Your chic capsule travel wardrobe? Starts here! #jetsetstyle
Jetting off on a European summer holiday?
You need to plan your travel wardrobe.
The trick ?
Colours that go together = versatile. Colours that love each ( not like your family after 24 hours flight haha).
Colors that looks expensive but don’t have to be. That means what I call “expensive” colors like Black, white, neutrals, brown, grey and metallics. A soupçon of blue and lots of denim.
The aim: look chic, effortless and have lots of different outfits.
Don’t worry it’s easy.
There will be no breathing into a paper bag in the Hotel George V as everyone waits for you to get dressed.
Why?
Because you will take photos before you leave of all your outfits so you can cleverly refer to your secret look book before you head out . That means you can nonchalantly throw on your outfit in 5 minutes flat. And everyone is happy.
My best advice: only pack things you LOVE wearing. Never pack pieces you think you might wear. Because you won’t.
Your summer holiday checklist.
Scroll down to read why you want the key pieces and how to wear them.
And my picks from luxe to less: you’re welcome!
White tee:
You want a white tee. Buy several. Loose ( not clingy). May be oversized. Might have shoulder pads or defined shoulder. Wear on its own. Or as a layering piece. Wear it under a shoestring dress. Under a knit with the hem of the Tee hanging out if it’s chilly. Under a chic blazer or trench. This sleeveless polo neck knit is the best: talk about transeasonal. Perfect for Travel. I bought white. Thinking about the grey.
Jeans:
High waist. Straight leg or wide leg. Stretchy. Comfortable. Cropped and frayed ( looks summery) Or long, baggy or flared. Take your pick. Go for a light blue wash denim ( looks fresh for summer and loves a white blazer!). You NEED white jeans too. SHOP all jeans here.
Trenchcoat:
Long. Beige. slouchy. Summer weight. Toss it over everything from white tee and jeans to a chic dress with heels. Wear on the plane. Wear it like a blazer. it doesn’t need to be raining to wear a trench. Love a crop trench too.
SHOP Trench-coats here
Camel blazer:
Slouchy. Means it’s comfortable. lightweight. Looks casual. This is NOT your suit blazer. It’s more like a cardigan. Pivotal. Camel will look summery. Lighten everything up ! Loves black, loves white, loves denim. Over a white tee, sweater with jeans, with a dress. SHOP my favorite ever (lived in it, traveled in it ) blazer here. If it’s sold put then this is fabulous too.
Stripe Tee:
The only print you need. Ha! Slouchy cut. Round neck. Black and white is good. Navy can look at bit jaunty (with white jeans). (Unless you’re on a yacht in the med. lucky you). Long sleeve is handy and looks chicer than short sleeve: Wear with beige chinos, with blue jeans and denim skirts. Love this one with shoulder pads .SHOP here
Stripe sweater:
Perfect for summer evenings. Or a London summer. Lols. Cotton is cool. Slouchy cut. Wear with everything ! It works as a scarf just tossed nonchalantly around your shoulders or blazer. SHOP here and I have this one and I love it here
Cotton Chinos:
Go for beige. Cotton. High waist. Wide leg. Peg leg is handy too. (With a rolled hem). Because they’re not jeans or black pants but just as versatile. Wear for day with birks/sneakers and a cutaway tank. For evening with a sequin tank and glittery/silver sandals. They might be cargoes. These are really good here.
Dress pants :
I’d go for a modern slouchy shape. High waist. They might wide or just long and straight like these. Versatile with a capital V. You can wear with heels, birks or sneakers. Go for camel but black is handy too. Shop here
Blue shirt:
This is a nifty way to add colour ( the only bit!) and print without it over taking. Wear under a camel blazer with jeans. Wear undone like a shacket over white tank with chinos. Wear it under a knit so it pokes out the bottom. It should be long enough to do that. And slouchy. So it looks casual not corporate. SHOP here ( crop is good)
White shirt:
It’s really the same as the blue shirt. But more dramatic. Wear the same way. This is a good one. Probably doesn’t need ironing. YASSS. It’s chic. Perfect for smart casual dinner. Wear tucked in or out. Under blazer. SHOP here.
White tank:
This is one of those handy layering pieces. Wear it under a white or blue shirt, under a blazer. Under a knit. When it’s hot on its own with high waist A line skirts and baggy pants. White next to the face takes 10 years off. This is good. Go for a high fifi approved neckline, with a rib which is not as clingy. Cutaway shoulder is flattering. Get in black too. Love this one here
Long casual dress:
You want it long. Black, white, Beige, Khaki. Fit n flare ( most flattering), cutaway or shoulders that make a statement. A sleeveless dress looks more modern or go for a cape or big sleeve ( tight 3/4 sleeve is not good)( I should know!). This is the perfect dress ! Get it in every colour. Or this ! Wear with white sneakers, block heels sandals, Dad sandals. A linen one shoulder with flats is perfect if you’re going out at night Love this one at COS
A line skirt :
When it’s hot. When you don’t want to wear a dress. Pants too hot. Invest in an A line skirt. Fit and flare shape. In black. In camel. In cotton. in denim. Wear with a white tank. A puff sleeve top. Sightseeing with sneakers or birks. At night with a silver block heel. Buy here here and here
A statement white top:
This is a statement top. It’s a white Tee on steroids. To wear on its own. Not a layering piece. ( try getting those sleeves under a blazer!). Go for major sleeves. Shoulder pads. Structure so it doesn’t cling. Looks chic. This is a good one.
A waistcoat:
It’s your blazer but without sleeves! Which means that gives good structure, looks polished and chic but it’s cool in hot weather. Show your arms. If not toss it over a white tee. Looks fabulous with matching linen pants. As a set. Best in white or black or delicious brown. SHOP here and here
Pretty evening top.
Table top dressing 101. Attention on top of body. Handy to toss on when you are off to a good restaurant, Theatre or a drink. Go for a sequin top or pretty details. It’s something to wear with chinos and black pants. SHOP here
Accessories:
Shoes maketh the outfit ! Shoes are everything. They change the look more than any other accessory. And you need comfort as you are doing lots of walking. You need white/ multi sneakers and white /tan Birkenstocks. Chunky dad sandals, ballets flats in white, tan or silver. A block heel sandal in tan or silver or gold is handy for going out but you can still walk on cobble stones. And of course a white or silver loafer works with just about everything. See below.
Bags:
Travel demands a small cross body bag, (with a zip!) chic like longchamp, or baggu do fabulous cheap chic nylon pouch bags! Love a chic hobo cross body, wear it all day bag. I have this in choc brown suede for travel. You need for the plane a big ‘shove everything in’ tote. This is great. I recommended this affordable one and everyone gives it the thumbs up.
BTW July do the best bags and suitcases. Throw in a bucket hat and fabulous sunglasses.
All my picks in the slideshow below.
Hope that helps !
Let me know if you have any questions , safe travels!
PS I am so exhausted writing this , I need a holiday Haha.
Now get packing..click on the links below.
More on the LTK, SHOP and pinterest pages.
