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We all love a nice weekend getaway, especially when they involve getting on a plane and going somewhere outside of the UK. The upside of living in England is that we have a whole selection of beautiful cities only a couple of hours away, which means city breaks are easily planned but not always easily packed….Booking the hotel and flight is a pretty simple task, it’s working out what to do with that precious weight allowance that’s the main headache. We’ve put together a selection of pieces that will ensure you arrive at your destination looking super stylish, it just depends on which type of city you’re heading too…
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Naples & Capri
For that Mediterranean appeal of grimy streets filled with smooth talking salesmen contrasting dramatically against the palm tree lined boulevards, Naples offers to whole package. Delicious food and summertime beach clubs, with the obligatory trip to Pompeii as all tourists should, aim for Italian elegance when packing your suitcase. The little idyllic rock of Capri that enticed Roman Emperors and Russian revolutionaries, has become a favourite for many a holidaying celebrity, so with that in mind effortlessly cool style that oozes sophistication is a must. A lightweight blazer should definitely make the cut, along with a nice clean-cut polo shirt and pair of linen trousers or shorts. Now Italy is one place where white jeans are practically part of the national dress code, so if you typically feel a bit weird wearing them in the UK, take them out for a spin in Naples. Cool, calm and sleek is the look to aim for when wandering through the narrow streets lined with designer boutiques and VIPs – you’ll fit in perfectly.
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(look to brands like: Armani Jeans, Sunspel, J Lindeberg, Hudson, Paul & Shark, Swims)
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Istanbul
The only city in the world which straddles two continents bringing both European and Asian delights together in one super cultural city. It’s exotic allure and beautiful sky-line draw in people from all over the world, from backpackers to retirees, you’ll see all styles here. Pack for both a night out and for a trip to one of the iconic landmarks, it’s prudent to keep these separate as you don’t want to cause offence by rocking up with a bit too much skin on show. It gets pretty damn hot out there during the summer months (from a personal experience of Istanbul at the backend of June…) so get some cotton t-shirts in your suitcase to start with, and then start to layer up with a nice cardigan for cooler evenings and some short sleeved shirts for dinner. It’s hot so shorts will be needed but don’t pack anything above mid thigh. This is also another great time to pull out the white jeans, paired with a lightweight checked shirt and loafers for a typical European look.
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(Look to brands like: Penfield, Edwin jeans, Cp Company, Polo Ralph Lauren, Creative Recreation)
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Copenhagen
It’s not just in fashion that the Nordic countries have been rising within, Scandinavian cities are becoming a popular choice for a weekend break. The cool climate and high possibility of rain is probably why this popular Nordic style is described as contemporary yet functional, so think turned up jeans, fishermen’s jackets and stark lightweight knitwear. Copenhagen is a very pedestrian friendly city so with the expectation of trekking around all weekend, pack a good pair of trainers or boots that you know wont rip your feet to shreds. This is where luxury trainers come to mind, so think Y-3 in bright colours and contrasting fabrics. We have quite a selection of brands hailing from the Northern reaches of Europe, so it would be disrespectful to show up without them…
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(Look to brands like: Nudie Jeans, J Lindeberg, YMC, Oliver Spencer, Barbour, Stone Island, Sandqvist)
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New York
A weekend may cutting it a little fine for a trip across the Atlantic, but a good week away in the Big Apple is pleasant enough. New York experiences arctic winters and then sweltering summers, so springtime seems to be the most ‘comfortable’ time of year to make a visit. It may be more comfortable but it’s also fairly changeable, a friend’s out there at the moment and told me it’s been a pleasant 20 degrees but showery, so packing a lightweight jacket is very wise. New York City is one of the fashion capitals of the world so bring your A game, packing a clear variety of styles for all occasions. Afternoons spent visiting the iconic landmarks will be more of a jeans/ shorts (depending on the weather), comfortable trainers and t-shirt type of day. Evenings are for tasting award winning cuisine so a bit of tailoring will be expected, and then seeing in the early hours at the ‘it’ club will require a little more creativity. This is a place where you need to show some personal flair, leave the tourist look back at the hotel and soak up the infamous NYC style.
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(Look to brands like: Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Tiger of Sweden, J Lindeberg, Grenson, Gourmet, BLK DNM, Dsquared)
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