happy weekend minus 5 hours! sorry this post is going up mid day, I had a leeetle too much fun at the yankees game last night. today I thought I would cover some packing ideas for cooler temps. while most people’s summer vacations center around warm weather spots (don’t worry, there are a plethora of bathing suit posts coming next week), so far this summer my trips have been to two northern locales, Scotland and Maine, where I needed warmer stuff. I also know a few gals headed places like Colorado and the Pacific Northwest– so hopefully this helps!

the deets. Scotland was truly the most amazing trip, and a perfect venue for people looking for a quick 3-4 day mini vacay. it was super easy to get to from new york, delta offers a direct 6 hr flight into Edinburgh. most of the weekend focused on golf in st. andrews (#best.girlfriend.ever) but we did spend a day sightseeing in Edinburgh which was very cool and I actually fell in LOVE with st. andrews the city. it’s a small college town, where Prince Will and Kate met nbd, and completely charming and quaint, much less commercial than Edinburgh. we realllly lucked out during the weather; most days it was sunny and in the 60s but we did have occasional little rain/drizzle and it was chillier in the evenings. in terms of eats, I was actually impressed with the offering- we had great meals at Forgan’s and The Adamson plus the most magical private dinner at the Peat Inn. we also got our share of traditional English/pub food and I sort-of learned to love/accept meat pies. wow, the things i am willing to admit on the internet. my favorite part? I loved spending a lazy morning walking around the campus of the school, the castle and the cathedral ruins, coffee in hand. it felt so relaxed and not overtly tourist-y. best of all, the whole town is walkable, so for a big group like ours (11 people) it was amazing for everyone to be able to be on their own schedules and not worry about transit or who is going where. overall, I highlyyy recommend.

some snaps…

a sunny day in edinburgh

view to the top o’ the castle

working on my golf game at the New Course (#Tigerwoodschic in Nike)

ruins of the old cathedral in st. andrews

what i packed. now lets talk the main event, the fash-shuns. since Scottish weather is notoriously iffy, layers and rain gear were key. every day I had 2–3 pieces on top, from a tank and light sweater plus a jean jacket to my new bff the bodysuit, a trench, and a scarf. since it was technically summer, I tried to avoid too many dark colors and left the black in nyc. given that golf and pubs were mostly in the cards, I packed mostly casual items and left anything silk/heeled/dressy at home. some inspiration…

1. silk scarf. during the winter, this cashmere pashmina is my best friend for travel. i love using it on the airplane as a blanket and wearing it out to dinner as a shawl. however this time i packed a light floral print silk scarf from my dvf days (also love a striped option from ann taylor) . it was perfect for the sunnier days and punched up my otherwise neutral outfits with color.

2. summer midi dress. i did bring two light dresses and was shocked that it ended up being warm enough to wear both, albeit with a leather jacket over. tbh, i picked this navy floral version because it made me picture kate moss in it, traipsing through some sheep-filled Scottish field wearing Hunter wellies. sooo scottish chic.

3. navy blazer. seriously how chic is this jacket? i ordered this sort of randomly and ended up wearing it every day. while a blazer may seem more corporate than casual, it was the perfect topper for jeans and a tshirt because it made me feel not completely schlummy and american as I walked around, especially at nicer restaurants. i love how the double breasted gold buttons make it slightly funky, not as stuffy as your 9 to 5 blazer. i think it’s since sold out, but this veronica beard has the same vibe. the first designer, tara jarmon, has some amazing other jacket options on her site. also dying to add to my new blazer obsession with this one in red (so chanel!).

4. pouch mini bag. ive pretty much given up taking a large purse whenever i travel. during the day I use my trusty Bottega crossbody but at night I pack a bunch of little pouches and clutches to carry, since all you really need is a hotel key, credit card and passport. they double as suitcase organizers (i put makeup in one, jewelry in another, hair ties and bobby pins, etc) and this way I get to “accessorize” my looks without the weight and space of bringing several purses. love the ring handle on this one.

5. cropped jeans. since it was too cold for shorts, cropped jeans were the closest I could get to baring some leg. the darker sides on this pair are really slimming and the length paired perfectly with my sneaks.

6. a classic pair of sneakers. for every additional year I spend in nyc, my sneaker collection grows exponentially. this latest fashion-y pair of converse, a collaboration with comme des garcons, was basic enough to wear every day and paired nicely with my dresses too.

7. bodysuit. body suits are back from the dead and pretty much all the rage right now. other than one ill advised free people purchase (yuck, why did i buy??!) I hadn’t joined the trend. however, I bought this long sleeved version at Aritzia and after the trip have fully become a fan. the best part of bodysuits is that they lay smooth under your jeans, no tucking or bunching– which makes me wonder why they ever really went out of style in the first place. also, the deep v on this style is super flattering. basic math: makes you feel thin + on sale for $27 = buy several colors.

8. striped sailor shirt. i am an absolute striped t-shirt fanatic, i must have 20 of them. they are the perfect travel option– easy to roll in your suitcase and light enough to rinse out in the sink and hang dry overnight if you run out of clothes midweek. a lace up detail on the side is the cherry on top.

9. trench coat. perhaps its the whole turning 26 thing, but similar to my newfound love of blazers, is the development of a deep admiration for the trench coat. new york has had so much rain this season, and I got sick of looking like an intern in my mountain hardware raincoat in the elevator at work. finally, a trip to the burberry store revealed that you can have it all, if you shop their burberry brit line. it is a step down price point-wise from the classic burberry and all the trenches have functional detachable hoods, so it’s definitely made with us working girls in mind– you know, the ones who don’t have someone carrying their umbrella for them. i’ve now worn mine rain and shine, to work and on the weekends, and i feel like maybe i should have maybe figured out the genius of this purchase a few years ago. better late than never?

10. classic studs. i don’t like taking expensive jewelry on trips because the idea of losing it or getting something stolen stresses me out. I usually pack 1-2 pairs of fun cheap earrings and then keep my diamond studs in my ears the rest of the time. same goes for a simple necklace or rings. my thinking is if they’re attached to your body, you can’t lose them.

 

hope you enjoyed reading! have a great weekend! Xx