Capsule wardrobe for 2 nights in London?

[L0stinCyberspace]

I'm going to London for 2 nights at the end of February and would like (ha!) To look stylish and relaxed. Size 12 pear shaped, I like casual elegant and sometimes slightly edgy clothes. I'm going sightseeing so lots of walking plus dinner out, musical, all the usual stuff.

Obs you can't see my existing wardrobe but I have a dark grey leather jacket as outerwear.

@Floisme I’m just not quite sure it’s warm enough yet. And I really want to wear my leather mini.

@sashh I never bother with heels in London. Too many steps/too much striding around.

I’m packing everything in a rucksack but also packing my le Pliage for any essential purchases.

I live in London. You'll be walking around a lot and getting in and out of the tube I expect, so comfortable and waterproof shoes (trainers might get dirty?) - I wear ankle length brown boots a lot. Probably you will have a fair bit to carry - extra layers, brolly etc - so a decent sized bag. Like the idea of a bright coloured trench coat - good to have some colour to counteract the grey city! - I have a mustard coloured one, which I wear with a kind of red/grey scarf (nicer than it sounds)!

It's been a bit windy for a brolly lately - personally I find raincoats much better, but agree they're awkward if you're packing minimally. Layers are the most important thing, and being able to remove them easily. I live here and rarely get cold - always walking briskly or indoors in venues which can get hot. So not too bulky a coat, and a thin easily-removable jumper underneath. I never get to wear my ribbed polo necks or bulkiest jumpers!

@crummyusername

I live in London. You'll be walking around a lot and getting in and out of the tube I expect, so comfortable and waterproof shoes (trainers might get dirty?) - I wear ankle length brown boots a lot. Probably you will have a fair bit to carry - extra layers, brolly etc - so a decent sized bag. Like the idea of a bright coloured trench coat - good to have some colour to counteract the grey city! - I have a mustard coloured one, which I wear with a kind of red/grey scarf (nicer than it sounds)!

The coat sounds great!

@Floisme

Living the dream SnakeLinguine - I love your coat.

Twiglets1 thank you but we know no-one cares, I don't think that's the point of the thread.

I had a great few days, @Floisme — I thoroughly recommend the Louise Bourgeois exhibition at the Hayward, if anyone is headed Londonward soon. And that coat worked well for what it needed to do.

I also have a mustard trench coat I’d forgotten about. I think it was Anthropologie years ago.

I'm going to another European country next weekend and I'm planning my wardrobe too.

I'm taking a oversized wool cape coat
Knee length flat comfy boots for the day
A midi wool day dress for travelling
A midi denim smock day dress (but not sure if they'll go with the casual boots) for day so may rethink.
A fit and flare dress that can be worn during the day and for a casual dinner
A dress and shoes for the dress up evening
Pyjamas and underwear
Pretty jewellery and maybe a scarf

Book the Bacon at the RA too - fantastic
I live in London and LOVE the whole planning a trip here, makes me want to go outside and see it.

Everything depends on the weather - it’s such a pain. If spring-like then I splashed out (sale) on a a fitted belstaff waterproof jacket and wear it everywhere with a cross body bag. Can just fit a slim gilet underneath. What a cliché!
Straight jeans, slight heel brown boots and a woolly hat and brolly in bag and I’m set.
If colder then yes the COS style puffer.

For evening I do like a cool black top of some sort (silk shirt) with chunky (fake) gold accessories.

I got some divine lilac DMs for my 50th birthday last week and I WILL wear to my smart forthcoming London weekender.. I will build my wardrobe around them. They are are so lovely.

@Isaidnomorecrisps

Book the Bacon at the RA too - fantastic I live in London and LOVE the whole planning a trip here, makes me want to go outside and see it. Everything depends on the weather - it’s such a pain. If spring-like then I splashed out (sale) on a a fitted belstaff waterproof jacket and wear it everywhere with a cross body bag. Can just fit a slim gilet underneath. What a cliché! Straight jeans, slight heel brown boots and a woolly hat and brolly in bag and I’m set. If colder then yes the COS style puffer. For evening I do like a cool black top of some sort (silk shirt) with chunky (fake) gold accessories.

Bacon was brilliant, and this looks great and starts tomorrow—

www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/a-century-of-the-artists-studio-1920-2020/

I know one of the curators of the Bacon exhibition. Go, it's great.

Anyhoo, I was in Manchester today, there's always a thing on S&B about how overdressed and dolly-bird the North is compared to how casual London is.

Three people, one in Selfridges, one in Harvey Nics and one in the Northern Quarter stopped me and told me they loved my look (and they were all much younger and cooler than me).

I was wearing a very pared-down, really wide scuba trousers from Cos, ribbed long (mid-thigh) merino polo from Raey, Vans style sneakers from The Row, a very vintage Saint Laurent pinstripe blazer and a large Russell and Bromley tan hobo worn cross-body.

Cashmere beanie on when the weather took a turn.

I'm pretty sure my outfit would have been pretty good anywhere in the capital.

One pair of jeans. Wear everyday. Don't fanny about with skirts and tights.
A selection of tops casual to dressy
Hoodie
Light jacket
Blazer that can dress up a casual top
Nice scarves
Good jewellery
Shoes you can walk in.

Done.

I like fannying about with skirts and tights. And skirts are much better than jeans if it rains.

I live in London and what I'd wear is

walking around - leather jacket, tshirt, thin jumper, wide leg crops (keeps the hems above the treads on the escalator which aren't nice in the rain) and leather trainers or chunky boots.

Dinner - leather jacket & big scarf, nice top and trousers or skirt - if you wear trousers or a long skirt.

Theatre - fabric jacket you can drape over your theatre seat or sit on comfortably (easier than a leather one), wide leg crops with nice top and take the big scarf to wrap round your shoulders if you get cold - I'm finding theatres a bit chilly at the moment.

Cross body bag big enough to take a small umbrella

I like tights in the rain too Remus, they dry so quickly. I just did a weekend with very small hand baggage, wore jeans and packed long pleated h and m skirt, merino jumper and tights- took up no room at all and couldn't crease!

@londonmummy1966 perfection!

Going to London this weekend and am bringing dresses and tights. Protected species trench. Hat ,scarf, gloves, jewellery. A bit low on suitable footwear. Have tickets for the opera and the Denis Severs House.

I have skirts, tops, cardigan, trench coat, tights and sensible leather shoes (lots of walking) for my New York trip, pretty much what I wore to London last year. I throw in jeans just in case usually plus deck shoes

Have a lovely weekend OP

Well today has been VERY cold. I definitely wouldn’t have been warm enough in a leather jacket.

I much prefer fannying about with skirts and tights too. Easier to dry out if you get wet and personally I feel way more together.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Well today has been VERY cold. I definitely wouldn’t have been warm enough in a leather jacket.

It was snowing yesterday! I know London isn’t as cold as other parts of the UK but it’s still pretty chilly in Feb. Good decision on the leather jacket!

What is the longest Protected Species raincoat ?
I think rain jackets are a bit useless in the rain as your bottom half gets wet.
The Protected Species clothing looks nice.
I couldn't see on the website where the products are made or a " Contact Us" section.

@LadyEloise1

What is the longest Protected Species raincoat ? I think rain jackets are a bit useless in the rain as your bottom half gets wet. The Protected Species clothing looks nice. I couldn't see on the website where the products are made or a " Contact Us" section.

I think they do a trench coat which is somewhere above the knee in length, and a parka that is mid-thigh? Ish.

I've got the protected species belted mac. It's knee length on me (admittedly I'm short - 5'3*) so I don't get soggy thighs and it's made of some kind of technical fabric. It's reliable in heavy rain and also lightweight which makes it easier to pack but also a bit chilly for February unless you wear lots of layers underneath. The best thing about it for me is that it keeps me dry but is also reasonably smart, a rare example of function combining well with style.

Gorgeous today. Cold in the wind but beautiful blue skies. I’m risking exposing my ankles in rolled up Levi’s