Update and thanks for feedback on Copenhagen travel capsule

*Updated and recapped in post below...*

Feedback would be much appreciated on a capsule I have planned for a 4 day work trip next week! I am taking carry on only plus a small handbag.

I'm travelling to a conference in Copenhagen after a formal meeting in London. In between the two I will have a half-day to sightsee in Copenhagen. Below I have set out what I will be doing, and the capsule I plan to take.

When I say 'formal', for my area of work this is perhaps smart/smart-casual, not a suit but still pulled together. I plan to wear navy, grey or white plus a bright accent colour. So everything should go together!

Sorry for lack of pictures. I can only add 'picks' from my laptop, am sending this from a very old iPad.

Weather report is warm (w/light rain showers on one day). Not so different from the UK at present.

Day 1 London meeting - formal, then travel to airport hotel
Day 2 - casual for flight, sightseeing round Copenhagen. (May attend evening welcome event but unlikely).
Day 3 - conference day 1 + dinner (dinner invite says casual dress code)
Day 4 - conference day 2 + flight home

The capsule:
Starting with shoes (a la Angie!):
1) These shoes (comfort and a little bit fun) http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/26114053
2) Black ballet flats with ankle strap (Camper Right) as back up shoes

2 x navy round neck silk jersey tshirts
1 x sleeveless Navy knit/silk layer top (bit dressier than tshirts)
2 x slim cut ankle length trousers - could take black or navy, and definitely want to take a navy&white patterned pair (favourites)
Navy draped cardigan (draped, with a kimono fit)
Navy shirt dress (in my picks) - with slim cut trousers or short brick-red leggings
Two scarves - a navy/white light long scarf and a light grey tasselled scarf
Dark grey yoga trousers

Am planning an orange leather handbag (for some colour). Plus a light long raincoat in a soft blue/grey pattern.

Could also take a white sleeveless linen shirt to break up the navy.

Which would make:
Top + trousers w/scarf and draped cardigan for 3 days meetings/conference w/Clarks shoes
Shirt dress + patterned trousers/leggings for dinner w/ballet pumps
Travel and sightsee in yoga trousers + tshirt + cardi

What do you think?

Whistles

Navy Lola Dress

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Top Pick

7 years ago

Summer

Veteran

This sounds like the perfect travel capsule to me. I would take the navy and the navy/white patterned trousers, adding in the black if you think you'll need them/have room. Your white shirt sounds like a good idea, too, just to give another option.

Good luck with the meetings, and enjoy your trip!

JamC

Choosing a colors, so all can mix is a great way to do carry-on. I would take the white top; three navy tops seems like too many. I would take one plain and one print pant. I think the dress is a great addition to the capsule.
Seems like you are good to go!

rachylou

Have you tried packing these things? I admit for three days, I'd only take one pair of trousers, and thus probably the solid navy and put the dress to more work...but I do like the idea of the patterned trousers to liven and change things up...

SecretSquirrel

(website)

Active Member

Thanks, all!
Summer and JamC, that's helpful, I will leave out the black trousers and will pack the white shirts. I am still tempted to take a second navy t-shirt as I tend to get a bit sweaty travelling (tmi?!) and I have a train to the airport and then flight . The t-shirts are quite thin at least so I can wash in the sink.

Rachylou, I haven't tried packing yet. I have a packing cube to help squish the clothes, and will wear the raincoat and cardigan (bulkiest items). I feel like one pair of trousers and dress won't be enough as I need an outfit for the Tuesday meeting too. But two pairs of trousers and a lightweight dress are an improvement on me taking 3!! I am an over-packer.. and trying to reform.

Suz

This sounds good to me as long as you have the raincoat (or umbrella). I like the idea of the patterned pant to liven things up.

I would also bring a more colourful scarf but I crave colour.

If it were me and a business meeting I would be wearing a jacket, but I understand it's not needed in the environment and if you are not a jacket lover then the cardigan will fulfil this purpose.

Thanks Suz, I will think about swapping out the grey scarf. I like pops of colour from scarves too and it would be more interesting. Yes, the kimono cardi acts as a casual jacket. I have a nice blazer but I don't want to have to wear that when sightseeing, on the plane etc. Others at the conference will likely be in suits, but it just isn't me.

A rather tardy update, but I wanted to thank you all again for your input on the capsule, it really helped. I was feeling a bit nervous about taking a carryon for a few days as I am a natural overpacker, but it worked really well and helped me 'convert myself' to more minimal packing!

For 4 days - 3 meeting/conference days, a smart-casual dinner and a sightseeing day, I ended up taking/wearing:

2 x navy round neck silk jersey tshirts
2 x slim cut ankle length trousers - navy, and navy&white patterned pair (favourites)
Sleeveless white shirt
Sleeveless navy layered silk/knit top
Navy draped cardigan (draped, with a kimono fit)
Navy shirt dress (in my picks) - wear with patterned trousers or short brick-red leggings
Two scarves - a navy/white light long scarf and a light grey tasselled scarf
Dark grey yoga trousers
With an orange leather handbag (for some colour), and light long raincoat in a soft blue/grey pattern.
Shoes - Clarks desert boots and Camper ballet slippers

The idea was:
A basic outfit of top + trousers w/scarf and optional draped cardigan for 3 days meetings/conference w/Clarks shoes
and
Shirt dress + patterned trousers/leggings for dinner w/ballet pumps
Travel and sightsee in yoga trousers + tshirt + cardi

Learning points for the next capsule (this week, but a few days staying in the UK this time) - I could have taken one less smart sleeveless shirt/top, (as was advised above!), but both navy silk/jersey tshirts were essential, as they could be rinsed in the sink and be dry for the next day. I had two train journeys plus the flight and needed enough changes into fresh tops on arrival at the airport hotel then at Copenhagen.

Yoga pants to sightsee in were a nice idea (soft to wear etc, but I forgot that they of course are quite fitted and I felt less comfortable wearing them without a longer tunic top. Plus it was too hot to wear them out and about!

Finally, of the two pairs of trousers, the navy slim ankle length chinos were worn for the first meeting (London) and one day of the conference but were such fluff-attractors (from static?) that they aren't allowed on trips again. Very annoying. I am happy to use sticky rollers, but the amount of fluff they attract, it looked like I had been rolling on the ground.

Finally finally it was so hot I bought gorgeous Birkenstock-style sandals from Camper in Copenhagen, which were a complete hit. Amazingly I managed to wear them in with no blisters, using Vaseline on my feet (I remembered Angie's tips on Glide).

Sounds like a successful trip, and good lessons for the next one! It is always difficult to predict the weather in transitional seasons or northern climates in general, and of course if you don't know that a pant will attract lint before travelling, you don't know -- but now you do! Good luck on the next trip.

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