Scotland packing post - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Scotland packing post

L'Abeille

Veteran

Here's my plan. What am I missing?

14 days including two flying days. Mostly urban and car tripping across the country.

Bottoms:
3 pants navy, tan, and cropped flowered chinos
2 skirts, a gored navy polka dot midi and a (light, washable) kilt in the Nova Scotia tartan (mid blues and greens)

Tops:
5 woven
2 short sleeved blouses
3 shirts in white, stripes and floral
T shirts: 5 short and 4 long sleeved
plus 3 tanks/camis mostly for nightwear and layering
One thin cotton sweater /jumper for layering

Toppers:
Short hooded trench that folds into a carry pouch
Hooded white waterproof utility jacket
Navy blazer
White cardi
Navy gearish zip cardi

Footwear:
White walking sneakers
Tan walking sneakers
Cognac Clarks fisherman style sandals with a closed toe and comfortably supportive. Should be fine on cobblestones

Purses: I am going out on a limb. Normally I use a clutch or crossbody for the essentials and a big tote for everything else. I want to be hands free. Soi just bought a leather fanny pack and simple nylon backpack. I'd like to leave the other purses at home for space saving.

What am I missing?

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from L'Abeille

L'Abeille

Veteran

I just figured out that Clarks (who so gets me that they're the only shoe I would consider buying without trying on first) is based in the UK and has stores throughout Scotland. I learned this from a comment Toban made in my other post.

So if the weather changes so I need Chelsea boots, I know what to do. In fact I will be looking anyway, since there have been none available in Canada in my size.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I bought two pairs of high boots at a Clarks store in Edinburgh when I was there in April a couple of years ago. Thought that was pretty funny... the Canadian buys her winter boots in Scotland.

Seems like a lot of tops! 19?

Do you have shoes that you can not worry about if it's raining? Your sneaks good for that?

Looks good otherwise. Will ponder more.

Let me know if you have any flexibility in your schedule adn would like some suggestions as to where to go. The most beautiful place in the world is just a couple of hours from Glasgow... (view from my uncles cottage, which was my grandmothers when I was growing up)

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

kkards

Veteran

I’m a serial over packer, so I won’t offer any advice—just want to say sounds like a great trip. Have fun

Toban

Veteran

Ha! Clarks gets my feet, too. Coincidentally I’ll be in England and Scotland at the end of September and early October. Do you need two walking sneakers? I tend to like more variety in style. My Clarks Chelsea boots are definitely coming with me, plus one pair of walking sneakers and one pair of Rockport or Clarks pumps (3 days of conference), and my trail running shoes. I’ve started to make a list of my own top choices to identify possible gaps to fill, but always start with shoes :).

L'Abeille

Veteran

Elizabeth, what a beautiful view. We have 3 days in Glasgow at the end of the trip with no tight schedule, so we might do a day trip. Although I hear there is great thrifting to be had.

I counted 14 tops for 14 days, which might be layered and repeated, along with the over and under layers. Does that sound like too much? DH wants to do laundry once, but we have enough skivvies to go 2 weeks (with my job and as empty nesters) so I'd rather not HAVE to do laundry.

Thanks for the good wishes, kkards. As a serial overpacker... am I overdoing it?

Toban, we'll be doing a lot of walking, going as tourists. For 5 days in NYC last year I was awfully glad to alternate between two different pairs of sneakers to keep my fussy feet happy. My truly all-day walking shoes are few. I have a pair of men's Chelsea boots that are comfortable but without cushioning or arch support. If I find a UK 9/US 11 pair of walkworthy ladylike Chelsea boots, you can believe they will be coming home with me!

bj1111

Veteran

I wondered if you need another sweater? The cool weather will have you layering so not too many tops. How much can you layer under the navy jacket?

Anonymous

You might consider leaving the shirt sleeved shirts home and packing a second light weight pullover sweater or a layering turtle neck.

L'Abeille

Veteran

That is kind of what I was wondering, especially when I see photos and packing lists on Pinterest with gloves and boots and Fall jackets. But these are the pieces I wear layered in our June, when it's still cool enough to keep the "winter" lining in my big trench coat.

I could comfortably layer a long sleeved shirt or T, and the thin sweater or cardigan, under the blazer, and put the trench or utility jacket over it. That's why this capsule seemed most versatile, rather than taking some heavier sweaters that won't get worn at all if the present warm temps persist.

Current predictions are 20-21'C for the next two weeks. That's in Edinburgh, where I'll be away from car and home base all day so carrying my layers. The highlands and islands might be cooler but less need to carry the backup.

But Elizabeth says it feels cooler there than the same temps do here. So now I'm second guessing myself. Maybe I should take a bulkier sweater after all; but it would displace several Ts.

Jane

Veteran

I would definitely think about a bulky jumper or at least have options on lots of layers. It may not be cold for days on end but could be cold for a couple or more likely on / off cold.

I’m not sure about not taking a smaller bag / purse / clutch. May be you might need something different if you were staying somewhere and went out to dinner - would your new purchase do for that?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I don’t think you’ll need a bulky sweater. Layers are more versatile. And it’s not like you’ll always need them, you just need options.

Last summer (last two weeks of July), I wore capris or long thin weight pants with a tee and thin hoodie, or 3/4 sleeved tee most of the time. Had a thin rain jacket which served as a wind breaker as well. Evenings was a skirt or rolled bf jeans, tee and Cardi or cotton sweater. It can be lovely, it just won’t be hot. Certainly not humid, which we are used to. We had one day that got up to 28, and we all went swimming!

What you won’t need (that you’d wear here) are shorts, sleeveless tops, open toe sandals. Take one of each (well, not the sandals) if you get a hot day, but you won’t need them.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

OK, sitting at a keyboard and have stylebook open in front of me. This is what I took with me last summer. Mind you, it was a different type of trip than what you are doing, but it'll give you a good idea of what to take in terms of layers. I was really pleased with how this worked out.

I had 7 days on the west coast, in a house (that my great grandparents built!) hanging out with family, hiking, boating, and a family party. VERY casual. Then 7 days traveling up the west coast to Skye; more hiking, sitting in a car, some touristy stuff (that I wanted to look presentable for, like the "Hogwarts" train ride) and evenings eating in restaurants. I did have laundry access the first week.

Tops:

6 short sleeve tees, 4 casual, 1 strictly gear, 1 dressier (white tee duplicated in both capsules below)

3 long sleeved tees

1 cotton sweater

1 thin fleece pull over

1 sleeveless top

Toppers

1 raincoat, which doubled as a windbreaker

1 nicer coat

1 warm fleece - did not wear

2 thin zip up hoodies

1 thin cardigan

Bottoms

1 pair MEC gear pants (mainly for tick prevention when hiking through bracken)

1 pair Lululemon studio pants

2 gearish capris (Zella, Athleta)

2 pairs jeans, both BF, one blue, one white

2 skorts. Only wore one of them.

1 pair shorts

Oh, and I probably had waterproof pants as well, but they aren't documented in stylebook (funny, that ) so I didn't document taking or wearing them.

Shoes

Hiking shoes

Keens

Birks

Fashion sneakers

Dressier sandals (needed to be good for day walking, plus for the party)

and of course my Wellies, which I leave in my uncles shed.

Misc

1 dress for the party

3 scarves - only wore one of them, once.

See capsules below.

1. Casual clothes

2. "Nicer" clothes (the black skort is in both categories, but I didn't wear it)

3. Toppers with scarves.

This was good to do! I've wished I had this written out, every time anyone posts... glad I finally took the time to do it.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Christina F.

Veteran

I am often guilty of packing too many tops, but you have me beat! I think you want to aim more for the numbers Elizabeth describes, and pack with an eye for creating layers. You and your travel partners are the only ones who will know if you repeat anything.

Glory

Veteran

This looks like a great list and not today much at all. Have a wonderful trip.

Astrid

Veteran

I am in Scotland right now and really miss a wool pullover and my big warm scarf. It's been fairly grey and drizzly so far. And yes it feels much cooler than 21 degrees suggest. It's warm when the sun is out, but that hasn't happened very often since Sunday. It's been grey and windy and rainy. I wore long jeans, thin wool socks, sneakers, a t-shirt over my Icebreaker cami and a thin wool cardigan under a rain parka in Glasgow and I was a bit cold in between. I would have preferred having a scarf too!

And I've been carrying only my hiking backpack as a purse, also in the city, and it's fine. You don't stand out wearing gear.

So I would definitely pack some more cold weather options - one warm pullover, a cozy scarf and at least one pair of warm socks at the minimum! And I would only take one skirt if you also have the cropped chinos for warm weather.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Style Fan

Veteran

I tend to overpack but I have been trying hard to improve my ways. I always take at least 2 pairs of walking shoes because of my feet and also 2 pairs of other types of shoes so that I can alternate. I run cold so I always pack a fleece cardigan.
As others have said Scotland might feel colder than the temps. I have found that with other locations. Humidity, closeness to the sea that has cold air, etc. seems to influence how cold it feels.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Thank you everybody. You got my attention, Astrid! Are you warm yet?

I have looked at the latest weather predictions, which have dropped by 2'C from previous predictions, and all your advice. I have taken out the navy gearish zip cardigan, which has sleeves too narrow for serious layering, and put in another pullover sweater. Now off to pack, and if there is extra room I might add in a pair of jeans or an extra sweater. Also adding back my black leggings to the list, to wear under the skirts if needed (I really hate tights).