Saving This for Later

A two season business trip, tablescaping for under a tenner and my tactics for piste chic.

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

Hello to you my friends, it’s been a while since I’ve come to you with one of these posts, but I’m back on track and hoping to revive them. As always, if you have any requests for me to shop for you, drop me a DM here or on social media and I’ll jump to it. But just so there isn’t too much responsibility laid at your door, I’ll also be adding in a few of my favourite buys into the mix too.

Travel: Two Seasons, One Trip

Let’s start with a request from a lovely subscriber:

‘I have a work trip to the US at the end of the month—I’ll be in LA for 4 days, then on to NYC for 3 nights over which there will be a gala/awards night to attend. I have no idea where to start in terms of packing a capsule wardrobe which will cover all of this—though I do have a generous luggage allowance, so it doesn’t have to be compact. I just need options!’

Firstly, thank you for this conundrum, it is exactly my favourite kind of puzzle. I’m adding a £300 cap on anything I suggest because this is real life.

So firstly, let’s look at the temperature issue. It’s around 25C degrees and sunny in LA and down to -8C in NYC. You need business day and evening for 7 days, plus something banging for a gala.

To start off with, the big stuff. I know New York in February because of fashion week and it is brutal AF. You’re going to need a big coat which will probably take up about a third of a suitcase as you’re flying in LA first. It’s a good time to look for these as they are all on sale.

Relaxed longline puffer coat in stone £279 from £399 from Jigsaw , Seamless down long coat £129.90 from £159.90 from Uniqlo , Petra coat in black £179 from £370 by Day Birger et Mikkelsen

Boots are also a must-have – I prefer high styles which can be worn with thermal tights under dresses:

Leather riding boots £270 from Cos , Quin sretch knee boots £199 from Whistles , Bridget knee boots £270 from Sézane

The gala look is also a totally separate dress code and will have to work with your big coat. I’d go for a long sleeve option like these to beat the breeze.

Lydia draped gown £275 from £550 by Solace London, Burgundy turtleneck roll neck gown £231 from £330 by Norma Kamali , Bottle green gown £316 from £790 by Victoria Beckham (bust the budget slightly here, but great bargain).