I adore packing. It's some sort of obsession i have about neatness and compact wardrobes, i love planning ahead, setting everything aside, and then assembling them with precision and ease into one of my many suitcases. It's calming, in a bizarre way, and i'll never understand the people who don't like it. What's not to like about assembling the perfect wardrobe for various occassions?
Take this trip to Hong Kong that i am about to embark on. Like all holidays it poses a few packing problems, hurdles that i must first leap over before i can declare the packing a success.
1. The important function.
coral necklace, wittner heels, garconne skirt, topshop biker jacket (similar to the sportsgirl one), topshop crop top
almost all holidays have one of these. they are usually the reason for the trip in the first place. Mine is my grandfather's birthday party. Lots of chinese relatives that i must smile at awkwardly because i can't speak chinese and they can't speak english. Have to wear something that won't distract from the huuuuuge banquet (we're asian, it's what we do best!) and centrepiece of hundreds of plastic flowers with fake water droplets attached to them.
Anothing issue: the chinese fascination bordering on obsession with air conditioning. Understandably in a city as humid and hot as Hong Kong, but not at the level that they do it, it could be 50 degrees outside but it will never breach 20 inside. And that's in an economic household. Whenever we have functions we crank up the air conditioning to incredible levels, meaning that I have to be prepared to be very cold. That means layers, which, luckily, is my middle name.
So the best thing to do is go for simple and sleek. I'm planning on wearing my recently found (read: unearthed at the bottom of my mum's wardrobe) floor length calvin klein maxi skirt (looooove the long skirt!) in a beautiful sheeny black with 5% lycra paired with either my bassike white tee shirt, beautiful quality (haven't yet managed to find my perfect silk tee shirt yet!) or my new topshop crop top in a 'slinky' material and a short grey cardigan and my suede rick owens biker jacket rip off from sportsgirl. I was going to wear it with my treasured rock crystal necklace from COS but it broke on monday when i was in the city, the crystal fell off and i only realised hours later. *tear* am going to try and find a replacement for it in hong kong.
2. the weather
topshop knit, rayban wayfarers, sigerson morrison gladiators, topshop crop top, josh goot maxi skirt, ann demeulemeester fringe scarf, garconne skirt, topshop cardigan, casio watch, marni bag, kain tee shirt, seafolly one piece.
almost invariably the place you are visiting on holiday will have a different weather. In fact, this difference of weather is often a defining deal maker for the holiday in the first place. For me the weather in hong kong, especially in the heat of july, is unbearable. But, unfortunately, it must be born in the name of familial obligation. *sigh*. I have to pack for heat, humidity, sticky hot winds and sweaty days of crowded cities... This is the person who owns about 20 coats but not one pair of shorts, and i live in australia.
The best thing for me in summer is the maxi skirt/dress. I live in it. It's cool, breezy and doesn't sacrifice an inch of glamour. I pair them (i have a fair few haha) with crop tops, loose oversized tees and light cardigans. Also good in summer heat for me are some baggy tunic dresses worn with crop tops layered over that (i'm big on the summer layer to battle all eventualities), my new topshop rodarte-esque knit is light and cool, perfect for summer, and my floaty tye dye josh goot skirt is the best in hot weather. A stylish one piece (yes, garance, us aussies actually do wear them!) is also necessary for all the pool-side lounging with cocktails i am planning on doing. I'm also debating about adding a pair of cropped pants to the mix, kind of cigarette pants, tapered and pleated at the front, and super comfortable. Still deciding on that front.
In terms of accesories i'm taking rayban wayfarers, the trusty gladiator sandals that are falling to pieces but have certainly served me well. I'll give them one last hurrah in hong kong before needing another pair for this summer. My marni bag is going to be my carry-all. A light pashmina scarf for night time coverage and a lovely panama hat given to me by my godfather when i expressed delight in his extensive hat collection.
3. the plane.
wolford leggings, APC dress, topshop crop top, topshop jacket, lanvin ballet flats, vogue uk, rayban glasses.
the age old dilemma that has plagued holiday goers for years - what do you wear on the plane? comfort is an issue, especially when flying anywhere decent from australia because i will guarantee you that it will take a matter of good hours to get there. But then comfort can be achieved without sacrificing any style. Also a problem is catering to both the weather in the city where you are leaving and that of the city you are arriving. very cold in sydney to warm and humid HK. great.
What i'm going to wear is a baggy smock dress with pockets, underneath a grey crop top and leggings. This way when i get to hong kong i can take the leggings off if it's unbearably hot, and likewise with the crop top.
***
Aren't i just a packing genius? Along with all this are the essentials, a Vogue UK for the plane (and then some after), some lovely new books such as my summer of love (thankyou abby for making the recommendation) and the unbearable lightness of scones by alexander mccall smith. A block of gorgeous green and blacks mayan chocolate for nibbling, a fully charged ipod with a host of new music on it, and a notebook and pen to scribble away in if i get existential during the flight.
Can't wait to get back and report on purchases! The sales are on! And there is an H&M in hong kong! And i'm going to the jade and pearl markets, Mong Kok's worst kept secret where people will make up jewelry for you in the hour. Looking to try and get a copy of those amazing lanvin necklaces on grosgrain ribbon, taking a supply of some with me for that express purpose. Catch you on the flipside (there will be a few little scheduled posts, but until then not much blogging unfortunately ).
miss you all already!
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