Don’t we all love a city-break weekend? Thanks to cheap flights, most of us have become accustomed to zooming off to a European city for a few days of museums, café-culture and fine dining.
As a former travel editor as well as a former fashion editor, Jan has lots of expertise to share to ensure you look perfect in Prague, brilliant in Barcelona and amazing in Avignon….
“Dressing for a city-break weekend is about maximum impact for minimum packing. It is also about the need to combine fabulous fashion with practicality,” says Jan.
There are two key elements in achieving both objectives (minimum packing and combining fashion with practicality). One is about footwear and the other is about building a small capsule wardrobe around one or two key pieces.
When it comes to footwear, it is worth remembering that vast areas of many European cities have cobblestones, so you may need to take “sensible” shoes. We know that you probably realise this is the case for daytime trudging around the Old Town, but it is probably also the case for night-time and dinner or drinks out, when stumbling over the cobbles in high heels (or even mid-height heels) is suicidal as well as inelegant.
Start with footwear and work your look from there. Happily, all this season’s hottest shoes are comfortable and great for walking in…
To compensate for “sensible” shoes in the evening, pack plenty of statement jewellery and make-up. It is also worth getting a great haircut that will be easy to manage when spending a lot of time in the elements. And don’t forget to pack sunscreen as you will be spending your days out of doors.
If you build outfits around one or 2 key pieces, all your accessories will work with everything – so, there’s a lot less to pack. Also, accessories will be easier.
For daytime, an oversized tote will allow you to stash all your essentials (maps, sunglasses, sun-screen, umbrella, etc) without having to carry lots of plastic bags making you resemble a bag-lady. For evenings, leave the tote in your hotel room and grab a clutch or a small cross-body bag on (for optimum hotness) a gold chain.
If you are looking for a tote that works with lots, tan and taupe are brilliant neutrals, while a statement tote in a paintbox bright or a print can also work with many clothing combos… Some of the cleverest bags we know are the gorgeous shoppers from Ted Baker which are two bags in one…
For S/S16, be both fashion-forward and city-smart in wide-leg trousers, culottes or joggers. If you choose a pair in a plain, dark shade, such as black or navy, you could then add a series of stylish tops and tees which will be versatile enough to take you on a city tour and out for cocktails and dinner.
Alternatively, choose printed trousers (ideally in a dark print) and pick up on the colours in the print for tops and tees.
If you are going to a city where the temperature is cool (or it could suddenly turn cool) the other key buy is a really great jacket or coat. Ideally, it should be one that you truly love since you will be outdoors most of the time and could, in theory, be wearing your coat or jacket from breakfast till bed-time. A parka, a trench or a statement coat in heavyweight cotton, like the ones below by House of Holland and River Island, could be your friend here as a longer cover-up will be easier to wear over many different outfits without you having to worry about it matching top halves, and whether the shape works with different trouser cuts.…
Are you going away on a city-break weekend?
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