The itinerary:
Locale: Savannah, Ga. Reason: Business - at SCAD in Savannah - with HBO’s head of comedy Amy Gravitt - a quick panel talk to students and meeting with President and Founder Paula Wallace (wow, more on her in another stack).
Local: Sea Island, Ga. The Cloister Hotel. Not Business - but emanated from business- because it’s 4 days with incredible individuals that I’ve met over my DMs that have become very close friends. They’re all at the top of their game - quite literally - at Fortune 100 & 500 companies. Everyone works across different industries, so the conversation is sure to be incredible. They’ve come from Ireland, London, Los Angeles, Chicago and NYC. An interesting group that shares a similar mindset - I went in to this praying that the conversation would be free flowing, no random silos, no ones-up-manship and “do you know so and so games”. I prayed and it came true. In the end, the praying wasn’t needed - these women were just insanely fascinating, and grounded. So it worked.
The mood: creative yet pragmatic. Sea Island, Ga A Southern USA locale - so it leans classic - think rich interiors originally concerted in the late 1920s. I’ll nod to that without compromising modernity and chill. Fitting in without blending in. My style - only in a more traditional locale.
I didn’t even attempt for carry on, but it didn’t mean I started throwing stuff in the suitcase. There was method to this madness you see here on my floor:
The key packing ingredients:
3 slip dresses - 2 are needed, 3 are excessive - but when they weigh as much as a Kleenex these are easy pieces to allow for mood swing options.
1 proper dress - sort of, if you can call one in a rich nubby terry that feels like you walked out in a bath towel but not a proper dress.
3 skirts and 3 button downs that double as beach side cover ups
3 pants: 2 nylon track style; 1 silk nylon “suit” pant
1 pair of silk nylon shorts
1 proper top that pairs with the afore mentioned beach/skirt
1 suit- but hardly - it’s made of silk nylon
1 pair of jeans - but hardly - they’re the lightweight denim
4 teeshirts - working out, biking
3 bikinis and 1 Maillot (but for dinner not beach)
1 sweatpant (but hardly, they’re the lightweight sweatshirting)
3 sweaters
2 work out leggings (lulu lemon) and a pair of proper workout trainers.
1 set of men’s pajamas
Day 1
Amy Gravitt, EVP HBO Programming and I at SCAD (check out here):
I wore the navy silk Nylon pant blazer - paired with a Tank and Sandal I felt perfect for a talk that has the right nod to the moment without being too serious. Amy G nailed that here too with the Trouser Skirt, Denim shirt and Sandal. The easy cuts, the lightweight fabrics, and mixing in summer footwear made this fully right for the moment.
Day 1 Dinner
I’m wearing the same jacket and pairing it with something right for a great dinner with cocktails. We went to Saint Bibiana Here - holy smokes, the oysters, the pastas, the people. My big 3 needs, covered - truly - can not recommend more.
Day 2
Out and about in Savannah and a full tour of SCADS movie back lot. No words - no words!!!!! It’s out of this world what Paula has created for the students, for their community and more. The Shorts suit was perfect for this - I’d wear it here on business / vacay, but the shorts are too short for my office. No one needs to see this from me.
Day 3
We’re on Sea Island now - a rented house - the agenda is nothing more than for us all to talk. Lot’s of talking and making friends. The thru-line between us all was that we work 24/7. No one shuts down - which means we’re very passionate about our jobs but by the time we’ve given to work, to family and hopefully to keeping healthy, finding and maintaining friend relationships goes to the back burner. Finding others that share your mindset exists - even harder. I’d met these women over the last three years and collected them - hoping one day I’d bring them all together and they’d be friends for life.
Dinner out the first night we’re together, the cotton Skirt and Top feels really right. Right?
Multiple days, multiple outfits, but not overly multiplied clothes. Packing items that are flexible and work with the other players and can curiously adapt to anything- funny how the clothing mimicked the requirements of the individuals brought in for this trip.
The thru line is important, it’s not so much about creating different vibes as it is different outfits appropriate to the needs of the activity: breakfast out, watching a movie, shopping, dinner, and beach. See? (Note: the Winslow sweatpant in the first look sold out so quick he graduated to Fundamentals and he’ll be back in stock probably around August).
More cover up but not options here: that batik printed Skirt zips both ways - super super funcitonal. These are all Malia Mills bikinis here - not sponsored, just major fan. Ironic note - every woman brought Malia saying their suits were sometimes 10-15 years old. True.
Summer dresses are so easy to pack - tying sweaters and tees around the waist give them the big chill for day, an “extra” earring gives them the vacay “it’s a moment” vibe at night.
It’s ridiculous how often I pull out the Slip dress. At work I layer them with a blazer, in the winter time I layer with seaters - and on vacay I wear quite bare which makes them feel entirely different. Not like I’ve literally gone from desk to destination. When I go someplace I want to FEEL in the moment. Changing up the styling does that for me. The white Dress here is my new love. You can’t know how it feels till you put it on.
To prove my point about the slip dress - here’s the winter in my office look:
The end results of a beautiful week - I wore everything I packed. Nearly. And we got out of it what we hoped. Everyone’s business was fascinating - 1/2 of us were enraptured on a full on conversation about block chains, crypto and global markets. 1/2 were enraptured hearing about finding creative talent, how tv shows or ads come to life, and how consolidation has affected us all from publishing, to advertising to accounting. We discussed what we would all change about ourselves if we could, who we’d have dinner with from history if it were an option, and what brand you’d wear if you could wear only one for the rest of your life. Tibi. Obvi.
Great article Amy. Love the photos of your retreat outstanding ideas.
Love this! Thanks, Amy!