I am so excited to share that on Thursday, I will be hopping a plane to jolly ol’ England to be in-country for a moment that the U.K. may not have for decades – the royal wedding! My trip won’t be super traditional, as I will be first heading to Manchester (a new route is launching from BOS – MAN on Virgin Atlantic starting May 23rd), then Liverpool, and finally London. So, of course, with only two days to go, I am still trying to solve one of life’s most persistent questions: what do I pack?! I decided to take a play out of Meghan Markle’s book and stick to the classics, meaning clean lines, versatile pieces, and a wardrobe that is ready for anything. Sounds perfect for the U.K. this time of year, no?
Below, I’ve included some of the staples listed above – and some other options at more approachable price points. If I had a royal budget, you better believe I’d be pulling everything from the collage above, but alas, I’m a mere commoner. But, fear not – the alternatives below will have bystanders doing double takes to determine whether your look was a splurge or a steal!
The Right Outerwear
Jackets are probably my most popular item in my closet as well as in my suitcase. You can never have too many! (Unless, of course, you’re over the luggage weight limit…) If you had to go with a few, my recommendations would be a classic blazer that looks good over almost all of your tops, a suede jacket that can transition from day-to-night with ease, and also, not listed above, the oh-so-crucial rain coat. The Veronica Beard blazers (this is the one I have) boast some stretch, which make them perfect for packing and running around town, but a more affordable version can be found here. And while this Silvie Schimmel suede biker jacket will cost you a pretty penny, the Blank NYC version looks nearly identical.
Chic Denim
Denim does not – and should not – be boring. I recently picked up a denim dress that can be dressed up or dressed down with a change of a heel and bag, and couldn’t be more happy with how versatile of a piece it is. Mine is a belted version from J.Crew (found here), and the best part – I can also wear it as a jacket as the weather cools down at night! The fun with denim doesn’t have to stop there – with so many trends exploring ways to dress your denim up, don’t be afraid to experiment with length, color, and patterns. I recently picked up a Stretch Flood Jean (in Fiji Stripe) from Reformation, and you have to peel these things off of me because I wear them so much!
Statement Accessories
Probably one of my favorite ways to spruce up an outfit while traveling is to pack eye-catching footwear. These metallic sneakers from Tod’s (I have them in white) are a perfect way to make any outfit pop. If you’re more of the pump persuasion, try a mule, which is a bit comfier for romping around town. I’m personally obsessed with the ones from y/project above – and they happen to be on sale! In the mood for something a bit more budget friendly? These may do the trick. In that same vein, a statement handbag is a must. The Marni shoulder bag above (and this faux fur version) is giving me all the heart-eye emoji feels, but this, this, and this are super cute too! I’m also a huge fan of a good statement sunny. I just picked these Fendi frames up from Solstice Sunglasses, and I swear I’ve gotten more compliments on those in the last three weeks than all of my other compliments combined. I highly recommend checking out their sale items, they usually have an amazing selection!
Last but not least, Light Layers
U.K. in the Spring is a fickle maiden and it’s always good to be prepared with the appropriate layers. I’ll be packing a not-so-standard floral from rag + bone, some short sleeve sweaters, which are a serious travel game-changer, and handful of camisoles for layering underneath my jacket selection. As always, you can catch me at any given time traveling with a handful of vintage tees, which are a part of my nearly daily uniform. If you don’t feel like digging through racks and racks of tees, Urban Outfitters has a pretty stacked graphic tee section worth checking out.
So, as you can see, this is not your standard tea with the queen packing list, but I’m not really one for floor length florals (unless with sneakers) or flouncy blouses. Besides, who wants to deal with steaming all of their clothes when they get to the hotel anyway? Stay tuned for my travels in England coming up later this week – I can’t wait to share everything with you!!
Venture travelist 