Time away:
21 days
Where to:
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Norway, Iceland
Season:
Early summer. However I was keeping a close eye on the weather over there and soon realised that an early summer in Scandinavia is like early winter in Western Australia. So I packed accordingly. The daily temperatures were from lows as low as 7C up to about highs of 19C, and one delightful afternoon in Oslo when I met with the lovely Sølvi was warm enough to leave off the tights!
Expected activities:
Lots of city as well as country walking, one formal dinner, one hot spring and plenty of cold weather outdoorsy stuff, including hiking, horseback riding and zooming about in an open dinghy on a wind-whipped, iceberg laden, glacial lake. Fortunately, for that last activity everyone was provided with an ultra-thickly padded flotation suit, Michelin man like. Without which we would have fair dinkum all been icicles. Incidentally; no picture, sadly, but I can assure you a dinghy load of tourists all dressed identically as huge, puffy, red marshmallow men is a pretty darn hilarious sight.
Colour scheme:
Mostly strong, bright colours, tempered with ivory and only a little black
What I packed:
(each garment is linked to its original construction post)
2 jackets: faux leather jacket (smart) and lightweight blue raincoat
2 jeans: black corduroy and ivory denim
2 scarves: ivory wool (smart) and raspberry jersey
6 tops: ivory Pattern Magic twist top (smart)
striped Tshirt, purple Tshirt
dark orange bodysuit, olive green bodysuit
royal blue short-sleeved hoodie
3 skirts: navy corduroy A-line, green corduroy, sludge-coloured denim
1 jumper: pink/green/ivory striped
1 dress; floral jersey, with beige satin petticoat to wear under
5 pairs tights/leggings: 2 prs black woollen, navy blue tights, paprika tights, olive cotton leggings,
neon green knitted hand-warmers
white bathers
6 pairs wool socks
3 shoes: black suede pumps, black leather booties, hiking shoes, plus red thongs,
chocolate leather handbag
not pictured; underwear, nightie, toiletries bag, umbrella
My daily outfits:
Thoughts:
Well I was adequately warm and comfortable, and had suitable outfits always so in that respect it was a very successful little selection! I got pretty bored with everything I’d chosen by the end of the trip but that’s par for the course 🙂
I know it looks like rather a lot of clothes pictured up there but for three weeks it kinda wasn’t. The weather was cold so lots of items were worn layered together, frequently. The variety of tops: long-sleeved, short and elbow length; fitted and loose, worked out to be absolutely terrific for layering.
The surprise “fabulous” item was the royal blue Pattern Magic hoodie; which seemed like the perfect thing to go with almost everything else! I wanted to wear it twice as often and several times had to restrain myself from throwing it on over yet another day’s ensemble. No joke, I need to make myself another one of those things!
I also really LOVE my floral dress. It just makes me feel really good when it’s on, I think it’s instantly flattering, it’s smart enough to wear out to dinner as well as during the day and yet is still that traveller’s godsend, non-crushable.
I tried to mix and match things up every day, and aimed to wear everything at least three times each. Because of the timing of our itinerary there was scant opportunity for washing clothes apart from the obligatory undies-in-the-shower-every-morning that I stick to religiously while travelling, no matter what. It’s always best to keep on top of that at the very least, I reckon! Also I washed my ivory Pattern Magic twist top and “saved” my white denim jeans for the trip home. Might sound funny, but for us it’s always such a long long trip to come home, from everywhere! so I always aim to keep something nice and clean for the trip home.
Shoes. Hmmm. In my opinion the trickiest thing in packing. Aaaaargh! So hard to narrow it down and always the most annoying and bulkiest things to pack! I had forgotten about the cobble-stone situation that is endemic to Europe so I kicked myself a bit for not bringing my desert boots. In retrospect they would have been fantastic in the city streets. But since my suitcase was bulging with new purchases by the end of the trip perhaps it was a good thing to have restricted myself there, spacewise. I took my black suede pumps because they can be worn both with or without tights. The tights-less occasions numbered exactly two! I guess I was overly optimistic about the prospect of warm weather, there 🙂 My ankle boots were brilliant. Hiking shoes are just a given. I wore my thongs just once! but I never feel like they are a waste of space since they really don’t take up any room in the suitcase. And you just never know if they might come in handy. That could just be the Aussie in me talking though 🙂
And yes, I met Sølvi! or define elise as she is known in me-made May.
I enjoyed a totally delightful few hours chatting with Sølvi; sipping champagne in the sunshine sitting alongside Oslo’s beautiful new Operahuset (opera house) and discussing important world issues such as sewing, fabric shopping, blogging and me-made May-ing. Just a thoroughly gorgeous afternoon. And we were so caught up in happy sewing chatter that we forgot about the obligatory commemorative selfie!
Thank you so much for coming out to meet with me Sølvi! 🙂
Beautiful items:)
Such an interesting post. This is such a well planned and thought out group of outfits. You had every contingency covered and managed to look stylish and well dressed every day. I always find packing to be a very difficult task and end up taking way too much (just in case). I need to follow your lead in the future. Thanks for sharing your great ideas.
I find you amazing and inspirational Carolyn! Really…………. a 21-day colorful me-made Scandinavian wardrobe which looks like it comfortably fit into one suitcase. Your clothes are not just lovely, but reflect comfort and thoughtful style as well. This post was a perfect start to my day!
I love your travel wardrobes. Thank you for laying it all out! You look terrific in all the photos, well dressed and the right temperature, and it sounds like a marvellous trip. I am very impressed by how you have managed to co-ordinate such a range of beautiful colours.
I was curious to know why you were not on your post for weeks. It is very nice that you had such a long and nice trip. It would be also very nice if you were with whole your family, as you are in Australia and Europe is long distant trip. Lucky you, It seems to me that I (from Serbia little country on Balkan peninsula) will not have a privilege to visit your huge, beautiful country, specially bush and savana. If you ever decide to come again to Europe, please put in your agenda South-east of Europe, especially Serbia to see our capital Belgrade, all beauties, history, culture, food, hospitality and of course fashion ideas. You are always so inspiring with your posts about relatively common thing – wardrobe. Thank you for shearing with us all you sewing secrets and ideas. I like bright colors of your trip wardrobe. Al the best and until next visit of your new post.
Maja
thank you so much for that lovely comment Maja 🙂
I am not a good packer. I think its amazing you packed those few items for a 21 day trip! They looked lovely in your photos. Good job! Sounds like a great trip!
What a wonderful holiday, with some terrific activities. I love your wardrobe – I also struggle with shoes when travelling, and I agree about the cobblestones – high heels and cobblestones are not a match made in heaven! Thank you for sharing.
I always enjoy your travel wardrobe reflections with your thought process, as well as your beautiful clothes!, included. What a wonderful vacation!!!
I find these packing stories fascinating.
Have you seen the Eagle Creek packing videos? http://www.eaglecreek.com/travel-tips-packing-lists Watch the 10 days in a carry on video (2nd one).
thanks for the link BMGM, I went and had a look at it. It's definitely a fabulous idea to tightly pack everything into smaller stackable packages like that, I can see they would be a lot easier to fit together in a case, that's really efficient use of space there. We women love having our extra shoes though. I find no matter where or for how long I go away, it's nearly impossible to make do with less than 4, or maybe three pairs of shoes! aagh!
What a great trip! You are the queen of packing light:) And I agree, shoes are the worst things to pack.
I have serious travel envy. I so want to go to Scandinavia. Thing is, I live in the cold too often. When I get to travel, I need to choose somewhere with heat. Otherwise I'd never experience it 🙂 But when I have more time (and more disposable income) I will travel more and this will be a semi-regular destination.
What a great trip-and look at the cute ponies!! Thanks for sharing your travel wardrobe as I am always on the lookout for this info.
There I see You were in Bergen !I would have thought I know You from somewhere !
Yes, Ate, I was in Bergen! You have a good eye to spot that! Bergen is lovely 🙂
I just can't get enough of your blog. I love seeing the garments that you make, but I also enjoy the outfit combinations you wear. So inspirational.
Lovely travel wardrobe. Sounds like a great trip. I loved the Scandinavian countries I have visited. Looks like you were a well dressed visitor.
I'm so glad you had a lovely trip. The scenery must have been absolutely glorious! Did you buy any fabric?
thank you Anne, and yes, I did 😉 I just could not resist!
I wondered what was keeping you busy – great selection of clothes, they look great against the landscape.
Yay, new post! I was curious to see what you had been up to. Glad to hear you had a nice time, looking great, as always!
I love this post, especially to see the inside of your suitcase. I did a similar post for a trip to France! I have to wash while I am on holiday even if it means taking most of it to a launderette, or once a real Chinese laundry!
Love seeing your travel wardrobe and how you layer your outfits, they always look so appropriate for the weather and activity.
I always so enjoy your travel wardrobe posts (I am pleased to report that at long last I am getting better at packing myself, finally realising that I do not need to take everything I own!!). I looked up the navy blue skirt and wish I'd bought the pattern now as the shape is so cute, and also clicked on the hoodie. I don't think I've ever seen a hoodie with short sleeves in the UK and certainly not one made in that unique way. I'm not surprised you had to resist wearing it daily! All in all I think this was a lovely bright capsule with plenty of different colours to mix in and kept it interesting. I'm glad you had a lovely trip and thank you for posting about it.
Thank you for this wonderful post…what a nice way to start my day!!! Beautiful pictures…especially love the one with the horses!!!
i love your travel wardrobe posts! you are so organized. jealous of your trip, it sounds amazing!
This is a very well organized capsule for such a long trip. Great ideas to take away.
I have to say…that I feel envy ha, ha,ha!!! I want to travel, to all that awesome countries! Love your outfits! A very clever way, to make the suitcase.
I'm so jealous, too. Getting to visit all those beautiful countries. And what a great travel wardrobe; you have really built yourself an amazing wardrobe.
What a great travel wardrobe. I will definitely be taking notes on mixing and matching- I tend to sew so many orphans! It sounds like it was an amazing trip!
I just love watching your "suitcase" I´m the worst at preparing them, so I find this very inspirational!
I could live in a cottage (mökki) by the lake in Finland (in Summer!) I loved your travel wardrobe – thanks for sharing. I am going on a cruise in October… can you come and help me with my travel wardrobe!
I love your travel wardrobe posts—thanks for sharing your planning and your thoughts on how it all worked.
Oh – I had such a wonderful time too, Carolyn, I couldn´t believe my luck to get a visitor from so far away! Looks like the fabric shopping went well, and that the rest of the trip was a success as well. I really enjoyed meeting you, and get to chat with you! 🙂