Packing Tips for Weekend Trips Essential Clothing Guide

Today we’re going to get back to our regularly scheduled program and discuss “How to Pack the Perfect Wardrobe for a Weekend Getaway”. But first, I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who left comments on last week’s “Spikes” thread. I’ve read every single one of them, but haven’t responded yet because reading them over and over again doesn’t help me make progress. That said, I have scheduled a conference call with the Home Affairs Committee’s investigations manager for Monday and I am determined to turn this into a positive outcome. I would like to push for a coordinated approach between law enforcement, healthcare services and the nightlife industry to establish clear protocols for incidents like this, including penalties for offenders and a system to ensure follow-up. I will keep Members informed of the latest developments. This is different from my usual focus on middle-aged customers in the retail sector, but just as important!

Now, back to today’s topic, which was one of the most common questions people asked when I recently asked for your feedback: how to pack the perfect closet for a weekend getaway. I’d love to dive into this topic, as traveling back and forth to Newcastle Apartments on a regular basis, I’ve come up with a streamlined system that might work for you guys as well. Plus, since we were there last weekend, I already have a few examples to share – although that trip didn’t exactly go as planned, so I missed out on outfit photos from the last few days. Anyway, let’s talk about my tried-and-true method for packing outfits for a weekend getaway.

How to Pack the Perfect Wardrobe for a Weekend Getaway

1. Pay attention to the weather forecast

I always start paying attention to the weather forecast about 10 days before I leave. It’s a habit I’ve picked up from living in the north, where the weather can be unpredictable, especially in the winter. For example, on a weekend in November, we arrived in Newcastle in heavy snow, the temperature reached a pleasant 12°C by midday, and then it was snowing heavily when we left. Knowing whether there will be rain, frost or mild sunshine is key to planning everything that follows.

2. Start with the shoes

For me, packing always starts with shoes. If planning to walk a lot, comfortable shoes are a must – there’s nothing worse than having sore feet. If I’m going out at night, the shoes I choose will dictate the rest of my outfit. Shoes always come first. If you’re looking for stylish yet practical options, consider these chic and comfortable summer sandals that will fit nicely into your vacation closet.

3. Build Your Attire from the Outside in

Since we’re focusing on winter vacations today, the next step is jackets. Whether you’re on a city break or a country retreat, the jacket is going to be the star of the look, so it has to be both practical and stylish. For a winter city break, I tend to go for wool coats – they’re not only sophisticated, but they won’t make me feel overheated as I walk through the stores or cafes. For countryside vacations, I’d opt for a waterproof laminated jacket as it’s very practical.

4. Make a visual list of all your clothes

Once I’ve decided on my shoes and jacket, I’ll start planning the rest of my outfits. I usually do a quick design on the computer during my lunch break, this method works really well for me and I think you will find it useful too. My go-to tool is Canva because it’s easy to use and efficient. The boards don’t need to be perfect, they’re just rough guides to make sure that most items can be mixed and matched, worn multiple times and kept light and practical.

Here’s what I do: if I’m packing something that’s current, I’ll take a screenshot from the retailer’s website and upload it to my layout. If it’s an older model, I’ll search online for a similar item instead. You might be surprised at how much easier it is to visualize outfits together this way – it really helps to objectively see how everything is laid out. Try it!

### 5. Vividly Presenting Visuals When packing, I would lay out each piece of clothing one by one on the bed using pre-prepared visuals. I'll check to see if any of the clothes need a quick iron or a clothes brush to straighten them out. If I'm not sure about the proportions, I'll try it on. Then, I would match

Fit 3 – Running and Brunch

We moved our Saturday run to Friday morning, which proved to be an excellent decision. As always, we planned a route that ended at a great place for brunch – and yes, I do plan the dress code accordingly. No sweaty post-run selfies this time, but I’m sure you won’t mind!

  • Warm running jacket
  • Long sleeve running top
  • Leggings
  • Stabilizing trainers

Look 4 – Afternoon Stroll

After our run, we headed home to take a shower and then changed into our usual favorites for a leisurely stroll around town.

  • Zera pullover (Fall/Winter 2019 )
  • Cashmere beanie
  • Coat (Fall/Winter 2014 )
  • Straight leg jeans
  • Boots (on sale now, AW21 giveaway )

The weather was surprisingly mild, so I didn’t wear a wool hat.


Outfit #5 – Nightlife

Friday night was scheduled, but it turned out to be less than expected. I was going to wear this top, but ended up switching to a surprise gift from Mr. Z – a sleek black top that matched my coated jeans so well it looked like a jumpsuit. On winter evenings, I always wear my seamless down coat – it’s lightweight and easy to fold, doesn’t take up much room indoors, and has plenty of pocket space for essentials like a cell phone and lipstick. These days, a lot of people don’t carry bags anymore, which is really disruptive.

  • Silk shirt (now on sale )
  • Coated straight-leg jeans
  • Zera shawl collar tuxedo jacket (Fall/Winter 2019 )
  • Hush leopard print boots (Fall/Winter 2018 )
  • Down jacket (now on sale)

Look Six – Saturday.

We didn’t go to the movies as planned, but I wore this casual yet sophisticated outfit anyway.

  • Hope sweater (Fall/Winter 2019 )
  • Coated jeans
  • Chelsea boots (on sale only )
  • Quilted coat

The only pictures I took were the ones I sent to the boys to let them know I was fine after all of this.


Look 7: Sunday Brunch

A relaxing brunch on Sunday morning before heading home.

  • Hope Sweater (Fall/Winter 2019 )
  • Boots (now on sale, complimentary AW21 )
  • Coat (Fall/Winter 2014 )
  • Straight leg jeans (now on sale with AW21)
  • Scarf (now on sale )

Packing Reflections

For seasoned packing pros, this may seem simple enough, but for those of you who are asking questions, I hope this post brings a fresh perspective and teaches you how to pack for a winter weekend getaway. It’s important to plan ahead – I find it easier to decide what to wear sitting at my desk than staring blankly into my closet.

For this trip, I could have been a little more streamlined: two pairs of jeans, two sweaters, two coats, three pairs of boots, a shirt, a jacket and a running outfit. If traveling by train, I would have left my black boots at home and just worn cream-colored ones all weekend.

Packing for a spring trip can undoubtedly be tricky with the unpredictable weather, but lighter clothing means more flexibility. I’ll continue to share ways to pack for long trips – if we’re lucky enough to make the trip! Our scheduled February anniversary trip was canceled, so we’ll reschedule for next year. Maybe we’ll celebrate our 20th anniversary on the 22nd!


Other recent outfits

January always feels exhausting, doesn’t it? It feels especially heavy this year with all the global turmoil. It’s interesting that while other languages have words like‘ennui’ or‘weltschmerz’ to describe this mood, we Brits don’t seem to have an equivalent – perhaps a testament to our resilience. -Perhaps this is a testament to our resilience.

I’ve taken quite a few outfit photos over the past few weeks, and here’s one I found on my camera roll: finding solace in Alfie ……

We have now returned home from Newcastle. There’s nothing like the comfort of a cat or dog to soothe your soul when people show their cruelty.

Zera Pullover (Fall/Winter 2018); Layered T-Shirt
I’m off to Windermere today to meet a lovely reader. I’ve been wearing almost exclusively miniskirts lately, so it was a huge relief to see that Vogue has officially announced the return of the miniskirt to the fashion world. Mini skirts are so much more practical than the muddy mid-length skirts we’ve been wearing for years. By the way, this lace-up skirt is on sale right now. Coat (Fall/Winter 2016); Zera Pullover and Scarf (Fall/Winter 2020); Lace-Up Skirt (now on sale, Fall/Winter 2021 giveaway); Suede Boots

Coat (Fall/Winter 2016); Zera Pullover and Scarf (Fall/Winter 2020); Cord Skirt (now on sale, Fall/Winter 2021 Giveaway); Suede Boots
This is my new reader friend Carole Greenland, who happens to be a personal stylist. We had a great time chatting for hours in a cozy cafe. If you’re looking for a passionate, supportive, and insightful person to help you streamline your closet, Carole is the person for you. She can guide you on what to keep, what to ditch, and how to fill in the gaps with pieces that truly reflect your personality and suit your natural skin tone. Here’s a snapshot from last Sunday. I spent some time organizing everyone’s suggestions to see what you’d like to see here. When we went to the grocery store, I mentioned to Mr. MC that it’s important to wear everyday pieces

Here’s a snapshot from last Sunday. I spent some time compiling everyone’s suggestions to see what people would like to see here. When we went to the grocery store, I mentioned to Mr. MC that everyday wear was what people wanted to see the most, and he immediately captured the style – and as you can probably tell by my face, it wasn’t exactly what I expected!

Thermal running jacket (Fall/Winter 2020); thermal turtleneck top; athleisure pants (Fall/Winter 2021 giveaway); sneakers
I dressed very casually for a walk with Ted to break up the monotony while I worked on paperwork and accounts at my desk. I don’t usually dress this casually at work, but honestly, it was cold and gloomy in January and I had to retreat into cozy layering and comfy knits.

An old ski hat circa 2004; parka (now on special clearance – cheap! , AW21 giveaway); layering shirt; Zera cardigan (SS20); straight-leg jeans; rain boots!
This weekend we’ll be back in Newcastle with dear friends who have been through a tough time in the second half of 2021. It will be great to spend some time with them. While I’m not ready for the neon lights of the night, they need a break and we’ll be going to a rugby match, which should be fun. I’ll also get a chance to get reacquainted with the city I love – I’ve been plagued by nightmares since that shooting, and I need to adjust my perspective and fall in love with this place all over again.

The next time we meet, January will have passed. February is always a month of hope for me – which is why we chose this month for our wedding. While we won’t be going on as many sunny adventures as we’d hoped, we’ll still be celebrating our anniversary. Soon the first signs of spring will begin to show, bringing new hope and optimism.

As January comes to an end, most of the year-end sales will be over by the end of the week, and Zera has just released their first spring collection with some incredible discounts of up to 60% in the clearance section. It’s worth checking back while you can. Have a great weekend and see you next Friday.


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