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3. A.P.C dress, Michael Kors cardigan, John Patrick top, Vanessa Bruno jumper, Rag & Bone jeans, Equipment sleeveless blouse, Phase Eight top, Topshop shorts

4. Acne blazer, T by Alexander Wang t-shirt, Joie top, 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt, T by Alexander Wang jumper, Topshop speckle back t-shirt, 3.1 Phillip Lim blouse, Topshop skirt

5. Miu Miu ballet flats, Madewell gladiator sandals, Acne pistol boots, ASOS sandals

6. ASOS clutch, Triwa watch, Alexander McQueen scarf, Dannijo earrings, Balenciaga anchor necklace

Packing. Having been on a few lengthy vacations in the past, I think I've become quite adept at developing a packing strategy. One thing I've learnt is that even if you're going to a warm climate, you need some sort of outfit contingency plan should the weather fall flat on you. Most importantly, I've learnt that there is nothing worse than arriving at your destination only to wish you'd brought a light jacket, a pair of jeans, or realising that the things you brought don't mix and match together very well.

It's also important to take into account the likelihood of purchasing new things while you're away, or whether or not you will find the right pieces you were looking for. This became my downfall when I was in the USA last year, as I had planned on buying a few new skirts, but in reality only bought one, which meant I was a little short on bottoms. The upside is, that if you pack light, with items that co-ordinate together well, you will have plenty of room for shopping and souvenirs.

1. Check the expected weather forecast: While you're likely to have some kind of idea what the weather will be like dependent on the season, it always pays to check. Summers can be cloudy and windy, and winters can be mild. This will allow you to judge whether you need to pack a warm jersey or a pair of shorts just in case.

2. Pick a colour palette: I find that picking a simple colour palette works best when travelling since everything will go together. I tend to pack pieces that are either black, white, grey, blush, navy or beige, as I find that these colours go well together, and pieces in these colours make up the backbone of my wardrobe, making packing even easier.

3. Choose the foundation pieces for your travel wardrobe: For me, core pieces include things like a comfortable pair of shorts, a lightweight top or singlet, a loose jumper, a cardigan, a dress that can be dressed up or down, a pair of jeans and a skirt that falls just above the knee. Oh, and you can't forget the quintessential stripe top!

4. Add in other pieces as required: Depending on the length of your trip, you'll want to add in a few (or a number) more pieces that work with the core pieces of your travel wardrobe. I've heard before that it always pays to take twice as many tops as bottoms, and I am sure that cannot be bad advice. I'd also recommend taking a light jacket, a pair of tights, and a warm pashmina (that can double as an extra layer of warmth on the plane) even if you are heading to a warm cliimate - the weather can be pretty unexpected.

5. Choose your shoes: It goes without saying that shoes can take up a lot of prime real estate in your suitcase, and depending on the style can be rather heavy. I've had experiences where I took so many shoes and only wore one pair, or the opposite where the one pair I had taken where too uncomfortable. It pays to make sure that your shoes will be comfortable enough to walk around all day, and that you have some variety so that you can alternate, especially if you are prone to blisters. I usually take a pair of gladiator sandals, a pair of ballet flats, a pair of low heeled boots and a pair of heels. It's best to be prepared for every occasion, and this combination allows that.

6. Accessorise: I've never been entirely big on taking a large selection of accessories with me on holiday, but there is something to be said of the power of a statement piece to transform an otherwise ordinary outfit. A couple of statement necklaces, earrings or bracelets will not go amiss, neither will a fun printed scarf. As for bags, I like to take two - a large bag for when I'm out during the day that can fit my camera along with random purchases, and a smallish crossbody/satchel style bag that I can use in the evenings.

Other things to remember:
- It's helpful to try everything on together before you leave - this way you can be sure that it is all going to work together on your trip. You also may not have access to a full-length or decent mirror in hotels so if something doesn't fit right, you can pick it up before you leave.

- Keep in mind that certain countries have different cultural expectations to what you may be used to at home. For example, if heading to the Vatican City you must be wearing a dress or skirt with a sensible or midi hemline and cover your shoulders, or else you will not be let in. Or, you may be subject to whispers and stares - as I was when I wore a pair of shorts and a singlet in Kosovo. It's worth reading up on this if you don't want to be caught out!

- If you are able to have both a suitcase and a carry-on (or just take a large handbag), it's wise to have a change of clothing with you on the plane. Should anything happen to your luggage (touch wood), at least you have fresh clothes to change into.

- Toiletries can be heavy and take up a lot of space. Only take the bare essentials if you can - this extends to beauty products/make-up as well. I take a rather minimal approach to make-up while away, taking a small eyeshadow compact, bronzer, eyeliner and mascara. I can't say the same for my other toiletries, but when on a long trip you can always discard these at the end. Things like soap and shampoo can be picked up easily enough at a pharmacy or supermarket while away.

- Other things worth taking are a camera, a notebook to jot down ideas, a good book to read (or a kindle etc), and an open mind. If you're like me, you'll be lugging along a laptop and an iPad as well. Oh and uh... have fun! :)

 

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Kain silk tank, T by Alexander Wang top, T by Alexander Wang jumper, Aubin & Wills blazer, Miu Miu sandals, A.P.C tote bag, Alice & Olivia skirt, Karl shorts, Isabel Marant Sandals
Net-a-Porter wishlist. I always look forward to receiving that email from Net-a-Porter, letting me know that their twice-yearly sale has begun. It generally involves me quickly opening the site in another tab to see if anything in my wishlist is on sale, and at a slightly more wallet-friendly price.

I managed to pick up a couple of things, one of which is this slouchy black jumper from T by Alexander Wang, which I've had my eye on for a wee while. If I had the cash to splurge, I'd probably pick up some of the above items on my wishlist, as I imagine the Alice + Olivia metallic skirt would be perfect for a night on the town paired with a simple silk tank by Kain and a pair of strappy Miu Miu heels. For a more casual look, I love the idea of this Aubin and Wills blazer, worn with a slouchy T by Alexander Wang linen top, Karl sequined shorts, Isabel Marant Merry sandals and an A.P.C cotton tote bag slung over the shoulder. And the best thing about these pieces? The large number of potential combinations since the colour scheme is that good. Guess it's a good thing that dreams are free!

 

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Karen Walker dress, Zara jumper, Country Rd ballet flats

When I was younger I used to have a friend who would insist on buying a new outfit for every party that we went to, as though everyone who had attended the previous ones would remember what she had worn two weeks prior. Or a month prior. The number of things that she had at her home with the tags still attached was innumerable. I never quite understood this mindset of buying a new garment for each event that was attended. In fact, I'm quite sure that this would inevitably result in a hugely overflowing wardrobe, or more likely, a floordrobe, that is completely unmanageable.

I've always preferred to take the alternate route, buying things that I could wear for a variety of different events, that can easily be dressed up or dressed down. It's so easily forgotten how versatile our wardrobes can be, with dresses easily acting as tops when tucked into skirts or pants, and alternatively as skirts when jumpers are thrown over top, as I've done today. Instead I've always opted to shop when I've wanted to fill a gap in my wardrobe, or just for the general enjoyment one has when passing the time browsing boutiques. Lately, I'm not sure I fit into either category, as while I am not shopping with purpose, I'm not shopping for fun either, as rather than be thrilled at the prospect of adding something new to my wardrobe, I'm considering things such as where will I keep it, and will this really add value to what I own already? I suppose the more substantial reading I have been doing lately has something to do with it...

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img 1 - Isabel Marant Etoile grey knit dress, Lover lace 'Christina' dress
img 2 - Karen Walker breton stripe t-shirt, Karen Walker denim skirt, Celine black 'Cabas' tote
img 3 - ASOS grey suede aviator jacket, Karen Walker paperbag waist dress

New purchases for the month of March. As I have probably mentioned a few times, I’ve been making a concerted effort to shop smarter, so that I can both cut down on what can quite often spiral into out of control shopping habits, and also form a wardrobe that is completely wearable for my lifestyle, and full of pieces that I love. This has meant that I’ve started keeping track of all the purchases that I’ve made, and also considering whether I really need something. I tend to get a little obsessive-compulsive when it comes to lists, and my desire to keep my wardrobe total under 100 allows me to limit myself somewhat. I suppose this means shopping will eventually become a one-in, one-out process, but thankfully I’m not there yet.

This past month has resulted in eight new purchases (one of which isn’t pictured, as it is currently on its way to me in the post), which is four more than I was expecting. Unfortunately you can’t predict when something you have been hunting for will pop up on sites like eBay, and as my new habits aren’t supposed to be restrictive, I decided to just “roll with it” and not deny myself. My biggest revelation is that only one of the items I bought is new, and that was essentially an item I had ordered a few months back. I’ve been avoiding making purchases in the shops, bar picking up any outstanding laybys, and instead turning to websites like eBay to track down what I think has been missing from my wardrobe, with much success.

I’m still continuously re-evaluating my wardrobe, yet what I’ve found is that I’m coming to a point where there isn’t anything I wish to part with. Over time, I imagine that my tastes will evolve slightly, and I will eventually decide to part with things that today, I wouldn’t imagine getting rid of, but I hope that day doesn’t come too quickly. Getting dressed with ease every morning is something I’ve been relishing!

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Forever21 jumper; 3.1 by Phillip Lim skirt; Isabel Marant heels; Celine bag

Trying to take advantage of the relatively mild weather that we have been having this past week by avoiding wearing jeans or tights at every opportunity. Not only that, I'm trying to wear my shoes which aren't suitable for rainy weather as much as possible before they end up gathering dust over the winter as I wait patiently for summer to roll around again. I suppose that this is part of my effort to utilise my wardrobe to its maximum capacity, as I tend to reach for the same shoes based on comfort and versatility.

I've also been using my Celine tote on a daily basis to lug everything that doesn't fit in my PS11 to work, or alternating between using it exclusively. It's surprisingly sturdy, and is able to carry far more than I had anticipated with absolutely no worries that the handles may stretch - although this wouldn't be such a bad thing, at least then I could sling it over my shoulder.