My little junior vintage hatbox

Every week I get emails from readers asking the same questions; how do you pack when you travel? And while the destinations may vary, the principles of successful holiday packing do not. What I’m going to share with you is the thought process behind the how and why of my packing system.  It won’t be an expensive list of things to buy and how to create a carefree Riviera look. But it is a plan that you can apply yourself; whatever your style and wherever your destination.

1. How much space do I need?

Even before I begin to think about what might be needed to wear, I firstly start to build a picture in my mind of just how much luggage I’ll need. Here’s what you need to think about-

What is the airline’s luggage weight limit?

Will I have to carry these bags alone and how many changes of transport will I have to do that for?

Will the luggage be so big and heavy that I’ll need work boots just to drag it around? (Oh so very un-glam)

How much shopping will I be doing? At which destinations and what size of items do I intend to bring back?

Are there different luggage weight allowances on internal domestic flights in the areas I’m visiting?

You may be able to tell from this list that these are tips I’ve learnt over time, sometimes the hard way. And one other hard and fast rule I’ve learnt to apply is this; never bring large carry on. Not only are you not guaranteed a space for this, but it leaves you no wiggle room for that magic luggage expansion that happens on the very last day of your trip.

Keep hand luggage to a minimum both for your own comfort and speed of boarding flights.  Generally my hand luggage consists of those things that are irreplaceable like my vintage hats and jewellery; even then I keep it small so I don’t have to carry too much around airports.

Now that you have a mental picture of the size of luggage you need to bring, you can start thinking about the weather, activities and events you’ll be enjoying at your destination. Here is my secret trick to planning the perfect outfits…. I simply imagine the hollywood film version of myself on holidays. What does movie me wear for dinner on the beach, or when dancing a tango, or simply lazing in the shade with a book? Sure, it’s a romanticised version, but it is a great launch pad for ideas.

2. Write it down

For each possible activity I write down a generic description of what I need to wear. Swimming? Bathers and something to wear over them. Shopping on a hot day? Long cool dresses and good walking shoes.  Once you have this little list down you can start thinking of which items fit the bill.

3. Pick a pallette

Choosing a basic wardrobe colour palette for your trip is the key to making a few pieces go a very long way. It also saves you from needing to pack a large selection of bulky matching shoes. On my last trip I picked a base palette of red, white and blue, allowing myself a bit of green in there too as an accent colour. Here is the overview of my outfits for a two week trip-

This is what my bed looked like as I packed for my two weeks away. I haven’t pictured accessories, underwear or toiletries here so this isn’t the sum total of my suitcase content. But aside from those other small items, this is it. Keep in mind that I was away for two weeks; one at a beach and the other a lively city.  I needed to dress for heat, humidity, walking, lazing, shopping, dinners, conferences and meetings.

In the interest of illustration and helping you piece all this together, I’m going to break it down.

Firstly; scarves, pashminas and sweaters.

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You’ll notice that the colours I’ve selected all work within my defined palette for the trip. I had two pashminas, two little cropped sweaters and one long polka dotted scarf.  These will be your best friends on a summer holiday.  When you are in and out of air conditioning, dining as the evening cools, or simply looking to cover bare skin for modesty; these all do the trick.

The secret is to find pieces that are made in good quality yarns and with a very fine weave. That way they roll up to nothing and you can always carry one in your handbag. The ones I packed are made of angora, cashmere and silk. Breathable, natural and investments that will last you ages if you take care of them.

Let’s break down the rest of the key pieces…

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Far left from top down

Zebra print sheer beach cover up – can be worn over swimwear or over singlet tops. Just belt for shape and add some great jewellery.

Black lightweight cotton skirt – made of cotton voile this works for beach wear, dinner wear and day wear. Separates are your friends.

Bikini - I will only wear this at the pool. Not to the shops, not to dinner, and certainly not to play table tennis in as I saw some girls doing.

Leopard print dress – Again a light weight cotton dress with a shirred waist line, primarily worn poolside. On it’s own it is a bit basic (even in spite of the print), but with a black cinch belt, great shoes and a chunky bangle it becomes far more chic daywear. I wouldn’t wear this one to a more formal evening out as the cotton is too light weight to be fancy enough for my taste.

Center from top down.

Stripped peasant style top – again light weight cotton, but super fitted with a side zip. Cute with long or shorts skirts, heels or flats.

Red faux silk dress – cool, comfortable and will take you from the shops to a night out at dinner. Just change up the height of your heels, add a little cropped cardigan and a flower in your hair.

Gingham halter neck dress – Day or night, gingham works, It doesn’t translate to more formal settings, but a beachside dinner, or wine and tapas at a local cafe; gingham and halters come together to make you feel all Roman Holiday.

Red winged bust top – One of my best friends. Because it is so structured with boning, shirring and a convertible and removable halter strap; these babies will take you anywhere. With a cropped sweater , to make the best feature of your waist line, these can become chic little tops for cocktails when paired with an ankle length skirt.

1940′s reproduction 2 piece swim suit - yes, for swimming; but the top piece can also work as as singlet top for cute casual day wear. To make it look less like swimwear, I like to pin a large fabric flower onto one of the should straps at the neckline.

Far right, from the top down.

Large brimmed red hat (out of shot) – for sun protection, drama and mystery. See also hangover cures.

Navy and White ankle length jersey skirt - bloody brilliant! Whether in stripes or a solid colour, a long jersey skirt will take you easily from a comfortable plane ride to a swanky dinner. It can be worn with almost any style of top (steering away from the cut off versions to avoid any muffin incidents), and looks equally as great with flats as it does with heels.

Blue cotton voile 1950′s reproduction day dress – This one will do secret rendezvous, lunch dates, and with a few rhinestones for good measure; even a formal evening dinner.

Blue winged bust top – read the description of the red winged bust top so I don’t keep gushing about these.

Hawaiian print dress – Happy hour anywhere!

Khaki culottes - They are the skirt that isn’t a skirt, the solution to more active pursuits that can’t be handled in a skirt, and far cooler and more forgiving than jeans. The French know their stuff.

4. How to Accessorize

Picking a small but cohesive selection of accessories is key to getting several different looks from each of your outfits. These make the difference of day to night, formal to casual and are also the way you introduce your own personalised flair to each outfit. Here’s what I took to change up my outfits.

Belts – Simple, inexpensive elastic cinch belts in black, red and blue

Jewellery – For day time I chose chunky beads and a scrimshaw bangle in red or white. For evening I picked clear diamontes. A small necklace, super sparkly earrings and a pair of dress clips that you can wear on tops, shoes, bags or even in your hair.

Flowers – Both fabric corsages and faux flower pieces.  Each one has both a crocodile clip and a brooch clip on the back; that way they can be pinned on hair, bags, shirt, hats, used to keep scarves together.. you name it! A selection of four key colours and you’re good to go.

Shoes – two pairs of wedge heels, one black ballet flats and one pair of flip flops for the pool. That was it! Not having any short skirts in my capsule wardrobe meant that flats and wedges would work for any occasion. I stuck with red, black and one bright floral pair for a bit of fun.

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All in all, there really isn’t all that much here; but each piece (minus the bikini) must do at least three different outfit combinations, otherwise it just doesn’t make the cut.

5. The Finishing Touches

Just as they do every day at home, the finishing touches to your holiday outfit are what take your look from clueless tourist to chic international traveller. And what are they? Your hair and makeup. Being well groomed at all times on your holidays not only makes you feel better but it will save you money too. Hear me out on this one…

When you find yourself in a new city or even at a fancy resort, you are constantly bombarded with images of good looking people, just as you are at home. It may be the pictures of the gorgeous lady getting a massage at the spa, or it may be the urban dwellers you’re bumping shoulders with over a sale rack.  Nothing will make you reach for your wallet on holidays faster than when you feel inadequate. Yes, it happens to everyone no matter how much above it we’d like to think we are.

When you’ve given your outfits careful consideration as to when and where you’ll be wearing them, you need to pay equal attention to your hair and makeup.  Learn some quick and easy styles that don’t take an hour with the straightener each morning. If you’re going somewhere humid and your hair hates you, be prepared. Pack a small bottle of macadamia oil for emergency smoothing and plan some sleek styles that avoid the issue altogether.

Makeup needs to be simple, straightforward and climate friendly; but even when at the beach I don’t leave my red lipstick at home. I just pick the right formulas. Heavily tinted lip stains, mineral makeup that doesn’t melt and waterproof everything else. ( Come to think of it I really need to write a whole post on ‘beach face’).

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In short, consider the whole package. Does it live up to that ‘movie’ version of the holiday in your head, and will that woman wear what you’ve chosen for her? Is it too much hard work or do you need to simplify?

Once you’ve got the basic strategy down, you can mould it until it is the perfect fit for you. It works for summer or winter, the simple holidays or the fancy.  I’ve written a hell of a lot here, and as I’ve deconstructed what comes naturally to me, I realise that it isn’t about the little details of what I took, but why I packed each piece. And I’m hoping you can see the big picture emerge from all of this.

Of course, this may leave you with even more questions and you’re always welcome to ask away in the comments section. But for now, go forth and know you can really relax when you get to your destination; packing ninja that you are!

Some places are so thoroughly steeped in style and history that a filmic sense of glamour descends upon you, simply by walking through the door. The Raffles Hotel in Singapore is just one such place. When the hotel first opened on the 1st December 1887, it was a 10 room hotel, which in its first few years played host to many a celebrity of the time, including the father of many childhood imaginings, Rudyard Kipling.

I don’t wish this post to become one great big history lesson, but to appreciate the beauty of Raffles and understand its origins, will tell you just why I was so awestruck by my moment here…. even with two misbehaving children in tow.

The day we wandered into Raffles was Chinese New Years Eve. Serenely quiet and far less peopled than I imagine it would be otherwise. The air was heavy with anticipated rain, creating a feeling of places not unlike the tales of Kipling himself. The sound of each foot fall on the terracotta tiles was tempered by rustling palm fronds and the curious squeaks of small coloured birds. Coming to a stop in a small courtyard I stood, craning my neck upwards to take in the deep green of the glistening leaves; echoed with a shock on the balastruding of the balconies.

After taking in the white washed twists and turns of the open corridors, we came to the beautifully arched door ways, behind which dined some very lucky patrons enjoying that afternoon’s High Tea. I’ve always wanted to ‘do’ a High Tea at Raffles, but my over tired companions made that a very unwise choice. And so we moved on, stopping to take photographs at the fountain in the Palm Court (and stopping some very un-decorous stripping from my small enthusiastic bathers).

As the skies gave in and the rain poured down, we retreated to the elegant cigar bar. Beautifully situated overlooking the Palm Coutryard, and filled with the warm glow of lamplight, it was at once soothing and inviting.

There was not a soul in the bar, just us as we stood there seeking shelter from the rain, planning how best to entertain the children and get what we wanted too. Sometimes this is achieved by incentives, sometimes by a little healthy ‘motivation’. This afternoon’s motivation came in the form of Raffles iconic uniformed guard, who with the right back story, become a figure of authority over naughty children. Storybook perfection.

Although I’d had to forego the delights of High Tea, I had one other Raffles fantasy that was in reach of being fulfilled. And so, with a smile we headed off down Cad’s Alley.

The Long Bar is indeed the original home of the Singapore Sling. Created by bar tender Ngiam Tong Boon some time before 1910. (Aside: I do believe this mans portrait should sit upon the liquor cabinet of every woman’s home). Taking a circuitous route to reach the bar, we entered by the back door, and I’m so glad we did or I would have missed this gem. Hidden on a wall away from the bustle of the bar area, was this gem of illustrative work; the Maskee Sketchbook.

Forgive the barrage of images there, but I was just so taken by this work. Created circa 1939 by Schiff, this series of original images are all coloured by hand. I don’t know if this piece is the original, but there is a very limited number of copies in existence, each hand coloured, hand signed and owned by a lucky few. Capturing a Shanghai at the height of its glorious, decadent deco moment; Schiff’s work speaks volumes with the smallest stroke.

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Ordinarily I don’t bring my children to bars, but when at Raffles Long Bar, one must make an exception. And by a simple employing of tradition, I was able to enjoy a far more relaxing afternoon that I had anticipated.

The floor was a carpet of peanut shells. And in keeping with the custom, the children set about eagerly adding to the effect. As for me, I had a date with that ruby hued drink of legend; the Singapore Sling.

And that, my friends, is how we concluded our little adventure at Raffles; with a cherry on top.

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Outfit Notes-

Blue winged bust top – Miss Hussy Clothing

Khaki Linen Culottes – unlabelled find from Far East Plaza

Sparkly leopard print hair bow – Chameleon

Lip colour – MAC Russian Red

Yes this is a bit special. The story goes like this..

My lovely girlfriend Bernie Dexter, who aside from being a stunning pinup model, is also a cracking designer of vintage inspired fashion. You’ve seen me wear a number of things from her ranges before; including cute 50′s capri pants and retro dungaree jeans. But just before I took off for Thailand, she sent me this STUNNING water lilly dress from her latest range! It is made of a mid weight cotton with a rear zip and a tie up halter neck.  The bust is a gathered inset section and the print is a “water” print, in that it looks like blue ripples on a lake. The skirt of the dress is lovely and full so it is perfectly cool for hot summer days and just delightful in these tropical surrounds.

Anyway, when I knew I was heading to Thailand I promised her I’d take a few special outfits appreciation shots of this fantastic dress. Little did I know that the resort I would be staying at actually had a water lilly pond! Serendipity if you ask me.  So I paired the dress with an inexpensive pink rose clip I found at a roadside stall, and a cute pair of floral print wedges I’d bought for the trip ( super cheap at $29 from Betts). What I adore so much about Bernie’s dresses is that not only is the fit incredibly flattering on a range of figure types, you really don’t need to accessorise at all. Just pop a dress on and you’re good to go.

All of the fabrics she chooses have such interest and movement in the print, that they speak for themselves.  These are not bad mood dresses, they are not high maintenance dresses (I wash mine in a wash bag on delicate in the machine). What they represent to me is the very best of what everyday fashion is relearning from the 1950′s. That a simple cotton dress, well made with femininity in mind, is the one step solution to a glamorous day.

The good news for my Australian readers is that thanks to a little girly pow wow between friends, my lovely sponsor MisKonduct Klothing is now stocking Bernie Dexter‘s range here in Australia!! That means quick  and inexpensive shipping, easy returns and being super swanky is just a local click away.  Size wise I find that if you consult the measurement charts on Bernie’s site you should be good. As they are a cotton and have no stretch, you want to make sure that you get a friend to measure you up so you know your correct size. I always recommend having a (discreet) friend do this for you once and then write it all down for late night shopping indulgences. Make sure to measure everything, including the drop beneath your bust to your natural waist line – you never know when you’ll need the measurements. (Even more so on 50′s styled dresses where you want to be sure they sit on your natural waist and not above) I generally wear an Australian size 8-10, so the small Water Lilly dress fits me perfectly.

If you love it as much as I do and have any questions, please feel free to ask away in the comments section. After all, a gem like this is too good to keep all to one’s self.

Before I begin, a warning.

This post will make you hungry, very hungry. It will also make you very thirsty. And it will make you hate being just about anywhere else in the world but here. I’m sorry.

So the very first day I’m in Thailand and already I can’t wait for Happy Hour to begin.  Given that Phuket is four hours behind Melbourne, I figured it was fair game to break out my first Mai Tai at 9.30 am… that and I’d been up with the children since dark o’clock.

Deciding to brave the tourist trap that is Patong Beach, we headed to the beachfront restaurant which was recommended by our cab driver as having incredible seafood.  Although the seafood was good, I think it may have been the kick back he was no doubt receiving from the restaurant that was incredible.  The drinks on the other hand, seemed to be more their specialty. I wonder if this is because the typical customer is a sun soaked, beer drenched punter stumbling in like a lobster from the sand….? Either way, when I received my blended coconut drink it was pure heaven. Blended coconut, that is coconut milk, meat and ice blended together like a slushy; and it is an OMG moment.

I cannot remember what Mr SKM was drinking. I only know that it came in a glass with boobies and a big butt. So classy.

Evenings weren’t all waterside dining, as after taking small children on big adventures, we were lucky to make it to room service.  Prawn skewers, Pad Thai noodles and a cold Asahi beer are the perfect end to a perfect day.

Breakfast buffets and I have a love hate relationship.  I always adore the selection of food, but feel guilty if I don’t try everything. I always began the day with a small bowl of congee (rice porridge) which is one of my favourite foods, so that I didn’t feel disloyal. Then I’d move onto sampling something from the breakfast menu of each continent.  This is another thing I love about breakfast buffets in hotels; the way they cater to such a variety of nationalities and their breakfast habits.  It means I get to try things I usually wouldn’t and generally end up expanding my breakfast repetior when I get home too. Hence, I began this particular morning with a very American breakfast of waffles, pancakes and berries all covered in maple syrup and chocolate sauce.  Can I hear you say “Diet Death”! Woo!

Eventually,we had the opportunity for one child free dinner and went somewhere just for grown ups. The Andaman Grill at JW Marriot on Turtle Beach. I’m telling you where this is as, if there is any chance you ever get to Phuket, you MUST go! Not only is the aspect totally gorgeous, the food was unbelievable!

To start with, we were greeted with a sample selection of the seafood on offer.  My Australian readers will be all too familiar with prawns, given that they are a staple of all entertainers at special events. But even for we Antipodeans who are used to really large prawns (‘Shrimps’ for the Americans), these babies were altogether another alien creature.  Check out how big these are next to Mr SKM’s hands!!

The first course was a mixed seafood tasting platter, quite delicious. But what came next was almost embarrassingly delicious.

This (not perfect iPhone picture of) my Swordfish Steak, was the most INCREDIBLE steak I have EVER eaten.  It is possible that there was a little moan emitted from our table at the moment I took the first bite of this.  This moan may have been followed up by sighs of rapture, closed eyes and effusive compliments to the chef.  I do recall at some point saying, ” You could feed this to a Texan and they wouldn’t know it was fish!”.

So yes, I liked the fish.

After all that, I’ve realised that I have a veritable slew of food photos and stories, so I’m going to break this up into two posts. Next up Singapore; but before I go one more drink.

Coconut juice with a tequila shot sinker! Tee hee…

Happy Lunar New Year! It’s Year of the Rabbit this year and Singapore is in full Chinese New Year swing!  We’ve been feasting it up, shopping for new year clothes and wallets, enjoying all sorts of customary activities and getting appropriately fat!

Given that this is one of the few days of the year that nearly all the stores are closed, we decided to save today for a family visit to the zoo. Of course there are SO many photos of that I’ll be saving that for a super sized up coming post, but for today here’s some new years wishes from me, my family and my cute bunny friends!!

Xx

If you’re wondering, today’s outfit comes courtesy of my 14 year old self.  That is… it is a dress my mother made for me when I was 14 and I’ve kept! Worn with pewter ballet flats for all the walking, a red stretch elastic belt and red roses in my hair from Bexterity.  Miss 3 and Miss 6 found their outfits at Tesco’s in Phuket as they prepared for the festivities ahead.  I don’t think we’ve ever been stopped for so many photos in our lives!! If we could have charged per picture we would have paid for the whole holiday! LOL.

And yes, that is a cuddly white rabbit in my hands. His name is ‘Carrots” and I just had to take him home with his crazy cute eyes. ^-^

HAPPY NEW YEAR!