Capsule Travel wardrobe

Summer holiday capsule – Easy packing

If you are looking for an outfit that packs like a dream, can be worn multitude ways and looks chic and elegant I have found one. There is nothing like the feeling of soft chiffon floating in the wind. Although these photographs were taken by Hammersmith Bridge, near where I live in South West London, they are evocative of blue skies, long summer days on the beach or sipping cocktails on a balmy summer evening. The beautiful silk chiffon pop on top I am wearing is by HopefashionUK. It depicts an aqua sea, warm sand and palm trees. How much more summery can you get. I have teamed it with their foundation roll top wide trouser in navy. I will be talking more about the versatility of this piece and how well it travels later in the post.

How I created different looks with these two pieces.

All the photos were taken by my friend and fellow blogger Julie of Jafinthebox. Do check out her blog. She is a French mum living in London. She writes about her adventures. Her photos are superb and if you are thinking of visiting the UK she has checked out a wide range of our historic stately homes and parks and has many to recommend. She also has a great Instagram feed.

It was very breezy the day we took these photos but such fun.

I feel very waffty in this top as though I might fly away at any moment.

The first three images were styled casually as though I was going for lunch on the beach at a posh restaurant; or as I am currently finishing this post from the South of France not far from St. Tropez lounging on a million dollar yacht.

Have not received an invite yet (must have got lost in the post!). Probably a good thing as I tend to get sea sick even moored in a harbour.

Here I have styled the top and trousers more formally. Simply add a hat et voila ready for a garden party or corporate hospitality at Wimbledon.

As you know I am a great fan of hats. They serve two purposes. They frame the face and protect against the sun.

Now for the exciting bit. Pull the extended roll top up over the bust and you have a fabulous Foundation ‘jumpsuit’. Two garments for the price of one. It is a very long time since I have worn a bandeau top (or did they used to call them “boob tubes”) I will definitely be wearing this jumpsuit with a chiffon wrap to cover my shoulders. I could not resist this photo as the wind nearly whisked my floaty chiffon top into the sky. 

A bit more decorum. This is how I will be wearing my jumpsuit.

I plan to write another post to show you how I travelled from London to Nice in these trousers and was able to adapt my outfit according to the varying temperatures.

Both necklaces are some years old. I seem to be wearing two together in the first image. Oh well I just could not decide which. In the end I preferred the shorter one.

SHOP ACCESSORIES:

Hopefashion do shop internationally and are planning outlets in the US in the future. I will keep you informed.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post however the clothes were borrowed for photographic purposes. The trousers proved such great “packers” they are still with me and I am planning to feature them again in a “how to travel in the heat” post. 

Chicatanyage

I write a fashion and beauty blog for women over 50 with the aim of inspiring mature women to continue to enjoy and have fun with their fashion choices. I have spent most of my working life in some way connected to fashion. I started my career in Fashion PR and then trained as an Image Consultant when my children were young. I subsequently worked in the corporate world running seminars, doing private coaching and speaking at conferences. I started my blog in 2009 as I wanted to share my years of experience working in the world of fashion. I truly believe we can continue to have confidence in the way we present ourselves. Our style may evolve with time and changing lifestyles, yet with a little knowledge and inspiration, we can all continue to have fun with fashion. As women of a certain age we are a growing demographic let us prove that we can also be a chic one.

View Comments

  • Those two Hope pieces are the perfect combination, and the silk looks so luxurious. Perfect on you Josephine, you'll be the envy of St Tropez!

    • Thank you Viv although I am going to have to wait a week till I hit the "high spots" of St.Tropez. I am holed up with an eye infection and "La Opthamologist a dit pas de plage pour une semaine. Quel damage!" Never mind I am here till 20th July.

  • How annoying, hope it soon clears up, the beach will still be there next week !

  • This is a fabulous look. Love the colours in the chiffon top and 'boob tubes' never looked that good!

  • You look just lovely! The colors, the fabrics, and the style of the clothes flatter you and are perfect for the season. Very inspiring!

    • Hi Kathleen
      I often keep an eye on items that are outside my budget you never know they might be in the sale. Alternatively second hand shops occasionally have something similar.

  • Hi Chicatanyage! I recently discovered your wonderful blog while preparing for a holiday in Provence. I agreed and was inspired. Then I discovered you lived in the same village as dear friends of ours. Then we found each other at the same garden party! And you were so lovely! Now I am a fan for life, and will continue to turn to you for inspiration and more...Hugs, Angela

    • Hi Angela
      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog. What a coincidence! The power of google search. It was wonderful to meet you the other evening at the garden party. I always love to meet my readers especially such a charming one. You looked stunning in your beautiful dress.

  • Hello Josephine I have only just located your web page following an article on Tricia Cusden in my monthly Good Housekeeping magazine. I love your Gabor silver promise sandals, already ordered a pair off the web but I’m interested to know more on your navy/ pewter coloured sandals you wear in the summer capsule blog. It’s the one where you are wearing the blue chiffon top on a windy day near the Thames. Can you give me any idea of where you purchased those. I’ve looked on the Gabor site but to no avail unless they were last years design. You have given me so much inspiration on dressing up and down thank you so much.

    • Hi Annette
      The black/pewter sandals were a few years old. I think I might have bought them in France, I will see if I can find anything similar and get back to you.

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