfit you have put together:). You will look great and feel even better knowing the bargain you found! Thanks for sharing the link to see your Jacques Vert shoes.

I love your quote "setting my own trend". It exudes confidence! I'm going to follow your lead and declare if shoes are a light color suede - they are perfectly acceptable in any season and can be worn with confidence on a cruise:cool:. Thanks for the input.

Best wishes to your daughter as she graduates and begins a career.

Up until very recently (this morning actually) I thought suede shoes were only for fall and winter.

Today I purchased a pair of champagne colored peep toe heels with a little bit of a platform. The saleslady assures me they can be worn in the summer, i.e. on a Caribbean cruise and be perfectly acceptable.:confused:

OPINIONS PLEASE! (I can post a photo if it will help...) The shoes were on sale + I had a store coupon. Never let it be said that a fashonista passes up a great bargain;)!