My Travel wardrobe : bumper issue ! What I wore, why it worked & all the tips & tricks!
It’s my travel wardrobe !
Since you’ve been asking here is a run down on what I actually wore on my trip to London, Paris and Provence.
And why it worked. And a few tips and tricks on how to look chic, get dressed quickly and be comfortable doing it.
When it came to packing it was easy to work out outfits.
Why?
Because I have already built a capsule wardrobe: I knew everything would work together. Take me from day to casual evening ( white, beige and brown? Of course!).
It was just a case of working out what exact pieces would work in each place. And thinking about the weather.
The trick ? Only take pieces you LOVE wearing. That you know you always feel good in. Oh and take lots of shoes. (I took 8 pairs and wore 7!)(All flats).
Note:
I DON’T believe in traveling light. I need options! In fact I get very anxious if I don’t have a key favorite piece. Not joking ! Apparently some people like to have a lean mean wardrobe. And I get it. Especially if you are catching trains everywhere. It makes sense. ( No-one wants to lug big suitcases around). We had one train to catch so that determined the luggage. Left a suitcase in London and took 2 x carry on bags to Paris and Provence. And it worked. It was still blazer and trench weather, sometimes a sweater. If you are going where it will be guaranteed to be hot or cold it makes it easier. That inbetween weather means relying on lots of layering.
* I actually packed more than this but this is what I ended up actually wearing.
The FiFi travel wardrobe checklist :
Some pieces are no longer available so I have added links to similar pieces. Most of the pieces here I managed to get into the carryon bag and the Longchamp tote. It’s amazing when you try !
A trench:
What better way to start. My favorite item. I bought this Trench from Zara last year specifically because it was trans seasonal. Light. Waterproof ish. In a chic satiny kind of fabric (so it looked chic enough for dinner but also perfect for day time over a Tee). In a chicest brown. Unlined. Doesn’t really wrinkle. I knew I could wear in a Sydney summer but also in winter over a knit. I knew it would be great for travel. It was the best. Easy to pack it took up no space in my bag though I wore it on plane/train. Because it was not expensive I didn’t care so much if it got wrecked, I wanted to take this DISSH trench but decided it was too big and heavy. Though in Autumn the DISSH trench or this Camilla Marc would be fabulous to take. A trench is a must because it always looks chic. Works over jeans and sneakers but also with chic pants/skirts and flats for evening. (Could even keep you warm and protect you from the rain!) This one is similar . Here and here ( go up two sizes). Obviously not something you need if you are going to Mykonos in summer!
A crop trench:
This is just so handy. When a long trench is too much and a blazer too dressy. I took my favorite Acne crop trench and wore it on my shoulders to go out for dinner or with chinos during the day. Go for camel so it lightens up any black and works over white or cream, with jeans. It’s a trench when you’re not having a trench ! Buy similar here, here and here.
A camel blazer.
If you have been lucky enough to nab this fabulous Arket blazer then you know what I am talking about . Lightweight. Unstructured & oversized , it looks casual but chic. Doesn’t look too dressy. The wool fabric is trans seasonal so it doesn’t really wrinkle. I wore it so often. Over a white tee, on my shoulders on sunny spring days, with cargo pants, with black pleather pants. I have had it 4 years now and it’s been THE Best investment. Never fails me. Buy here or similar here.
White jeans:
Sometimes chicer than blue jeans, but just as versatile. Great for any weather because they work with a T shirt or a chic camel blazer or a knit. White is the best way to freshen up all your neutrals! Loved wearing thesewhite wide leg jeans as they were fabulous with chunky dad sandals and also with sneakers. I scissored off myself and let them fray. The higher waist means you can easily tuck in a tee. Buy here and similar here. BTW I took two pairs of blue jeans but didn’t really wear them. Seemed almost too casual with all my flats?
Camel pants.
I have lots of different pairs of camel pants but decided to take a pair of old Jac Jack camel pants I haver had for years. Why? Lightweight wool. Don’t really wrinkle. Folded up into nothing. Warm enough for London but not too hot in Provence. The straight leg and slouchy shape meant they looked chic enough for evening with net ballet flats but also perfect with sneakers and a knit in the day. Pivotal to your wardrobe because they so versatile. Buy similar here and here.
Cream /cargoes chinos.
I bought Uniqlo cream cotton chinos last year and they have been a winner. Side pockets and high waist with a straight baggy leg. In a cream ( very different from white flare jeans!) they are more polished than jeans but just as casual. Again I wore quite often with a white Tee and camel blazer/trench. Great with both sneakers AND dad sandals. Similar here ( they are the best cut)( got size 10USA) here and here
Leather pants:
I never go anywhere without my black pleather pants. So comfortable. So chic. Don’t need ironing. Don’t ever look dirty. These SABA pleather are the only black anything I took. Wore on the plane ( then changed into these Lululemon leggings in choc brown). They look great with sneakers, fabulous with white loafers and dad sandals. Great with a sweater but chic with a white tee and trench/blazer. For the European spring/Autumn they are perfect. Buy similar here.
Brown cargo pants:
Lived in these lululemon choc brown cargo pants. Comfortable stretchy and elastic waist. Yes, please. They sit high so it was easy to tuck things in and keep “the situation” covered. These were my go to dark pants apart from pleather. The missing link in my ALL brown/beige/white wardrobe. They looked great with trench, blazer and loafers. But sporty spice with sneakers. And the white net ballet flats. because they are cropped they felt different from all the long slouchy pants. Buy here , also have in cream ! Similar here.
Khaki cotton cargo/chinos.
When you want a little bit of “colour” to break up the neutrals then go for Khaki. Bought these chinos a couple of years ago from COS and they are the best. Slouchy straight leg but not too wide. High waist. STRETCHY! Again totally versatile you can change it up depending on your shoes. Dad sandals, loafers, sneakers or Net ballet flats. They worked with a white tee and camel blazer. Similar here , so good….My uniform !
T Shirts:
This scuba white tee from Arket is so great I had to buy another one ! I have one in large and one in medium. Not much difference. It’s BIG and I love it. Love the structure. You put in one and it doesn’t move. Skims over everything. Looks instantly chic. As versatile and casual as a white tee but not clingy. Doesn’t crush.The sleeves are big so not easy to wear under a jacket. Perfect for warmer days. Buy here. BTW very hard to find similar. Nab it!
The other layering white tees I lived in ? My white Frankie Shop shoulder pad Tee. I took x 2 plus also packed white tees from Zara with an extended shoulder x 5. Plus this fabulous Uniqlo beige Tee ( also in white) I wear large or XL. Hint: Pull and stretch the short sleeves so they look looser on the arms.
Knits:
Knits are great for travel. Don’t crush. Look chic. Perfect for the European spring and trans seasonal weather. Love this fabulous sleeveless shoulder pad knit from The Frankie Shop. Decided to grab it as I LOVE and wear the T shirts on repeat. Went for the cream as a chicer version of a T-shirt. It was great going out for dinner. Worked with camel pants and white net ballet flats. It’s also in grey. Seriously thinking about it in choc brown.
Also LIVED in this cotton cashmere knit from Theiconic. Did you manage to grab one? It’s been a winner. Casual as at shirt but warmer. Didn’t really crush. Not too hot. But warm enough on chillier days. The colour is perfect neutral cream. I also loved wearing this cashmere neutral knit from Theiconic. Tossed it on as scarf around my neck and layered it over a white Tee on the plane. Buy here. I bought size 12 in both.
Oh and I don’t go anywhere without my Arket brown sweater. It’s the perfect knit. Worked under the trench and wore it as scarf around my shoulders quite often. Buy here. I have this sweater in white, grey and brown. It’s THAT good.
Shoes:
So you know the FiFi philosophy ? Shoes maketh the outfit. I took 8 pairs of shoes. I wore 7 ! They make or change an outfit. Add edge, change the look, and take it to another level. The ones I took in my carryon and wore on repeat? The white loafers : just perfect for the Paris and London. Chic. Comfortable. Instant wardrobe updaters. Loved wearing these white net ballet flats. ( seeing everywhere now in white on IG). Just the thing when going out for dinner. When you don’t need to walk miles. Need a little polish but not too dressy. Also how can you not live in dad sandals when you are walking 20K steps a day !? The white ones from Tony Bianco did the trick. Cool. Comfortable. Look great with long slouchy pants. And of course neutral/white sneakers. I wore on repeat I knew they were incredibly comfortable. Buy sneakers here.
Bags.
My investment of the Gucci cross body was worth it. It was practical AND chic. Cross body with a zip is imperative when travelling. It has an outside pocket (handy for boarding pass) and it elevated every outfit. It had enough room for a little water bottle, phone and battery plus lipstick , card wallet etc. When that was too city I grabbed my Old Celine choc brown Trio. What a great Travel bag ! There are three pochettes with zips AND it’s cross body. A winner. My other most favorite bag which was PERFECT for travel ? The Arket choc brown slouchy hobo bag. Total winner on every front. Cross body, zip, great colour, and you can fit inna water bottle, umbrella and sunglasses plus makeup and MORE. Looks fab with summery whites and neutrals but totally right with wintery blacks and browns now I am home.
Other accessories ? I loved wearing my new Valentino reversible belt . Added a little joosh to any casual outfit. And of course I took these sunglasses plus bought these from Arket. So good !
Luggage: I took this fabulous suitcase which expands and this clever matching carry 0n ( which has a sneaky front zip compartment so you can easily whip out your iPad at security; so good). Both have 4 wheels so it makes it easy to push around. Plus a lifetime guarantee. Also took this Longchamp bag ( it’s extendable so you can check it in when you buy big French market baskets like I did!) but this Longchamp is the BEST one for travel.
Packing tips:
* I pack things flat , stuff underwear into shoes and little things like T shirts in the holes around the shoes and in the corners.
* Get miniature travel cosmetics and only take shoes that you have worn and know are comfortable.
* Wear the heavy pieces onto the plane :I wore my Saba pleather pants, a tee shirt, a trench and a knit around shoulders with sneakers.
* Use packing cubes: good for organising bits and pieces and separating clean from dirty.
* Take a few extra plastic bags for cosmetics and other things.
* Don’t take a white cotton shirt. Needs too much ironing. Never looks good. Big sweaters that are too bully to pack.
* skirts are good. I took this fabulous Uniqlo skirt and this COS skirt but it wasn’t really hot enough. Easier to toss on than pants. But for a summer holiday they are essential . I find skirts easier than dresses. More versatile as you can mix and match. But also more flattering because a skirt with a Tee tucked in creates shape and a waist. This is good. BTW go for an A Line skirt as they look best with dad sandals and any flats
* Love the white Passport case ( you can see easily in a black bag) and this zip pouch for phone chargers.
* Stick to one colour as the theme so everything goes together. I chose browns and neutrals with white. Surprise ! Add white shoes. It works. You look best for your age. Chic. Modern. You can get dressed in 5 minutes flat with your eyes closed. And that , my friends, is the FiFi philosophy !
Hope that helps , you will get jet lag just from taking the time to read this !
Have a great weekend and happy travels x
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