Continuing my carry-on capsule wardrobe challenge from busy London into the English countryside, things eased somewhat as I could slow my pace and settle down a little more.

In London I had bought the comfy sleeveless, woolly number and the Naomi mesh top mentioned in the previous post, both of which fitted neatly into my case. I also found an easy wear Missoni top (I’m a massive Missoni fan). Then eventually I acquired a few things from charity shops; a long latté coloured silk slip dress for summer (light as a feather), a superb Caroline Charles skirt and an olive and gold linen knit. All of these were no brainer acquisitions for me as they easily work with my wardrobe at home so I don’t consider them indulgent purchases.

In the countryside, I enjoyed yoga, a massage, some good walks, a dance class, some down time reading indoors and yet more dancing at a live performance. I also ventured into London via train to see Moulin Rouge (amazing!!) and for dinner a couple of times. Throughout all these activities, I never struggled to put together an appropriate outfit, I wasn’t bored with my options and I rarely wore exactly the same thing twice.

My olive lounge pants worked well for yoga and a few indoor days spent reading and writing. For going out, I wore my green leather jacket or red sparkly top, depending on the occasion. My wool wraps were useful for dressing up my outfits, as well as for warmth. The rest of my time was spent in comfortable, interchangeable layers. See below…

When travelling light, you have to be a little disciplined when tempted by lovely new clothes.

Smart purchases only are allowed! They can be beautiful but you have to know for certain they will earn their keep. Knowing about the clothing shapes and styles that create the silhouette you're comfortable in is important here, as is understanding fabric drape and being able to identify colours that work the best for you. If your new discovery ticks all these boxes, then you know you’re onto a winner. Another good rule of thumb I apply is only to buy something if it can be worn with at least three existing things.

The biggest challenge I faced while travelling light was taking only two pairs of shoes; my brown boots and black runners (and then adding the indoor slippers in Copenhagen). So when my lovely young friend, Angelina, took me for a girls’ day out in Cambridge and we spied the PERFECT pair of Doc Martens for me, well I had a difficult decision to make. Not only were these the perfect light olive green, the last pair left in my size, and half price… Ange could also get me a further 20% discount. I surrendered and have zero regrets. I know my personal style intimately and they’re already perfectly at home in my wardrobe.

I really thought this final purchase might push my challenge into having to check a bag on the way home, but no! I had left sufficient space in my case so that the boots fitted, and I also had my suitcase’s little expandable zip thingy up my sleeve. 😉

My final days were spent in Richmond, where I used to live. It’s a delightful place to wander around, and that I did! Jeans and warm layers were perfect for this.

In amongst my wandering was a special birthday treat to self; a luxurious lunch onboard the British Pullman. I needed an outfit I could sit comfortably in for most of the day indulging in LOTS of delicious food and drink. For this, my baggy silk pants and red sparkly top with my cashmere wrap served me well. There are images of this stunning train below and on the previous page there’s one of our welcoming party at the departure platform.

I DID IT!!!

From my perspective, this travel challenge was a great success! I stayed in six different places in 32 days and undertook a range of activities from long walks in rain and shine to some meals out in lovely places in which I dressed up a little more. I encountered surprisingly warm weather in Denmark, beautifully warm and mild weather in the UK, as well as some cooler windy and rainy days. I hung out with good friends, met new colleagues and spent time alone; a great mix of things.

To be honest, now that I’ve done it, I would find it hard to return to checking my luggage unless I was going somewhere very cold (unlikely!). The considerable time I put into planning what I needed while I was away well and truly paid off.

Key tactics that made my carry-on challenge a success included:

Calculating my toiletries carefully so I had enough to get me through the trip but no more

1. Choosing only the lightest weight garments I owned such as mesh, silk, lightweight cotton, cashmere and alpaca

2. Packing only things that were machine washable and quick dry or don’t require washing

3. Rolling my clothes tightly into every little nook and cranny

4. Sticking to a colour palette (the secret to any successful capsule wardrobe)

5. Thinking through the activities I’d likely to be engaging in while away

6. Understanding how things layer together

Finally, it helps if you’re prepared to forgo looking ‘perfect’ every day. If you’re happy to embrace freedom, feel comfortable and look simple but cohesive, the tradeoff is outstanding.

I now hand this challenge to you!

You don’t need to restrict yourself as much as I did with carry-on only, but the fewer kilograms you have to lift, the better in my opinion. If you’d like my assistance to travel lightweight, organised, carefree and simply stylish, I’d be happy to help you.

Below is a testimonial from Sue, who I assisted in packing for her upcoming European trip:

“Your considered wisdom as to approach/practicalities combined with your all-seeing eye to find combos/suggest new views and ways of wearing, and general positivity and encouragement is invaluable.  GOLD!!

A big load off my mind and now looking forward to playing with my travel wardrobe prior and on the trip.”