Packing for a week from what's already clean

Packing is easy when everything is clean. It's the other weeks that are hard: the trip is on Friday, the favourite jeans are at the bottom of the basket, and the bag gets packed around the clothes you wish you had instead of the ones you do.

This is one of those weeks, in Anna's example closet. Here is what she asked, what the stylist looked at, and what went in the bag.

The conversation

Anna: A week away, leaving Friday, and half my things are in the wash. What do I actually take?

The stylist: Where are you going, and what kind of week is it? Once I know the place, I'll check its forecast and build the week from what's clean.

Under the answer, three suggestions to tap: "A city break", "Mostly work", "Somewhere warm".

Anna: Edinburgh, Friday to Thursday. Lots of walking, a few galleries, one dinner out.

Looking at the weather… Done.

The stylist: Edinburgh looks cool and changeable for your week: nine to thirteen degrees by day, showers on three of the days, and wind on Sunday. The last days are further out, so take those as a rough guide. That means a coat that copes with rain, layers rather than one heavy jumper, and shoes for walking. You told me flats for anything over a mile.

Here's the catch: nine of your pieces are in the wash, including your jeans and the Breton top. I'll pack the week from what's clean today. If the jeans are washed and dry by Thursday, they can come too.

Shall I set up the trip first? Then I'll put the list together.

A card: "Plan a trip to Edinburgh", with Apply and Dismiss. Anna taps Apply, and a line confirms it: Created trip · Edinburgh.

Anna: Go on, pack it.

The stylist: Twelve pieces for seven days, all of them clean today. The trench does every day out. Under it, the oatmeal jumper or the camel cardigan, over the black long-sleeve, so no wool sits on your skin. The navy wide-leg trousers and the olive utility trousers take turns. For dinner, the cream silk blouse with the wide-legs and the burgundy loafers. White trainers for the walking days, the rust silk scarf for colour, and the tote for the umbrella.

I've put your jeans on the list too, marked as still in the wash. If they're dry by Thursday, take them. If not, you won't miss them.

A card: "Add 13 items to your packing list", showing the first five pieces and "+8 more", with Apply and Dismiss.

Twelve pieces for seven days, all of them clean today.

What went in the bag

• The ecru trench coat
• The oatmeal wool jumper
• The camel cashmere cardigan
• The black rib long-sleeve
• The white poplin shirt
• The cream silk blouse
• The navy wide-leg trousers
• The olive utility trousers
• The white leather trainers
• The burgundy penny loafers
• The rust silk scarf
• The black leather tote
• And the indigo jeans, if they're dry

What stayed home says as much: the sundress, the sandals and the espadrilles, which belong to a different forecast.

Why it packed from what was clean

The stylist builds a look only from pieces that are out of the wash. A piece in the basket can still go on the list, so it isn't forgotten, but nothing is planned around it. If the jeans don't make it, no outfit falls apart.

That is a good rule without an app, too.

Packing from what's clean, by hand

• Start with the forecast, not the drawer. Rain and wind decide the coat and the shoes; the rest follows.
• Count only what's clean tonight. If it's in the wash, don't build a day around it. Pack it if it's dry in time.
• Two bottoms that go with every top. They do most of the work, so they should go with everything.
• A top for every day or two, and layers. Two thin layers cope with a change in the weather better than one heavy jumper.
• One coat, for the worst day.
• Two pairs of shoes: one for walking, one for the evening.
• Dinner from what's already in the bag. One blouse or shirt that dresses up the trousers you're taking anyway.

Tell the stylist where you're going and when. It reads the forecast for there, packs from what's clean, and adds the list to your trip once you tap Apply.
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