Oh, to be in Paris in Autumn! Or Vienna, or Barcelona, or Rome… (even New York is possible for a weekend for us Brits).
If you’re planning a weekend trip this autumn, then I have a few fashion travel tips I’d like to share with you – advice on how to pack and what to wear, plus the outfit I’d wear on my dream trip to one of those wonderful cities!
If I were lucky enough to be thinking of taking an impromptu trip to Paris this weekend, I’d first be seeing what was available from a weekend breaks provider like www.superbreak.com before planning what to take. Weekend breaks are often arranged at the last minute, so good organisation is essential.
My top two fashion tips for a weekend break?
- Layer, layer, layer
- Choose versatile items: for example, a dress that can be worn in the evening with heels, or over jeans with flats during the day for sightseeing
Many European cities are quite cool and can be wet during the autumn, so a trench coat was essential. I decided on a bright colour palette of fuchsia, tobacco and purple, with a touch of black and leopard thrown in. This is a great travelling or sightseeing outfit, and would work with all the extra items I’ve chosen below. More packing and fashion tips to follow…
For an autumn weekend break, being organised and prepared in plenty of time will take a lot of pressure off you on the day of departure and help you enjoy your break more! For stress-free packing, I can recommend the following:
- Decide on a colour palette and choose all your clothes and accessories in those colours to create the maximum number of different outfits
- Lay out all the clothes you’re planning to take in plenty of time before you go. Then be ruthless – cut them by half (you’re only going for a weekend)
- A really long, oversized scarf or wrap will keep you warm whilst travelling, can be rolled up and used as a pillow, or worn as a cover up over a dress in the evening
- A selection of zip lock bags are invaluable – they can be used for protecting jewellery, holding hairpins and bands and containing any toiletries with the potential to leak
- A see-through plastic bag is useful for keeping dirty clothes separate
With how to pack and getting yourself organised done, it’s time to choose what exactly to take! All the items below would make up the essentials I’d need and coordinate with what I’m wearing in my outfit picture… read my tips on what to take and why below:
- A fold up wash bag that hangs is useful for hotel bathrooms (hanging wash bag: Sephora)
- A large make up bag will also hold jewellery (in a zip lock bag) safely (make up/wash bag: Selfridges)
- An iPad or tablet will provide you with games, books and a notemaker all in one device (iPad mini case: Nordstrom)
- A small case with a handle and wheels is easier to transport than a large weekend bag without (suitcase: River Island)
- Choose heels that will work with your trousers and dress (heels: Asos)
- Always have a pair of flats for comfort – ballet flats are perfect (flats: Shoebuy)
- A smart clutch for the evening will double up as a cross body bag for your money, passport and phone when travelling and is safer than a tote bag (clutch: Zappos)
- Buy travel sized versions of your favourite beauty products and store them in your wash bag so it’s always ready when you need it (traveller wash kit: Molton Brown)
- A chiffon dress for an evening out takes up little space and won’t crease – choose one that can also be layered over jeans for a daytime look (dress: Asos)
Lastly, here are some random travel tips you may or may not have heard… I’m a frequent weekend-away traveller and these are the things I’ve learnt over the years:
- Whatever time you’ve worked out you need to be at the station or airport, aim for one hour before that. Better to be an hour early and relaxed than an hour late and stressed due to a last minute panic or traffic hold ups
- Paying for breakfast at the hotel may be more expensive, but having set breakfast hours forces you to get up early and make the most of the day
- Don’t worry about an umbrella – if it does rain, borrow one from your hotel or buy one while you’re out there
- Make up a “fake wallet” containing old, unusable credit cards, some old receipts, a few coins and a couple of low value bank notes. Keep this somewhere quickly accessible in the unlucky event that someone decides to mug you (fingers crossed it will never have to be used). Best advice: throw it and run in the opposite direction
- Most hotels will hold your luggage if you have to check out a while before you travel – saves you pulling your case around while you get in some last-minute sightseeing
I hope you find some of these tips useful – and if you have any other good travel tips to share do let me know in the comments. Are you planning a weekend trip away this autumn anywhere? I’d love to know where!
I have not been compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. This is an entry for the superbreaks.com travel competition to win a weekend break in Paris.