Shop My Suitcase: 5 days at my parents' house
A little comfort, a lot of laundry.
Before we get into it, thanks for such an overwhelmingly positive and supportive response to this post!:
We have gotten over 400 submissions for small businesses to recommend on Flagship, and we’re looking for more! Still want to tell us about a small biz or brand? Head here! We want to hear from you!
Here’s what comes next to help manage your expectations: My team (Cooper!) and I are going to organize your responses, and start reaching out to these businesses to pitch them and connect based on your recs. We hope that this will yield steady trickle in of brands to Flagship over the next 6 months or so. Ideally, we will be in a great place for Holidays 2025. This won’t be built in a day, but we’re off to a great start.
PS: Flagship is already 85% small businesses, and we tend to always get incredible deals you won’t find elsewhere. Like right now we have a deal on Sleep Crown, which is as magical as everyone says. And we just welcomed Grandpa Beck Games — makers of COVER YOUR ASSETS — to the Flagship!
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I have been writing this little “Shop My Suitcase” series since the fall, and so far we have my Paris/London trip and my Mexico vacation with Nora McInerny on the books.
Last week I went home to dog-sit for my parents and thought it would be funny to do a Shop My Suitcase: 5 days dog-sitting for my parents in my childhood home, like, as a joke, but now I’ve decided to do it “as a serious” (as I used to say as a kid, in that very home).
To me, there is nothing worse than packing for a vacation. I am always packing for this aspirational version of myself who suddenly arrives at a hotel and wants to wear matching sets and clothing that would be classified as “resort wear”. Whenever I pack for one such trip, I imagine the version of myself who is miserable on said trip because Home Caroline didn’t pack enough options. This has, historically, never happened! I am the same person in Paris as I am in New York, and if I am miserable it’s because I have been long diagnosed as mentally ill. But the fear of it happening, and it happening because the clothes in my suitcase, sends me into a tizzy every time.
But.
Packing for 5 nights in my childhood home to dog-sit my parents’ 10-year-old rescue chihuahua terrier named Petey? The easiest task in the world! Who am I seeing? No one! Where am I going? No where! What am I doing? Nothing! What do I pack? 2-3 “outfits”, max, and then I do a load of laundry on day 3. Important to note that packing to go home for the holidays at my parents’ house is different, but this trip wasn’t that.
So here’s what I packed, as an LOL but also as a serious:
Sweatsuit (matching): Matching sets are easy when they are pajama-adjacent. Topped with a trench (2) or winter jacket (10) and Sambas (5), these are the only matching sets my truest and most authentic self recognizes. See also: Number 8. This sweatsuit is from the GAP, and I have it in a few colors. I have only ever bought them on sale or with GAP cash. I usually size down in the pants and up in the sweats, though this is not true of any other GAP apparel so YMMV. ($50 but often on sale! Currently, as of writing this post!)
Water-resistant trench: Weather called for rain one of the days and walking two dogs who often want to go at different speeds and in multiple directions at the same time called for a level of preparedness. This is also a recent GAP find, and also on sale. And comes in black. I have another trench I wear and love often, but this I find this one to be a little heartier for rainy weather. And I like the waist! ($148, but currently on sale!)
Socks: Also from…GAP (does GAP want to sponsor Gee Thanks?!) ($7-14, some pairs on sale!)
90s Straight-Leg Jeans: I have been living in the darker wash version of these all winter. With warmer weather coming, I am starting to reach for lighter denim, even if it’s still sweaters and coats on top. I find these to be the best fit for me when I get them in “curve”. (40% off with code MADEBETTER)
Sambas: If it isn’t snowing, I am wearing these sneaks. ($110 and not on sale, unfortunately!)
Quince’s Cashmere Sweater: I know, people are mixed on Quince. But I’ve had this sweater for awhile now and still reach for it often. I pretty much wore it every day on this trip, either by itself over a bra or over a white tee. ($50)
The Ring Bag by Hyer Goods: What is there left to say about this bag that I haven’t already said? We have it in our Flagship, and it doesn’t often go on sale…but keep an eye out for Earth Day…maybe…($395)
My Fav PJs: And good thing they are, because the price point means I need to be wearing them all the time to get my money’s worth. And I do! ($228, and excluded from all sales except Black Friday) (Important to note: I only rec the RITTENHOUSE)
Black Turtleneck from Spanx: Perfect base piece because it’s tissue thin, and washes well — I never have to think about it. ($78, but currently $49 on sale!)
Puffer Coat: This one is similar to mine (mine is old) ($168, currently 50% off!)
As a bonus, I want to let you know that this customizable kit is selling like HOT CAKES right now. You can get a bag charm kit or a bracelet kit and put your name (or whatever — I got GEE THANKS on mine), and it’s the perfect gift for yourself or someone else. It’s truly cool. Gift of the year, IMO. Excluded from sales, so if you’re someone that likes to buy presents throughout the year and put them in the back of a closet for the holiday season, go for it.
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