indiana71

I stopped at Old Navy today but nothing called out to me...but I did find earrings (white & gold) that were on my Would Be Nice list:). Also pre-ordered some cosmetics at the Lancome counter. I watch for the giveaways and the next one is in early March. The trial size products are perfect for traveling.

Anyone else get overwhelmed by the enormous selection of cosmetics?? There are certain products that I always use, but things (like lipstick) change all the time...and every women's magazine has an article about their favorites. Most of mine are Lancome. Some are drug store brands, but I like being able to try different shades and getting the input of knowledgeable salespeople.

Checking Out What Entertainers Are Wearing: Saturday night we went to the theater to see "100 Years of Broadway Show Tunes". The performance was very good, but I was very interested in what the 2 females were wearing. They would come out on stage and my first thought was, "That would be a great formal night dress!" The group was available after the show. If we had stayed I would have asked where they get their dresses;).

Then the Grammy's were on and the opening act (featuring the female singers) came on and I had the same thought...but when Lady Gaga made her entrance...I liked her performance but couldn't think of ONE place her costume would look appropriate except on her, on stage;).

So many times I thought about starting this thread, and didn't do it...sure am happy now! This is a great conversation and no one is giving me "the look" (i.e. DH!) for talking about cruise clothes too much:).

luckybonesatsea: Tell me about Downy Wrinkle remover. I haven't had a need for such a product, but that could be a good thing to put in the carry-on "just in case".

How about static spray? While trying on cruise outfits a month ago, a couple things were clingy. Maybe it was just static in the dry air of my house...Never needed static spray onboard so I don't know much about it. Comments, please.

brooklynfc - Sweaters or some type of cover-up must always be a consideration IMHO. Ship dining rooms can be chilly and to keep from looking like "Grandma", I pack 3/4 sleeve, Bolero-type cardigans and 2 shawls for formal night, just in case.

mszpolaris & Listoybiz: The only shopping that really appeals to me is Cruise Related Shopping! Therefore, it IS torture to buy out of season and know a beautiful sundress, top, etc. has to hide in the closet. :eek: That's especially true when I find a great sale item at the end of summer!

Liztoybiz: I loved your story about the notebook. When I retired as a school secretary, from September until my last day in December, I kept a record and never wore the same outfit twice! Since then, most of the suits and "school secretary" clothes have gone to charity. I'm all about happy, fun clothes now:cool:.

Boston Proper is familiar and I've seen their catalog. My problem is always size: petites aren't available everywhere...there will be a perfect pair of pants and top in a catalog - but no petites.

The one women's clothing store in town has nice things and I have a good alterations lady. Thank goodness!

mszpolaris: Your 1st 2 sentences expresses my sentiment exactly! It is so-o-o nice to know there are others out there who love the process of choosing outfits and packing:)!

Liztoybiz: I just got one of those "Vera Bradley key chain things" & agree it will be perfect for carrying a SeaPass, tip money, lipstick. Your expertise as a personal shopper must have brought lots of interesting stories - any cruise-related ones you can tell?

Packing List: Since my chart is 2.5 pages and consists of 8 rows and 4 columns, it's too much to cut & paste. Besides, the details aren't important to anyone but me. Here's just 1 example: this is for the day we are docked at Port Canaveral -

Bra: white "lacy" strap Spanx (a must with everything except shorts!)

Capris: Talbot white w/ pink, peach, lime, olive abstract flowers

Cami: peach Ann Taylor w/ wide V-neck

Sandals: white flat

Necklace: silver "Os" Earrings: silver triangles

Purse: "Little Whitey"

Cover (if needed): short sleeve white cardigan

DH laughs when he reads this stuff! I generally keep my chart in a drawer;).

So here's the condensed version:

Driving to Baltimore + Sailaway: (Because it will still be spring & likely too cool for tropical dressing)

Pants: light gray skinny pants

Top: knit print (olive, red, orange, gray) 3/4 sleeves

Slide sandals - antique gold Jewelry: "antiqued" gold

Cover: loose-knit peachy-orange long sleeve V-neck pullover

Bras: 12 Spanx (can't dress without them unless it's shorts!)

Capris: 5, 1 lilac, 1 raspberry, 3 are bright prints

Shorts: 4, lilac, white, brown print, khaki

Tops: 11, assorted - some are solid, others bright prints

Skirts: 2, 1 white w/ pink & green print, 1 yellow embroidered Aline

Dresses: 3, 2 sundresses, 1 sundress w/ a matching Bolero (for the last night when it will be cooler as we approach Baltimore)

Swimsuits & Cover-ups: 3 of each

Casual Shoes: 10, flat sandals: silver, white, black patent, copper,

gold; palm tree flip-flops

peep-toe wedges: raspberry, orange, gold

Mudd Mary Janes (for disembarking/return home)

Heels: silver, gold, copper beaded

Earrings: 17 pair Necklaces: 9 Bracelets: 12

Formal #1: brown chiffon halter dress

Formal #2: cream-colored dress pants, gold lacy top

Specialty Restaurant: black dress pants, black knit top with raspberry 3-D flowers around scoop neck

Final Day/Return Home: black Ralph Lauren casual pants, white knit top, black jacket (matches pants)

Packing Jewelry: You know those 7-day plastic pill boxes? They're labeled by day. I have 2 of those to keep earrings separated. The necklaces & bracelets go in little plastic bags by day and then in a jewelry roll. Onboard, the jewelry roll gets stashed & the labeled bags go in a drawer w/ the earrings.

I love reading the list of cruise clothes! And the photos are great:). Nice to see sundresses, dresses and skirts.

The formal night outfits will be beautiful, too.

I will add my list in the next couple of days. Maybe some photos, too...

What about purses? One of my favorite things about cruising is that a purse isn't needed onboard. I carry my SeaPass (in my bra if I don't have a pocket). A carry-all purse nicknamed "Big Whitey" gets filled with passports, camera, book, glasses, lipstick, etc. to take for embarkation. Then it only gets used when we go to the pool deck. :cool:

I really like evening clutch purses but find there's really no convenient place to put them during dinner, at the shows, in the casino. Too bad because they add a special touch, especially to formal night.

We have only cruised on Royal Caribbean to the Caribbean & Bermuda. Whether one of the older ships or brand new Oasis, formal dress was the same.

When we must fly to the embarkation port, DH rents a tux onboard(to save luggage space). Other times he takes sport jackets, dress shirts, ties. Men are seen in both - probably less in tuxes.

I've never worn a "gown" and have only seen them occasionally. Any cocktail dress looks nice. I also have off-white dress pants that I pair with a gold lacy blouse, shimmery earrings and gold heels.

Does anyone else try several shades of nail polish before settling on the perfect color that will co-ordinate with every outfit? A shimmery very pale Sally Hansen Lavender Marquis looked like a winner. It's more pink than lavender and with all the bright tropical clothes, it looked boring - but did stay on without chipping for a week.

Earlier today I put on Confetti (never used that brand before) Last Dance. The color is a light raspberry and it isn't "pearlescent". I think it might be what I'm looking for!:) ...if it stays nice for a week.

Reds and browns, IMHO, are best for fall and winter. My outfits are mostly shades of bright pink, yellow, orange, etc.

I put off starting this thread thinking there would be lots of negative comments i.e. "I hate to dress up", BUT the posts have been by all of you who enjoy clothes and the whole process of putting outfits together:)!

iheartbda: Brody's was one of my favorite stores, too. Indiana PA is a very small town and buying clothes is challenging. I wear petite sizes and 5.5 shoe. Not much to choose from here...My wardrobe runs the gamut price-wise. Everything from Nordstrom (in Mall of America when visiting DS & his family) to the local consignment shop to Macy's in Pittsburgh.

When trying on outfits 2 months before cruising, I make notes of what is needed. For our cruise in April I noted that casual silver sandals would be nice with a couple outfits. Click on "Zappos", scroll through, find what looks good, order. Within 2 days, the sandals arrived & were perfect:)!

My suitcase will still have 10-12 pairs of shoes...

careywv: Thank you for listing outfits! They sound like just the right look for tropical weather:cool:.I love reading what others wear. My cruise clothes are in a spare bedroom, too. There are lots of hooks on the wall to hang stuff.

Anyone who wants to add a photo (or several) - please do so!

Not only is it interesting, posting is a good way to talk cruising while watching the countdown clock:cool:!

No, I don't consider myself a "fashionista" BUT - I love planning every detail of every outfit. When all the work is done before SailAway, so much time is saved onboard. I would LOVE to hear what other like-minded clothes-lovers have to say!

Surely, there are others out there who love the tropical clothes and enjoy the process of planning and the comfort of knowing each outfit will be interesting, fun and appropriate???

It has nothing to do with pleasing strangers on a cruise ship, but rather the same kind of self-pampering one gets from having a really good mani-pedi or massage.

In a spare bedroom I assemble every possible clothing item, shoes, jewelry, accessory; then start to build outfits for each occasion. The first is for travel to the ship and (usually) SailAway the same day. We've been leaving out of Baltimore recently so there's no overnight stay in Florida.

Every outfit gets tried on - under garments to accessories - assessed, tweeked and put into a spreadsheet for each occasion. Sometimes DH is consulted - "Which shoes (earrings, top, etc.) looks better?

When it's time to pack, every item gets ironed the day before and layered in the suitcase(s) with tissue paper.

Surprisingly, I only take 1 big suitcase + a carry-on - and a big purse.