Last week we popped off for a short holiday to Melbourne… and since I know how much we all just LOVE to see what other women choose to pack for a holiday away … or is that just me? Well I like to have a good old squiz at the capsule wardrobes other ladies put together for going away, but that’s because I am an incurably nosy busybody, hehehe. But just in case others secretly like it too, I am sharing.
Plus, for myself for future holidays, I like to know too how successful was a particular selection and how well it all worked together. So:
Time away:
5 days
Where to:
Melbourne
Season:
the first days of spring. Going by previous sojourns in Melbourne at this time of year I anticipated pretty cold conditions and was not let down, but we were pleasantly surprised by a few almost warm afternoons… The mornings were very brisk and the daytime highs ranged from 16C to 21C
Expected activities:
lots of city walking, art galleries and shopping
wining and dining each night
Colour scheme:Mostly muddy neutrals of charcoal grey, chocolate brown and khaki; with ivory, and just one spot of colour in my mustard cowl.
What I packed: (each garment is linked to its original construction post)
Ivory twist top; doesn’t impress laid out flat like this but I assure you it looks real nice on 🙂
Charcoal grey coat; worn every evening and most days
Mustard cable-knit cowl
Charcoal grey twist top; again, not so good off , but looks great on
Black tights
Black high heeled suede pumps; worn each evening
Charcoal grey top with obi belt
Chocolate brown cardigan (below; I forgot to put this in the main picture, woops)
Not shown, but obviously I also packed the pj’s and my bathers. I always take my bathers on each and every trip away, they don’t take up much room and you just never know! As it turned out, the hotel had a sauna and a spa so taking them was a good decision 🙂
Verdict:
This was a near perfect cold-weather wardrobe for a short city getaway: I had plenty of choices, everything went together really well, and I felt appropriately smart and urban enough for Melbourne 🙂
The shorter sleeved charcoal top with a self obi belt I packed just in case of a warm day, but the weather was never warm enough for this top and it didn’t get worn even once! Everything else got worn on at least two days each; I mixed and matched the two tops with both the little chocolate skirt and the khaki jeans, sometimes with either my grey coat or chocolate cardigan; and the mustard cowl on the one really cold day. I wore the boots each and every day; and I confess here my feet did get a bit tired of wearing the boots! but they were comfy and practical and they went with everything.
I wore my ivory dress and the mustard cowl in the evenings out to dinner, with black tights and the high heeled black suede pumps.
Now onto the most important question uppermost on everyone’s mind; yes! I did pay a visit to each of my favourite Melbournian fabric stores, and yes, fabric has travelled home with me … plus this!
The Japanese version of drape drape by Hisako Sato was half price at Tessuti’s, how could I possibly resist? It is a birthday present from my son, which I was to choose whilst I was over there 😉 Yes we are very practical gift-givers in my family…
I was pretty thrilled when a lady working in Tessuti’s recognised me and greeted me by name, and complimented my blog: thank you for serving me just into your lunch break, and also for your kind words!
Also Kazz was more sharp-eyed than I, and spotted me around and about too… Kazz makes fabulous things showcased on her gorgeously detailed blog … hi, Kazz! It would have been nice to hang out!
Wonderful! I love travel wardrobe posts. I am really bad at travel packing, so I need lots of good examples!
Thanks for sharing – I find these kind of posts really interesting. Interesting to see what you take and what colours you put together.
Very organised, I'm not good at travel wardrobes either. As I backpacked for so long, many times, when I go on a short trip with a rolling suitcase I always take just in case stuff! (especially to Melbourne!) But I always take togs with me – I was running around Paris in winter on a one year long backpacker trip and not only was it near impossible but incredibly expensive (especially for a backpacker!) lesson learned early!
I love travel wardrobes too, as I feel that that is the sort of thing I should have in may day to day wardrobe to make life easy. I have lots of orphins which can be pretty frustrating at times. I love the jacket you made and am looking forward to getting the pattern for it Cassie looks lovely in it. I like the sound of the lime curd too and will give that a go when I run out of lemons, I think that lime as a colour is very in this summer, so maybe it would be very trendy as a filling in a cake for bookclub.
What a great idea to post a holiday wardrobe. I think I'm going to try that! Looks like you had it well covered.
That looks like a perfectly coordinated capsule wardrobe! I love that mustard-colored cowl.
Oh, it is fun to be nosy and look into someone else's suitcase! Sounds like a lovely break, and how fun to be noticed at Sew Tessuti's. That's a fabric store I'd like to visit someday. Of course, my husband would be floored if we made it to Australia one day, and found out a fabric store was top of my bucket list!
That's so organised. I love your grey jacket. I'm glad you had a good time and got to visit your fav fabric shops.
I must be incurably nosy because I love seeing travel wardrobes;) – even better with a usefulness report!Yours looks particularly stylish, like a fabulous shop window display, yet practical. How fun to be famous at Tessuti's.
Thanks for giving us a peek at your travel wardrobe – yours looks so nicely coordinated and "put together"… and I'm not at all surprised to hear these garments worked well OR that you were recognised!
I adore your travel capsule.
Would love to see how the ivory velvet dress looks on. It seems like it would be a really gorgeous and versatile item.
I like travel wardrobe posts also. It's a learning to pack efficiently exercise. I am in love with your knitted sweater, and am currently re-teaching myself to knit.
Great minds think alike, yes? I love your travel wardrobe, so interesting and unusual while being practical at the same time. Love that kimono with the obi belt (that you didn't get to wear). I'm about to leave for 3 weeks in Sicily, so I'm particularly interested in your post (who am I fooling, I ALWAYS like travel wardrobe plans!); as KBenco said, it must be that I'm also incurably nosy…
I thought I was a minimalist packer, but your wardrobe is impressive! ONE pair of pants and ONE skirt? Well done!
I love these travel wardrobe posts – maybe because I've done so little traveling in the past few years, so I can pretend & remember & dream a bit?
Would have loved to shake hands with you too; cuppa would have even better – well maybe next time (or even flower hunting over at your turf)
We'll manage – eventually.
Were you actually talking about the week with the heavy storms over here (3. – 8. Sept.) ? If yes: seems to help to be on the skinny side to avoid to get caught by the wind, hey? Or did you add some weights into your boots? (despite the possibility, it might have left the boots on the ground yet lifted you out of them due to the storms over here 😉 !)
Love,
Gerlinde
Your holiday colour scheme looks perfect for Melbourne!
Another nosy one that loves travel wardrobes and it is lovely to see yours. The mix of colours is very intersting. I'm trying to work out my travel wardrobe for 7 days, 80 sewers attending and cool weather and I really don't think mine will be as compact as yours.
Hi Carolyn * waves* thanks for the shout-out that's what I should of done, shouted out C A R O L Y N hehe Ah well.
I think you packed the perfect wardrobe for Melbourne. Next time you visit definitely let me know maybe we can do your favourite fabric shops together that would be super fun.
Have a lovely lovely week.
Your very welcome! Nice to finally meet bloggers when they come into the shop. Sorry didn't have more time to talk. Hope you had a nice stay in Melbourne – oh my favourite dress in that book, which I've made for my daughter, is Dress No. 3 Gather Drape dress – the quickest dress to make. Enjoy!
Lovely wardrobe choices. Must keep your color scheme in mind when I travel next month!