Today Ma and Pa bumpkin are arriving in London town in time for a little family trip to Belgium, you see my brother moved out there just before Christmas and as none of us have ever been and it’s only a short trip on the Eurostar it seemed silly not to! Plus it’s the home of delicious chocolate and homemade beer so I’m pretty sure I’ll be just fine there. Myself and my Bro’s birthdays are rather close (he is the 15th I’m the 19th) and it’s Mothers Day this month too so March seemed like the best choice for the trip. As it turns out we will actually be together for none of those occasions as we return on Wed 14th and my parents fly back to Scotland on Tue 15th but hey ho I’m sure we will celebrate adequately for all!
And so we are off to Brussels, to see my brothers humble new abode, get to know his new Belgian girlfriend a little better and hopefully get a trip to Bruges in just so I can see if it’s really like it is in the film. As I said I’ve never been to Belgium before which seems rather silly now as it takes less time on the Eurostar than it does to go to Paris but I guess its just not been one of the European countries that is top of my list to visit! Hopefully this holiday will change my mind however as my Bro has sung its praises ever since getting there and I do love to explore a new haunt… I’m envisioning vintage markets, sitting outside in quintessential cafes watching the world go by, chocolate havens, and lots of friendly beer gardens.
The weather forecast however is playing havoc with this vision and making packing an absolute nightmare! Apparently it’s due to be grey and rainy for the three days we are there, which is never great for sightseeing anyway but even worse when you would quite like to wear your new Marni for H&M pink shorts sans tights and would prefer not to have to let a warm coat take up all of the room in your suitcase.
And so my deliberation of what to pack began… But I find the best way to do it is to start with the things you know you will definitely need, then the things you will most certainly wear and then the things you really really want to wear even though they may be impractical.
So here goes…
Trip Essentials!
1. A Camera…
It is my most vital item to be packed and the first thing I thought of without hesitation- I’m travelling to a new destination full of new snaps just waiting to be taken- it’s a must!
2. A waterproof jacket…
If it is due to rain then I should be prepared and this Howies jacket is perfect as it can be easily packed without taking up much room and works well for a day out as is nice and thin and can be layered on top of a summery outfit and if the sun does come out easily whipped off and thrown in a bag- plus it’s rather cute- blue with yellow floral hood design, I’ll still look pretty cool in the rain!
3. My Bag for all my Junk…
I’ve decided my Cambridge Satchel is the best bag option for the trip as it holds a lot, goes with most outfits and will make me look like a cool Londoner on foreign ground…
4. A Pair of Comfy Flats…
I’ll be doing a lot of walking and need some comfy footwear that will still double up as chic if we go straight from sightseeing to dinner and my French sole pumps are just the ticket, you won’t catch me wearing walking boots in a restaurant!
5. A Pair of Everyday Jeans…
No matter what the weather is like you can always wear jeans- they are comfortable for day, can be dressed up for night and are definitely an essential! I’m taking my blue Topshop skinnies.
The Outfit Must Haves…
1. A Pair of Party Heels…
With any trip, even a family holiday, I always take at least one pair of heels as you just never know what might happen or who you might run into and the last thing you want is to turn down an amazing invitation because your pretty sure you won’t get in in your Converse! Even though the closest I’ll get to a swanky night out is dinner with the folks I’m still taking my silver stilettos as they are sophisticated without being too high or too difficult to walk in.
2. A Great Dress…
For all of the same reasons as above you need one fabulous dress in the mix and mine is from H&M and is a lovely pastel pink pleated number which can easily be worn for day with a chunky knit and my Converse or for night with my silver heels and some killer bling!
3. A Wear With Anything Knit…
I love a good piece of knitwear but finding something that works with most of the things in your wardrobe and looks chic rather than dowdy can be difficult. I have found it (or rather my friend has found it and kindly thought of me) in this loop knit throw over from Monsoon! My friend, a knitwear buyer for the company picked it out with me in mind and she got it spot on as I love it! The only problem is that it’s so thick not many jackets go over the top of it so it needs to be warm enough to have bare arms yet cold enough to warrant a knit… Let’s hope Brussels is exactly that temperature.
4. A Good Tee…
If I dont end up getting the weather to warrant my pink shorts sans tights then I’m bringing a piece of Marni for H&M with me that I definitely can wear and that’s this cute and colourful tee- perfect tucked into a skirt, casual with jeans and even better with the shorts if I get to wear them!
5. A Day to Night Clutch…
Well of course I’m going to take my Marc Jacobs… It was made for a trip like this! It’s perfect as a purse for day (holds my euros and my iPhone, fits nicely in the satchel) and as a clutch for evening ( holds my euros and my iPhone and a lippy) plus it’s not yet ventured out of the UK and is one of those bags which definitely needs to see the world!
The Might Never Wear but Can’t Resist…
1. A Pair of Shorts…
Well it’s not quite shorts weather and it’s definitely not bright pink shorts with no tights weather… But you never know, YOU NEVER KNOW PEOPLE, I’m taking them anyway and I guess I could, if I really had to, and was going to get hypothermia otherwise… just wear tights.
2. A Pair of High High Wedges…
These shoes were not made for sightseeing, I’m not sure they were made for anything really other than too look good but look good they do- especially with a pair of White ankle socks and pink shorts with no tights! ( I have to bring shoes to go with the shorts just in case…)
3. A Spot of Sparkle…
Who says metallics should be reserved only for Christmas? I say a bit of sparkle all year round is fabulous and that’s why I’m taking my silver pleated maxi with me! I bought it at Christmas time as my party skirt but in actual fact it has now become my everything skirt. Teamed with a chunky knit and flats it works just as well for day!
4. Something overly Summery…
The shops and the magazines are fooling us you see… They are telling us its time to don the pastel and ice cream shades, to look out the florals and to buy some mules… But in actual fact the world is not ready for this overtly summery behaviour as it is not yet summer! The wind does not stop because we have a floaty dress on and the sun does not shine because we have our tootsies out in a pair of sandals… So yes I’m taking this vintage printed dress in it’s beautiful summery shades of green and pink but no the weather in Belgium may not play ball.
5. A Wooly Hat…
I’m talking a lot about it not being warm enough for my summery options but it also might not be cold enough for woollens… But I do love my cream knitted bobble hat and I also love my wooly panda hat so they are coming with me and will make those summery dresses more appropriate for grey skies!
Accessories are key…
1. A printed scarf…
A scarf is essential whatever the weather, keeps you neck warm in the cold, acts as a hair saver in the rain, can accessorise a bag in the sun! I’m taking two – a patterned silk number from River Island and this pink printed one which GB brought me back from Ethopia a couple of years ago!
2. A Go To neckpiece…
I say neckpiece because this doesn’t necessarily need to be a necklace, just something that can jazz up an outfit and make it that little bit more interesting. Mine is my embellished collar from Zara which really has been one my best buys!
3. A Pair of Sunglasses…
It might not be sunny enough for sunnies but then again it might so I’m bringing my urban outfitters ray ban look a likes just in case!
4. A Pastel Belt…
This belt has been picked as it will quite literally go with everything else I have mentioned here… one belt, many outfits!
5. Some pearls…
Pearls go with everything and also have a spring like quality to them as they finish off a pastel outfit perfectly!
So there you have it, my Begium bound packing list. Of course that’s not all I’m taking, I mean those 20 things alone would be ridiculous. I have no underwear, I have no warm coat and not nearly enough separates so there will be additions but I am only going for three days so I should be careful not to pack too much!
BB
xxx
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