Packing with Poppy Barley

This Post is Sponsored by Poppy Barley. 

In March, we celebrated our 9th anniversary with a chillaxed weekend in the mountains. A little snow dusted our roof in the evenings and melted away by mid morning, but it stilll seemed magical to our little sea level dwelling hearts. 

I booked this mini trip last November as a Christmas/upcoming anniversary present, and it turned into such a surprise gift for both of us. If we had known then that we would be knee deep in purchasing a home this spring, then I doubt we would have dared book a swanky lodge getaway. But since it was already paid for, there was nothing left but to enjoy and feel grateful for the timing and the breath of rest before we wade through escrow and the adventure that lies beyond it.

We're not major travelers in this season of life parenting littles, but when we do go, planning and packing my outfits is one of the fun highlights. I love a special occasion to enjoy my favorite pieces.

On this mini trip, I was excited for the cool mountain temps because I wanted to wear my new Poppy Barley pieces and some cozy layers. Can I get an amen for sweater weather?

Packing List

So for three days away, I packed:

• Black heeled boots
• Matching belt
• 2 pairs of jeans (one would have totally been sufficient but you know how I am about denim!)
• A cashmere sweater
• White tee
• Turtleneck
• Denim shirt
• Wool Coat
• Quilted Jacket
• Backpack
• Gold Hoop Earrings and a necklace stack
• My alpaca socks and mittens
• Rain proof shoes

This trip was my first time getting to wear my new Poppy Barley pieces out in the wild, so I wanted to write a little review for you of all three.

Boots 

The High Street Ankle Boots are such a sophisticated feeling, date night approved boot. I love the toe shape which is designed to be timeless - a perfect blend between a round and pointed toe. The sculpted line up from the heel curves in for an elegant slim shaft. This feminine tailoring really makes the boot much easier to dress up with skirts and dresses because the shoe helps elongate your leg line. And of course the High Street Boots look super sharp with your favorite pants, too.

While they are a dressier boot and not exactly a rugged choice for traipsing around in melted snow, they performed great and were easy to walk in when we went exploring in the manzanita outside the lodge. Though they're not a hiking boot by any means, I felt safe with the sturdy block heel and just went a little cautiously on the icy spots.

For sizing, I went up to my larger half size which is my usual go-to with boots for plenty of toe wiggle room and space for socks. The High Street Boots fit well in my bigger size, so I would definitely recommend going up a half size for comfort.

The craftsmanship is so obvious on this beautiful boot with gorgeous leather that is Leather Working Group certified, and it really speaks volumes about how Poppy Barley, as a certified B Corp, prioritizes ethical and sustainable measures throughout the brand.

Belt 

And because nothing feels more complete in an outfit than a belt that compliments your shoes, I packed this chic little Polished Belt from Poppy Barley, as well, which looks great with the boots or on its own mixing and matching with many shoe options.

If you are new to investing in leather for your closet, a belt is always where I recommend starting. Price point wise, a quality leather belt is not really a whole lot more than purchasing a cheap synthetic version. But where a plastic belt will begin to crack and look worn after a year or two, a leather belt can be in your closet for the rest of your life with minimal TLC.

If you're intimidated by accessorizing with a belt, this is the perfect subtle piece that will magically elevate your outfits without feeling too bold.

And in terms of cost per wear, I'm certain that I'm already down to dollars and cents per wear because I've enjoyed adding the Polished Belt to soooo many outfits in just the couple of months I've had it in my closet.

Diaper Bag 

Our oldest potty trained last year and we are done with diapers, so why in the world did I order a new diaper bag for this parent's only trip? 

With tons of structured storage compartments and a wipeable cleanable lining, this Poppy Barley Beyond Diaper Bag is the perfect backpack for moms. But I picked it out to act as my new camera bag, and it worked out perfectly with plenty of room for my camera, equipment, laptop, makeup bag and jewelry.

It’s amazing how much can fit in this backpack style carryall. The hardware is top notch, and I love the zip top that keeps your items secure but also opens wide, making it easy to access whatever you need. 

The style of the Beyond Diaper Bag is reminiscent of another viral mom bag, but unlike that popular pick, Poppy Barley's version is sustainably made and will look great for many years to come versus the viral version that is crafted from a vegan leather (aka polyurethane) which cracks, peels and wears poorly and will potentially need to be replaced with each new baby.

I think Poppy Barley named this bag perfectly because it really does go Beyond the baby years to become a travel carryon bag, a mom on the go backpack or in my case a perfect camera bag with plenty of room to pack extra gear and more.

About the Brand

I've admired Poppy Barley for several years, but this is my time wearing them, and I was definitely excited by how each piece  exudes quality and luxury with beautiful hardware choices and top grade certified leather.

Because the brand creates products in keeping with their B-Corp status and sustainable mission, Poppy Barley wisely designs with the concept of Endless Wearability in mind. And you can see it in the classic over trend choices that make sure you leather pieces will be stylish for many seasons to come.

I also really appreciate how each piece feels ready to live in and sturdy enough to enjoy taking with you on many adventures.

If you, like me, are curious where the cute name comes from, then you'll find this fascinating. The brand name comes from the units of measurement used for shoemaking in Medieval English: poppy seeds and barleycorns.

Some more outfits I paired with my Poppy Barley favorites. 

Thanks so much for reading! Feel free to write any questions down below in the comments.

Location: The Grand Idyllwild Lodge, Idyllwild CA.