I’m super excited to be heading to Thailand today for a two week break, where I’ll be having fun testing my 25 piece travel wardrobe. To some it might sound like a lot, but given that my outfits are often made up of 3/4 pieces it’s a small rotation. I’ve struggled to pack light for recent trips because most of them have been fashion related, and for some reason my attitude has been of the more is more variety. But for this relaxation based trip I’ve packed a lean capsule collection of all my favourite comfortable (and chic) ensembles. To put it together I brushed up on a post I did ages ago on how to pack for a holiday and collated my 25 pieces, choosing them for wearability mix and match potential. I started with simple basics including shorts, silk shirts, simple skirts and light jackets in shades of white, black, denim and khaki.  I then picked out a few exxtra pieces in an additional palette of red. By sticking to basics and one or two key additional colours, I’ll have hopefully eliminated the dreaded colour clash that always seems to happen on holidays, also making it super simple to dress in three colours!

Hope you have fun whatever you’re doing these hols! How did you go with your packing? Happy to say I’ve got some fun projects lined up for you for the next two weeks.

Here’s the lowdown on what I packed if you’re interested.

Tops:
Silk shirts in black, red, white and polkadot, simple singlets in black, white and red, DIY denim shirt with leather collar (like this), vintage breton top (like this or this)

black lace shorts (like these or these), red patterned shorts (like these or these ), denim shorts

DIY red maxi skirt (make your own), Black zara skirt, DIY obi panel skirt, DIY brocade skirt, Vintage polka dot pleated skirt White lace mini skirt (similar to this)

Dresses:

Red Whistles dress (this sort of style), Sheer red pleated dress (sort of like this)

Red Zara jacket (like this), Monotone topshop bomber, H&M Kkahi hooded jacket

I didn’t count accessories but they do weigh your suitcase down so I picked fun versatile ones that could be worn with everything

Black flat sandals (like these), White converse, Black ballet flats, Black ankle boots (mine are from Zara these are the best), Black ankle strap heels (or these), Studded flats (for when I’m feeling fancy)

Silver Marni carryall, Black chain cross body bag

DIY Tassel earrings, Carla Deras for Roman Luxe Triangle earrings, Karen walker sunglasses (these and these), Ksubi x Richard Nicholl reflector sunglasses, Coach boyfriend watch, Coach fedora hat

The holiday season is usually booked up with so many events and parties that they go past in a boozy blur. But what makes a truly memorable event? Food and drink is an obvious one, but I think it’s more than that. For me it’s about activities, parties that have unique and interesting things to do are always the ones you remember. Remember slip n slide parties as a ten year old? Best. Parties. Ever. It seems our parents managed to fill birthdays to the brim with fun things to do, and while this might have been a product of their mortal fear of having 25 bored children on their hands (if you google kids party games you will see how desperate people are to tire their children out), it usually meant fun levels off the Richter scale. So there’s no reason why this year, your holiday party shouldn’t have a few activities for people to get involved in. I was recently involved in my friend MISCHA‘s anniversary party and in addition to photo booth complete with insane costumes they had this gorgeous Travel Wishing Map, or wanderlust map, where people were asked to put on a tag where they dreamed of travelling to in 2013 and pin it to the board. What can I say? It made us feel as though we’d achieved something (other than just inhaling 6 glasses of wine), and got us all thinking about our plans for next year. To make your own version, all you need is a large map, mounted onto some cork or foam sheeting, as well as some tags with pins to attach them to the map. Simple!

Initially I wanted to put Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, until one of my friends pointed out that I could do that next weekend (cheap and quick flight from HK) and it was a waste of a wish, so I put decided up a month in South America (as well as Tokyo in cherry blossom season, Cebu, Berlin and a million other places!).

And so the question remains, where do you want to travel to in 2013? I would love to hear!

Images: Taken at MISCHA‘s 4th Anniversary Party

Thought I’d share a few pics of the millions I took while I was in New York. I spent the first half of my two week trip staying in Manhattan, working with Coach, going to a few shows and generally enjoying the hustle and bustle of fashion week. I then moved over to Brooklyn for the second half of my trip and stayed with a friend – relaxing and enjoying the more laid back vibe of Williamsburg and the surrounding suburbs. All in all it was an amazing trip and I felt so lucky to meet so many lovely people and really get to know New York. Here are a few (ok yes well lots) of snippets of the places that I went and the things that I saw, including some holiday must sees and must eats for next time you are in NYC.

My NYC Must Do’s and Must Eats:

•  Hire a rowboat from the Boathouse in Central Park (only like $15 and so fun!)
• Take a Staten Island Ferry trip to see the Statue of Liberty (sit on the right-hand side for the best view)
• Wander the streets of the West Village and Meatpacking district and stop off at Ino’s for a panini.
• Hang out in Williamsburg and have a drink at the Radegast Beer Hall, and have a bite to eat at La Esquina Diner  (brother of the famous Las Esquina in Soho – go there too if you can get a booking!)
• Walk the Williamsburg Waterfront
• Go to the Brooklyn Flea and eat fresh strawberry icecream – life. changing.
• Duck into Beacons Closet in Brooklyn.
• Walk the Highline and then have lunch in Chelsea Market (fish tacos at Friedman’s Lunch were so good, or eat on the Highline itself behind Chelsea Market)
• Hit the shops around Soho.
• Hire a bike in Central Park.
• Go to the top of the Rockafella Centre
• Tour the Garment district.
• Have a sundowner at the rooftop of the Whythe Hotel in Brooklyn.
• Head to the Frick, Guggenheim and Moma Galleries.
• Have an Iced Coffee and bagel with creamcheese for breakfast.
• Go to Eataly from a long lunch.
• Have brunch at Penelope’s in Murray Hill.
• If you can, go check out Early Halloween – you will be bowled over.
• Hang out in the Lower East Side, have happy hour at Schillers Liquor Bar and then Tacos at Taqueria Lower East Side

Anywhere I  missed? I wish I had been there for a month so I could have eaten at more places!

Images: Candice Lake shooting at Lincoln Centre (with Bill Cunningham in the background!) / Panini at Ino in the west village (to die for) / lighting at a cafe in brooklyn / Street signs in Soho / hanging out on steeps in the West Village / Leandra catches the attention of the photographers / The Statue of Liberty / Schillers Liquor Bar in the Lower East Side / Wandering Soho with Jess and Sara / Amazing fresh pretzel at the Radegast Beer Garden in Williamsburg / DIY leather collar denim shirt in Times Square / Nicole outside the Lincoln Centre / Hats at Early Halloween (the most amazing vintage and costume  store ever!) / Rowing boats in Central Park / Beacons Closet in Park Slope / How to get photographed at Fashion Week!

Images: Natalie Joos being photographed by Nam and Tommy Ton / Williamsburg waterfront on a Saturday / Staten Island Ferry / Antique shop in Williamsburg / The Beckermans / Saxophone player on the Highline / Mercer Street in Soho / Button shopping / Central Park on a sunny day / Daily intake of bagels was very, very high / Aimee / Heart shaped confetti in central park / A classic American Caesar salad / Succulents in a store in Williamsburg

Images: Dani Song’s studded shoulders / Guac made on the spot in Brooklyn / Central Park / Power Posse of bloggers – Lauren & Erica, Geri & Sophie, Jenni, The Beckermans, Aimee / Addicted to New York Architecture / Bagel and iced coffee (everyday) / Brooklyn love / digging for treasures in Brooklyn / Looking down on the Lincoln Center from the Empire Hotel / The Highline / Sara hailing us a cab / The West Village