California Road Trip and Capsule: Active, Outdoorsy, Coastal, & California Nostalgia

Hello KZbin Family!
In today’s video, I’m sharing my travel capsule for my road trip up the California coast to the Bay Area. We are going to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Hearst Castle, Monterey, Carmel by the Sea, and San Francisco. I’m so excited to be taking this trip and trying my hand at more outdoorsy and activity focused clothes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t look good! I’ve included clothes that I think are not only versatile and wearable but that also evoke a certain California nostalgia, particularly in my Doen piece, vintage flannels, and jeans with a vintage sensibility. I hope that you all find this capsule helpful. If you are ever packing for a road trip or camping trip, putting a capsule together is a really great way to make the most out of limited space. If you’re interested in referencing these outfits in the future, you can check out my OpenWardrobe link below. As always, thanks so much for watching!
Love, love, love - Lauren
Check out my outfits on the OpenWardrobe app: openwardrobe.page.link/6Hbz
My Pinterest: pin.it/4MThK4G
Follow me on Instagram!
/ laurenwmckinney
Shop my Closet:
poshmark.com/closet/laurenwmc...
Affiliate Links and Discount Codes
Wardrobe Basics: Color Standard colorfulstandard.com/?rfsn=64...
Use my discount code too! LMCKINNEYCS10
Jewelry: Monica Vinader: apprl.com/al/7WfH/
Use my discount code! MVLAUREN20
Makeup: Merit Beauty glnk.io/no9l/laurenwmckinney

[@HopingForever]

FINALLY!! A travel capsule for the outdoor enthusiast. Clothing for activities that resonate with those of us that spend our days exploring the great outdoors. Not everyone spends an entire vacation in a city, requiring high fashion sartorial choices . Thank you. Would love to see more. Enjoy your trip. May the weather "gods" be with you.

[@marinajulianna0826]

You can totally win the best hair award! Love your videos!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

My best tip for road trips: no fitted, stiff shorts, jeans or trousers, especially tight ones, for driving days. When my husband and I drove across the country, we ended up stopping at a Walmart to buy me a pair of baggy, stretchy-waist jeans that didn’t pinch my waist, or ride up in other sensitive parts! This was before leggings became available in the 90s; thick knit trousers, leggings or joggers (no VPLs) are probably the only pants I’d wear for all day in the car nowadays. My favorite for travel is a casual dress in a stretchy cotton or viscose knit, midi-length or longer (the fabric on seats can be prickly on the skin after a while, so I don’t like a short skirt that exposes the backs of my legs). One of the longer T-shirt dresses that are available now would be great, in black, brown/dark beige, khaki or navy color. Wear sunscreen in the car, as well as on hikes, and Polarized sunglasses. Welcome to the Bay Area, from Marin County!

[@Jazmin_Ortega]

Active, outdoorsy... you're speaking my love language! 🌲💚⛺This is a great topic btw that I haven't seen done elsewhere, more please!

[@emskily94]

This was such a helpful video! I love dressing well and being outdoors, but I’ve found it so hard to marry the two! I always end up dressing in old clothes and looking kind of scruffy and uncoordinated. Feeling inspired 🥰 have an amazing holiday!

[@lorenheard2561]

"The Birkenstock Kool-Aid"!!🥰🤣🤣Great laugh!!

[@katie_louise]

I love that denim dress on you so so much!

[@annaklaus8377]

Great to see you laugh, hope you're having a great time on the road!

[@tanyac9910]

Haha - love how excited you are. Have a great time!

[@rachaelschick996]

A travel capsule is so helpful! I always overpack lol. Can't wait to see your fall/winter capsule! Hope you have a fun yet restful time on your trip :)

[@velitasama1348]

as someone whose life involves more active wear for the gym (and relates a lot to your personal style) + hot humid weather; while not so much work or dressy style clothes (i wish), I love love this video! please make more active style videos if you can 🤗

[@ruthmalcolm3028]

I was very proud of my capsule holiday wardrobe last week…..4tops, 3bottoms, 2 layers, 2 shoes. What a great holiday you’ve planned. We came over from UK five years ago and travelled highway 1 from Seattle to San Diego stopping at the places you mentioned. We couldn’t visit Big Sur, the road had collapsed, I was so disappointed. Have fun!

[@lindsaystratis4192]

Make sure you stop in San Luis Obispo on your way up the coast! Madonna Inn is a fun place to stop. And if you haven't seen Hearst Castle yet, it's got some great views and fascinating history!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

You’ll definitely need the puffer up here, I need to wear one whenever I go to one of our Nor Cal coastal beaches, year-round. You might also need it for mornings and evenings in SF, I always tell visitors to bring a jacket that cuts the wind and has some insulation for the City, items like hoodies just aren’t enough.

[@kassie9925]

Great capsule - I think you'll be really prepared for the trip! I recently did a similar trip in CA just a few weeks ago when I had a conference in Pacific Grove. The Big Sur and Monterey areas are so beautiful and the drive along Highway 1 is incredible! You're going to have a great time. Also, the puffer coat is a good call and absolute necessity - we even needed that in Monterey in August!

[@kyahgrigolon6724]

I get very happy every time I see you have uploaded - I love your videos 😊 I hope you have a wonderful trip!

[@zornikzornuk3187]

Nice try on, thank for sharing

[@repa49]

Wish you a very exciting trip!

[@rachela3066]

merino wool hiking tops! Air them out and can be worn again as don't absorb sweat or smells

[@chlomo2618]

I love a travel capsule! Really looking forward to the travel blog.

[@carmenlheureux5435]

I really want to see the travel vlog!

[@astridsandriesser4232]

Have a nice trip! You rock!

[@essentiallyann2650]

really enjoyed this video and your bubbly personality. Have a great holiday and looking forward to the vlog !!

[@ruthacuna4385]

Im going to Utah and loved the idea tips!

[@vav2868]

Love chacos!

[@pajamamama5965]

Fun video! I'm looking forward to seeing the travel vlog. I live in Pennsylvania a few miles from the Appalachian Trail so when I envision hiking, I probably have a different picture than the kind of hiking you're going to be doing LOL

[@LaurenWMcKinney]

So, I grew up hiking near the southern parts of the AT (east TN, Smokeys area!), and often wore chacos there, but I’d probably opt for a pair of hiking boots rather than tennis shoes 🥾. I do find that I can handle quite a lot with a pair of Chaco’s on my feet 🤪.

[@pajamamama5965]

@@LaurenWMcKinney 😁😘 yes it was the tennis shoes comment that gave me a chuckle. We see through hikers sometimes and trust me they aren't thinking about fashion LOL We live in a valley right near an official stop where they can stay and shower. They always look so tired hot and sweaty, covered up from head to toe. I've never done more than a half day hike and I enjoyed it but that was enough!

[@lorenheard2561]

The Pendleton is so neat!! The colors and lable look like it is 1960s or early 1970s?

[@gamagarcia3037]

beautiful denim dress, did you get the 44 or 46 size for the extra room around the arms. love how flow it is

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

How many days is the trip planned for? It’s hard to assess if you have enough choices without that information.

[@Deem57]

I've done a lot of travelling. To me, you're taking a lot more clothes than I would take but maybe you'll wear all of them. One of my tips is not to take white or predominantly light coloured clothes. Too easy to stain or soil so they usually can't be worn more than once. Instead I take clothes with multi-coloured prints or beige, rather than white.

[@LaurenWMcKinney]

This is actually more than I’d usually take as well! I felt a bit liberated, since we are car camping and I don’t have the restriction of a carry on 😅😅.