What to pack HELP PLEASE!

[ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie]

Just tried to start packing for a cottage holiday in Yorkshire and got completely stuck. The forecast says light rain showers. I am terrible at dressing for Spring/Summer but have all the usual basics including:

jeans - dark skinny or dark bootleg (but it is April, so do I really want to wear boots? The skinnies only look okay with boots or ballet flats and the bootcuts get wet at the bottoms unless worn with boots);
denim skirt - dark pencil or dark above the knee;
selection of plain and Breton-style t-shirts;
cropped trench or denim jacket (but wouldn't wear denim jacket with jeans or denim, so probably won't bother with it);
Breton style dress or denim dress - but what to wear on legs or feet?
Tan knee high boots, converse style things which I don't like except with bootcut jeans, ballet flats, gladiator-type sandals.

Arghhhh. Please help!

Oh I also have black maxi dress or grey maxi skirt - but maybe a bit too Goth and would be fine with denim jacket but stupid with the trench, I think.

Please, please help me....:)

Gah - okay, if any Yorkshire MNers see a lady naked except for a trench coat with bare feet in Yorskhire next week, you'll know who it is.

The way I pack for holidays is a bit anal intensive but has never failed.

Write a list of days you're there inc travelling. Will you be going out to eat / doing any special things? I then go thru my wardrobe and write and outfit for each day and/ or night inc shoes and accessories. When you look at it you realise loads of things can double up. Then pack.

Thank you. But I still don't know what to pack!

We will be walking, eating fish and chips and not much else, I should think. Footwear is my problem.

How does this sound -

Travel - grey maxi skirt, white and grey striped vest top, grey cotton cropped cardigan - but boots or sandals?

One day - Breton dress with either bare legs or tights, depending on weather, red ballet flats, trench coat if needed or denim shirt if not cold but not warm.

Another day - denim dress - can wear this with ballet flats, sandals or boots depending on the weather

Beyond that - no idea!

Pick your most comfortable pair of shoes. Nobody will notice your footwear if you wear your bootcuts. TBH, for your vacation, I'd pick a pair of trainers. Stylish, no, but if you are going to spend a lot of time on your feet, you don't want to worry about blisters and wet feet. I have a pair of silver Ralph Lauren trainers that work with smarter outfits, too. My black Reeboks are much less stylish but I almost never travel without them. I also have tons of boots at home but never travel with them. They take too much space and I don't like to wear them all day. Gladiators I wouldn't take along at all. Normally, I always take along a favorite pair of ballerina flats - they work with many different outfits and require minimal space.

Considering your destination, I'd worry about getting cold and wet. Will your coat cover the maxi dress, will it get wet and muddy? What if your jeans get wet or shoes get wet? I often pack a skirt or a dress but only rarely wear them - lately, I've started leaving them home altogether. Mostly, I dress jeans up and down. Warm layers, scarves and gloves are really important. Many hotels and cottages are freezing and coming down with a flu won't improve your trip. I was in Rome 2 or 3 weeks ago, expected balmy and warm weather, but it was breezy and freezing - I had to layer up all my warm clothes, swathe myself in scarves and was so happy I had remembered my black woolen tights. If you get lucky and it's warm, you can always remove layers.

I travel a lot - although never in Yorkshire - and this type of wardrobe works for me for a long weekend. The basic idea is to pick clothing in one color or matching colors so all outfits can be layered and all pieces are interchangeable.

2 pairs of jeans
a couple of cotton T shirts, at least one of them long-sleeved
a tank top
a twinset or a V-necked cashmere sweater and a cashmere cardigan
a dressy blazer (to dress up the jeans)
1 pair of flat shoes
1 pair of trainers (worn while travelling)
(1 skirt)
(1 pair of heels/dress up shoes)
1 pair of flip flops or disposable white hotel slippers
a pair of pyjamas
a pair of woolen tights/leggings
1 pair of knickers for each day and a pair of bra for each 2 days
a couple of pairs of socks plus one pair of warm woolen socks
1 coat, waterproof if possible
a rain hat
an umbrella
a pair of gloves
1-2 scarves (silk and cashmere)

Thank you. My boots are my most comfortable footwear. I don't 'do' trainers and have decided not to bother with the converse-alikes as they look silly and aren't terribly comfortable anyway. I've stuffed the ballet flats and the sandals at the bottom of the case and they haven't taken up any room at all. Will wear my boots to travel in.

Not bothering with the maxi dress but will wear the skirt to travel in because it's comfortable and doesn't crease.

Have got -

bootcut and skinny jeans
long and short sleeved t-shirts
denim shirt
denim dress
Breton dress
brolly
nightshirt
cotton scarf and silk scarf
underwear

Can also mix and match tops with the dds if needsbe. Just helped dd1 (16) to pack - nightmare! Her pile of clothes for the week consisted of two silk camisoles, a denim mini, a pair of skinnies and a fisherman's jumper!

It's going to be blooming baltic next week in comparison to this w/e. Take layers and cardis!

:) Layers it is!