We are off to Hong Kong soon, and like all of my recent holidays, I decided to pack a Travel Capsule Wardrobe for the trip. Last time, we went in the peak of summer (you can check out that wardrobe here), making it relatively easy to pack (hot, hot and hotter!). This time, it was a lot harder to plan - usually at this time of the year, Hong Kong is hot and humid, but this year, the look-ahead forecast seemed to be promise cooler temperatures, but with a few hot days thrown in. Plus, with most days having a high chance of rain, I am predicting that even though it is going to be cooler, it may even be more humid this time around.
Last time, I went quite light and bright with my colour palette,
thinking summer holiday, and forgetting that like most big cosmopolitan
cities, black and dark colours tend to reign. While I am not aiming to
"not look like a tourist", since really, as soon as you whip out the
guide book the gig is probably up, I also didn't want to stick out like a
sore thumb. So instead of colour, I went for a dark and deep palette of
black, grey and navy, with a few hints of aqua and orange.
So what have I packed? From left to right, top to bottom
Clothing
- CAbi teal, black and grey chiffon tunic
- CAbi aqua, grey and white chiffon blouse
- Eileen Fisher black asymmetrical jersey tunic
- Eileen Fisher navy linen jersey tank with sequins
- Eileen Fisher grey linen jersey beaded tunic
- Eileen Fisher navy silk jersey tank
- Howard Showers black oversized jersey tee
- Witchery navy jersey tank with studded shoulders
- Sportscraft orange cotton 3/4 sleeved cardigan
- Taking Shape navy and grey waterfall cardigan
- CAbi black lightweight waterfall jacket
- Virtu black cropped pants
- J Jill black matte jersey pants
- Howard Showers black silky knit pants
- Eileen Fisher black silk habitue maxi dress
- Virtu black jersey maxi dress
Accessories
- LeSportsac backpack
- Witchery blue and black clutch
- Tory Burch orange ballet flats
- Django & Juliette black suede wedges
- Naturalizer black sandals
- Witchery black, white and aqua pom pom scarf
- Orange gauzy linen scarf
- Sportscraft blue and black scarf
- Black horn cuff
- Pandora bracelet
- Tiffany silver ring
- Witchery oversized silver ring
- Witchery long silver necklace
- Taking Shape black and grey belt
We are going for a week, and if it were somewhere cooler and less humid, I would probably pack two-thirds of this capsule, but if last time is anything to go by, I will need to change outfits at least twice a day, and if I can help it, I would prefer to not do laundry while I am there.
When flying, comfort is obviously my first priority, but looking presentable is a close second. While I can't imagine that I will ever score a free upgrade while flying with two young children, I believe that putting at least a little effort into your appearance shows respect for not only yourself but those around you as well. The navy top is silk jersey, and the pants are matte jersey, so they are as comfy as a tracksuit, but still much more polished, especially since the pants have been tailored to the perfect length and fit. I always fly with a scarf, as it is not only a great accessory, but can help deal with the cool air of the plane. The same goes for the wool waterfall cardigan - while I probably won't need it in Hong Kong, we are leaving at 4am in the morning from home, and arriving back home at midnight, so it will keep me warm to and from the airport, as well as on the chilly plane. A for accessories, I am keeping it simply with oversized silver ring and black horn cuff, and my trusty Tory Burch ballet flats, which are not only ultra comfortable, but practical for taking off when going through airport security. Lastly, I decided on a backpack for this trip, and i actually went and purchased it just for the trip. In the past I have taken one of my larger shoulder totes, but have found them quite impractical when travelling with two young children. I really need both hands free, and I am hoping a backpack will be the solution. Plus, this one from LeSportsac was just so cute, and had the my two pop colours of orange and aqua in its print, how could I resist!
We've got 4 days of sightseeing while in Hong Hong, and again, I want to be comfortable while still looking great! The cardigan and light weight jacket will be great for the cooler mornings, when we are in heavy duty air-con, as well as on our planned harbour cruise. All of the fabrics are light and breathable, so even if the humidity gets right up there, I should still feel cool and dry.
Is Theme Parking a word? I don't know, but it certainly describes what we will be doing for three of our Hong Kong Days. We are planning to spend two days in Hong Kong Disney, which will include a lunch at their fine dining Chinese restaurant Crystal Lotus, hence the slightly dressier outfit in the middle. We are also going to spend a day at Ocean Park, which is the largest theme park in Asia. One thing I've learnt about theme parks is to wear trousers, secure shoes (hence, no comfy Tory ballet flats!), and no accessories that can come off or get tangled, like necklaces or scarves. So three simple, but hopefully still stylish, outfits.
While I am sure most nights will be fairly casual, it's still nice to get dressed up at least a little. When travelling, I always pack a small clutch so that I don't have to lug my backpack around when going out to a restaurant. This Witchery one is very versatile - it is cobalt blue silk on one side, and black leather on the other, and also has a long carry strap that tucks away in the bag. These silky knit pants are a traveller's best friend - they read dressy, but are as comfy as a pair of yoga pants, and don't wrinkle at all.
So as you can see, with just 16 pieces of clothing and 14 shoes and accessories, I have a complete wardrobe that will take me through almost any occasion over a week. Even if I were travelling for much longer, this same wardrobe (coupled with some laundry time) would be just as perfect, with even more opportunity to mix and match the items.
Labels: capsule wardrobe, fashion, travel
