Staycation style for fun with no sun
It looks like we’ll be holidaying in the UK this summer — but what to wear? Jan Shure has some ideas
TO QUOTE the late Duke of Edinburgh, there is no bad weather only the wrong clothes. And those words have never been more relevant than for all of us planning a UK holiday — a staycation. Of course it may not be rainy and cold when you visit any part of the UK’s 9,000 miles of coastline or any inland idyll. The sun may shine unrelentingly for the week, ten days or — if you’ve taken a second mortgage — two weeks. And then again, it may not.
Thus when planning a staycation wardrobe, we are forced to switch our focus from filmy cover-ups and strappy sandals to anoraks and wellies — or at least to more versatile and practical pieces. Even as I write the phrase “versatile and practical” it sounds like the death-knell of style but it needn’t be because “appropriate” is always stylish, while inappropriate never is, as illustrated by the sartorial faux-pas of Ab Fab’s Patsy and Edina or the Sex And The City women attempting desert treks in designer threads and vertiginous heels.
The most crucial item for a UK staycation is an outdoor jacket. This should be fabulous as you may wear it a lot. Keeping you warm and dry is a given, but it should be a great cut and colour so that you won’t feel depressed any time you catch sight of yourself.
The real deal, a fully waterproof waxed Barbour jacket, costs from £200 to £459 for the Alexa Chungdesigned Rowan. Barbour also has un-waxed waterproof jackets in shades such as pink, lemon and ivory from £199. Boden has the “Morris” at £140; Joules at M&S has a selection at £109; Cotton Traders has all-weather jackets at £76 and weatherproof ones at £58 while Regatta has rubberised waterproof jackets at £75.
Jeans jackets and zipped hoodies can also provide a lightweight alternative cover-up for days when a serious waterproof jacket is left behind. Classic jeans jackets are available on the High
Street (M&S, £35 and Monsoon, £39), at Boden (£85) and by Acne Studios (£310). Edgier jeans jackets are offered by Stella McCartney (£595) and Nili Lotan (£680) at Matches. Find zipup hoodies at M&S, (from £25 and £29.50), at Baukjen (£149) and at Matches (Domi, £235 and Stella McCartney for Adidas, £120) .
Knitwear is a nobrainer for a staycation. Summer knitwear collections include wool and cashmere, so colour supplies a vacation vibe.
Boden has cashmere knits in mouthwatering summery shades from £130 while M&S has cotton-knit V-neck and crew-neck jumpers and cardis from £19.50.
The season’s hot trousers include palazzos, joggers, track pants and cargo trousers. I would caution against palazzos for staycation daywear as they could flap in a stiff breeze or trail in muddy puddles. Some of the best of the rest include LA Track Pants by Nili Lotan (£290 at Net-a-Porter); cotton anklegrazer joggers (M&S, £29.50); wide-leg joggers (£40, River Island); cotton-canvas cargo pants Isabel Marant (£330, Matches); cotton cargo pants (Boden, £90); camo cargo trousers (£29.50, M&S). A denim midi-skirt, such as a patchwork one by Batsheva (£255, Matches), a basic one (M&S Collection £29.50) or a denim-silk mix (M&S Autograph, £45), offer a clever alternative to trousers or jeans.
As well as slogan tees, on-point tops this season include vests and tanks which handily allow us to acquire a tan without struggling into swimwear.
A few carefully chosen accessories can also elevate your staycation look. A lightweight scarf in a colour or print that works with your outdoor jacket not only adds polish but hides any non-matching colours that might nestle beneath. Handily, two of the season’s hottest accessory trends are perfect for staycations: a mini or micro handbag (as long as it’s hands-free) can hold a few essentials and then be stowed inside a big beach tote, while the 1950s-style bucket hat is perfect for hiding uncoiffed hair in super-chic style, as well as protecting us from chilly breezes and hot sun.