Dancing At Lunacy

It’s the same problem every year – I need a capsule wardrobe to take on holiday that will allow for a number of eventualities, unpredictable weather, be comfortable enough and also smart enough, and that will fit in my suitcase without pushing the weight over allowed limits.

For holidays involving theme parks, I always start with footwear.  Fashionistas will recoil in horror, but experience has taught me that Crocs are the best option.  They are comfortable enough to be on your feet all day without causing blisters, they will survive splashy log flume rides, they are light and squishy enough to fit in your suitcase – I’ve even swum at Discovery Cove with mine hooked over my wrists.

Blue crocs, checked short-sleeved shirt (Craghoppers), denim cropped trousers, lightweight green jumper (Warehouse)

A good alternative are FitFlops.  I’m not convinced that wearing these will give me legs like Cameron Diaz, but they are certainly a practical comfortable option.  They come in a wide variety of styles and colours, and the chunkier sole gives more support than the standard flip-flop.  I always wear Craghoppers trousers to travel in – their zippy security pockets are very well designed, the lightweight ones are easy to wash and dry quickly, and the ones with zip-off bottoms convert to shorts or crops.

Black FitFlops with coral toe-post, black cotton vest, stone lightweight trousers with security pockets and zip-off bottoms (Craghoppers), Mickey sweatshirt, floppy sun-hat.

A pair of wedge sliders in a metallic shade is a good choice for smarter evening wear, and works well with more casual outfits as well.

Bronze wedges, cream top with beaded neckline, black sleeveless shirt, grey crops.

I love my Timberland thongs – the dark brown leather is lovely and soft, but there’s not much protection against inclement weather.  I wasn’t sure about a white linen jacket, but it was very useful indeed – light and summery, didn’t crease too badly, and smartened up any outfit.

Brown leather thongs (Timberland), cream linen crops, green striped short sleeved shirt, white linen jacket

The weather in Paris is unpredictable – it’s best to prepare for all conditions, so that’s a light waterproof jacket, sun cream, and a floppy sunhat to protect against the rays when stuck in a long queue.  I loved my lightweight cardigan in truffle, with shimmery apricot inserts.  A basic colour scheme is useful if outfits are going to mix-and-match, and a light scarf containing the main colours in the capsule wardrobe pulls everything together.

Flat black sandals, tribal print tank, watermelon vest, truffle/ apricot cardi, scarf in apricot with blue/ brown/ cream pattern.

And finally, remember to pack any medication you will need.  Pharmacies are few and far between, and won’t sell many of the items you can buy in a UK chemist, so pack plenty of painkillers, Diocalm and rehydration salts, plasters and tea-bags (well, they’re a medical necessity for me!)

Filed under: clothes, disneyland, travel | Tagged: DLP, holiday wardrobe |