Capsule wardrobe for British spring - HELP!

[Hop27]

I live in the tropics and haven't been home in 3 years (thanks COVID) and need to come home at Easter for 1 week.
I have very few items in my wardrobe that will transfer, so need a few key items that will be really flexible. Anything I have that's warm is pretty corporate (for when I travel with work).

Key bits I have.
Oversized trench
Lightweight Burberry scarf (black)
Classic Burberry scarf
LV Damier speedy 35 (I know S&B hates LV, but I love mine)
So Kate 120 in black
Axel Arrigato trainers
Black fine merino
Grey wool knit
Oversized white shirt
Pale pink leather pencil
Camilla bomber jacket
Waxed black denims
Wide leg black pants

How can I pad this out for a week, casual with a few dinners, nothing formal. Don't want to spend big as won't get much use after the week.

Being honest the last time I was home, I got excited by the prospect of the shopping but I felt the clothes were over priced and poor quality. Granted I was home at Christmas, but couldn't see myself wearing anything from the UK here. I was really disappointed!

Although I might explore an all saints leather jacket!

Flights booked. At home for Easter, so need all the tips I can get as how not to freeze and still look good 🤣

I hope you aren't disappointed at how people dress far less formally in the UK these days. TBH I'm surprised that you live in heels all the time if you live in the tropics. I can't think of anything more uncomfortable. Heels are a thing of the past here. Most people seem to wear white trainers with everything.

I wear axel arigato white trainers, but love a heel !!

@RampantIvy

I hope you aren't disappointed at how people dress far less formally in the UK these days. TBH I'm surprised that you live in heels all the time if you live in the tropics. I can't think of anything more uncomfortable. Heels are a thing of the past here. Most people seem to wear white trainers with everything.

@RampantIvy - agreed - all the people I know dress far less formally.

I think most of your outfits - sorry OP - sound bland and boring to me.

I'd invest in the Reiss silk shirt. Also I think in April/Easter we are due a heatwave in the UK so you will be boiling here!

Which country are you travelling from and what can you buy there?

And to be bluntly honest - I don't see many women in London wearing Axel Arigato trainers - though I suppose some might do.

Off to Google Axel Arigato, giving never heard ofthem.

having not giving!

Why not hold-ups rather than tights? I loathe tights but love skirts.

Ah - @Hop27 - saw you on another thread recently!

If you hate tights just get a pair of 30 denier nudes which will be easier to wear than if you go out for dinner and have bare legs and freeze with the aircon.

Isn't a week in London/UK too short for a visit from Australia? I'd be knackered with the jetlag.

@Nimello

Why not hold-ups rather than tights? I loathe tights but love skirts.

@Nimello - hold ups could work with dresses.

I appreciate my outfits may sound drab @Gonnagetgoing but they are what I have/like. Yes I'm going to be shattered coming home for a week but it's what I can make work for home/work/family. So I'm trying to make life easy on myself and plan ahead in terms of outfits.

@Nimello & @Gonnagetgoing
Stockings & tights are just a no go.
36 hours on a flight dries your skin out to dust, add that to cold weather and central heating upon arrival. Just a horrible combination.

My step mother lives in California. If she here Oct to May, she packs her ski stuff, in our "summer" she brings her winter clothes. Maybe some thermal layers?

@Hop27

I appreciate my outfits may sound drab *@Gonnagetgoing* but they are what I have/like. Yes I'm going to be shattered coming home for a week but it's what I can make work for home/work/family. So I'm trying to make life easy on myself and plan ahead in terms of outfits.

@Hop27 - sorry - didn't mean to sound rude - it's just very plain from what I can see.

But with your colouring and figure (slimmer than me!) they probably work.

Thought this skirt and knit could be an easy combo, but my legs may freeze!!!

@Gonnagetgoing - If you find clothing dull I don't suppose it would matter what size the person wearing them was surely?

@Hop27

Thought this skirt and knit could be an easy combo, but my legs may freeze!!!

You would definitely need tights with that outfit in April in the UK unless we get a heatwave.

@Hop27 For me, if it's warm enough for bare legs it's too hot for that jumper. I don't expect to go out with bare legs any time soon and I've just gone through Scottish winter, not Australian summer, so I'm used to the cold. @itsnotdeep has got this absolutely spot on, take their advice. More tops, more jeans/trousers, a warm jacket and flat boots. I appreciate you want to look good but I think it's difficult to look stylish if you're dressed inappropriately for the weather. I also think you're misjudging UK fashion. High heels and mini-skirts would make you stand out, and not in a good way.

[quote Hop27]@Gonnagetgoing - If you find clothing dull I don't suppose it would matter what size the person wearing them was surely? [/quote]
@Hop27 - but if you're very slim (and tanned) then you would look better in some of the clothes you posted than me - I'm not fat but size 12, and pale.

@Hop27

Thought this skirt and knit could be an easy combo, but my legs may freeze!!!

@Hop27 - that is a nice outfit but sadly - was out last night - yes you will freeze - and I was in an air-con restaurant and then pub too.

Most people now (and it was warm and hot and sunny yesterday) are wearing long dresses - so midi or maxi and skirts - with cap or strappy top halves. It was warm after we came out of the restaurant but then at 11 when out of pub it had dropped significantly.

If you have a biker/leather jacket or lighter jacket that's handy to have for day and evening here.

@Hop27

Although I might explore an all saints leather jacket!

@Hop27 - All Saints leather jacket is a classic - I don't have one (got designer ones and a H&M leather biker) - the oversized H&M leather biker looks a really good investment piece.

Me and some friends were talking about clothes yesterday and Zara and Mango were coming out on top for summer clothes and also John Lewis - their own brand is good. Mango has cheaper and more expensive dresses/skirts. Sosander is another brand popular here. If you want higher end try Hush, Me + Em etc but brands like Comptoir des Cottoniers might be harder to get as from France.

Another brand which I think you'd like but are spendy but could work are Joseph. Lots of classic bits.

I'm reluctant to buy much, especially not Joseph price tags 🤣
I might invest in some denims, I dislike maxi dresses/skirts.
I'm just going to need to think layers !!!