5 February 2023

Packing list: 14 days in England

Packing list: 14 days in England ✈️

We’re off to England, and I’ve got outfits for exactly 14 days! Sadly, I lost my dad 8 weeks ago, and the purpose of this trip is to celebrate his life with his brothers and sisters, as well as with our extended family. My father was born in Ramsgate and grew up on the Kent seaside, which is where most of the family still lives. He met my mom in the library at the University of London while he was studying for his Ph.D. The other day, she told me (for the first time) how proud he was of his degree, and that without it, he would have never ended up in the US. She describes the library as a beautiful round building with upper galleries of very old books lining the walls. I’m glad she shared that memory with me 😥

Today’s post is about what I packed for 14 days in England for several different types of events. Preparing for a trip like this can be tricky since the weather is cooler, and winter clothing takes up a lot more room than summer clothing. We’re spending the first couple of days in London and staying at the Charlotte Street Hotel. After that, we’ll head up to Newcastle-Upon-Thyme for the service, and then back down to the Isle of Sheppy for a few days of family time. For packing inspo, I selected pieces from some recent style boards — I’ll share my tips below! Thank you for following along 🙂

Full disclosure: I’m not a packing expert, and as I write this on the plane, I’m realizing there are some things that should have stayed behind 😬 But, that’s what happens when you pack the night before, and don’t take the time to think through every outfit! I’m just like many of you — figuring it out as I go. So, the bottom line is, I still over-packed … but it’s ok!

A few of my favorite things

Years ago, on my very first website called “The Susie Wright Project,” there was a “My Favorites” section. I loved this website very much, but it needed to go once I started So Susie in June 2018. I’ve included some photos above that I lovingly selected for that Favorites section because they remind me of the trip that we are just starting!

The lower middle photo is one of my grandfather’s paintings, many of which I have hanging on my walls at home in Portland. There’s a special story around them, and on my last trip here, I was able to get some of the paintings that I’ve longed for since my 20’s! I spent summers visiting family here in England and the paintings hold a very special place in my heart.

Best travel day outfit

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

On long airplane trips, I always wear either leggings or joggers. This time, I decided on new Lululemon flare pants, and I like the longer length this time of year. Also, since I’m always cold, I layered up with this hoodie, this new Rag & Bone blazer and this t-shirt. This way, I’ll have a few warmer pieces for chilly nights in London! Layering is a great trick for bringing along several items that go together, but that you can also wear separately. I’m all about packing these key pieces. Finally, these Veja sneakers keep everything looking cool, and I’ll wear them pretty much every day.

The basics you need for perfect packing

Great luggage and compression packing cubes

I managed to squeeze 14 days worth of outfits into my Beis suitcase 😳 The one trick that made it all happen? Compression packing cubes! Thanks to an Insta friend, I decided to try them, and even my skeptical engineering brain son agreed: they’re amazing. He even asked me for a few for this trip! As a matter of fact, there’s no way I could have fit everything in my bag without them. I went with this Beis suitcase, and of course, the Beis Weekender came along as well. With the Beis Weekender, the trick is to not overpack it so it doesn’t end up being too heavy.