Whether it’s a few days interstate to visit loved ones, a little getaway with girlfriends to catch a theatre show or a weekend exploring country towns with your partner, even short winter trips can cause headaches when it comes to deciding what to pack.
Often there’s a lot planned for each day – brunch, visiting local indoor and outdoor attractions, attending a sporting match, dinner in a destination restaurant, a night at a show, for example – but little time for outfit changes, even if you do have space in your bags for multiple items of clothing. And when you’re travelling on a budget airline and only want to take carry-on luggage, the options become even more limited.
So what can you do to look and feel your best with only a fraction of your winter wardrobe at your disposal? Here are some ideas for how to style just a few hero cold-weather items multiple ways when you’re on the move.
The knit dress
While you may not think of a dress as being a foundation piece, in winter, the midi length knit dress is a no-brainer. Whether in basic tones such as black, grey or beige, or a more standout tone such as forest green, wine red or rich mustard, it can take you from the chilliest casual outdoor event to fine dining with some clever but easy styling changes.
In fact, for an overnight trip you may not even need another outfit option. Keep in mind that knitted garments are most comfortable, warm and breathable when they are made from natural fibres such as wool, alpaca, cashmere and so on.
For a day of exploring outside, start with a layer of thermals, then add the dress and flat, comfortable boots or sneakers. Throw on a cosy jumper, gloves, scarf, a jacket and hat or beanie and you’re ready to go. If your plans are more of the indoor variety, you probably won’t need so many layers and can probably wear the dress on its own or with a cardigan and scarf to add interest as much as for warmth. For more urban outings, try wearing a shirt underneath the dress with the collar turned up and with the dress sleeves pushed up to expose the shirt cuffs, along with a belt and boots. In the evening, pair the dress with heels or heeled boots, statement jewellery and a blazer for an effortless but elegant look.
Quick checklist for styling the knit dress
Clothes
- knit dress
- thermal top and leggings
- jumper or cardigan
- collared shirt
- blazer
- coat or jacket
- socks, tights, underwear.
Accessories
- flat shoes for walking (boots, sneakers, etc)
- heeled shoes or boots for dressier occasions
- gloves
- scarf
- hat
- belt
- jewellery (necklace, earrings, brooch, etc).
The tailored pants and cardigan
Equally versatile when it comes to styling is the pants and cardigan combination. Again, choose pieces in natural fibres if you can, as these are the most comfortable and generally look better and are more durable than synthetic options.
The cardigan is the pivotal item here as there is a wide variety of silhouettes, lengths, necklines and textures available. For maximum versatility, a longline style works better than a cropped or waist-length design, as it can be belted to create various looks. Go for one in a fine, soft yarn in a length that extends well past your hips and that has buttons all the way down the front, and then experiment with how to wear it.
Casual outdoor days are easy in this combo: simply build on a base layer of thermals by adding a mid-weight sweater or long-sleeved shirt and topping with the cardigan, pants, outerwear, flat shoes and warm accessories such as a hat, gloves and scarf.
Dressier occasions might seem a bit trickier to tackle, so this is where it pays to choose a cardigan in a yarn that is warm but lightweight and skims over the body rather than being chunky or bulky – this allows it to be worn by itself with the pants in place of a blouse. Add heels, jewellery and perhaps a belt for a sophisticated yet laid back look.
If your cardigan comes with a waist tie, it can be fastened in a bow off to one side or knotted at the centre front of your waist, or wear it draped around the neck as a skinny scarf. You could even try wearing it as a pussy bow with a brooch in the centre to make an unexpected yet stylish accessory.
Packing checklist for styling the pant and cardigan
(accessories as per the knitted dress)
Clothes
- pants
- cardigan (longline if possible)
- thermal top and leggings
- long-sleeved shirt
- sweater
- coat or jacket
- socks, tights, underwear.
A note on colour
When aiming to pack light, you may like to put more thought into colour combinations than when your whole wardrobe is available. Some people swear by packing only one neutral colour (black, grey or beige spring to mind), while others limit their palette (black and white, or navy and pale pink, for example).
Then again, part of the fun of holidays is to get out and do things you usually wouldn’t, so it just might be the perfect time to debut new colours or patterns.
Make sure to try everything on in front of the mirror before you add it to your luggage, not only to see if the look works overall but also to check for holes, stains or anything else that will take an item out of rotation. When packing light, every piece has to work!
Also read: Tips for finding your personal style
