Just when you thought your bank holiday plans were coming together, someone throws a spanner in the works. That someone is usually the British weather, and true to form, the forecast for this coming weekend is frustratingly vague: “Sunshine and scattered showers, possibly heavy and thundery for a time,” according to the Met Office. This will be followed by rain and wind, and if we’re lucky “a chance of some short-lived very warm conditions in the south and east at times.” The message? Prepare for all eventualities.
Of course, different activities demand different kit. Dressing for a blustery walk along a British beach is nothing like dressing for a back garden barbecue, or a lazy meander around a National Trust property and its grounds. Or perhaps you’re escaping it all in favour of a chic European minibreak.
So before you waste any more time wondering which clothes will prove the perfect layering combination for your long weekend, take a moment to scan the suggestions here. It’s less of a shopping list, and more outfit suggestions that marry style and practicality, but if you are missing a piece of the puzzle, you’ll know where to find it.
Whatever your bank holiday agenda, and whatever the weather ends up doing, we’ve got your wardrobe covered.
Countryside escape
Perhaps you’ve rented a quaint cottage in a chi-chi Cotswolds village, or a couple of nights in a country house hotel. The wardrobe for this should be casual and practical, but at the same time, you’ll stand out like a sore thumb if you pack new everything.
The anchor of your look should be a “barn jacket”, fashion’s favourite outerwear this season. It’s essentially a Barbour, but lots of high street stores have come up with their own take on the look. Whether you’re planning walks and cycle rides, or a stroll around a nearby National Trust property, you probably won’t need more than a shirt or T-shirt underneath. Footwear should be anything that you don’t mind getting muddy.
If you plan to dine in a restaurant, the dress code is unlikely to be formal – it will warrant clean, dry and mud-free clothes though, so consider that when packing.
Barn jacket, £168, Everlane
Mae cotton smocked blouse, £75, Boden
Washed barrel jeans, £138, Reiss
The back garden barbecue
A classic optimistic August bank holiday activity, because we won’t have many more opportunities to cook and eat outside this year. Unless you’re manning the grill, it’s easy enough to go inside, but a truly loyal guest will keep the chef company and their glass topped-up.
Fashion-wise, this is not the moment for a flowy summer maxidress or palazzo pants – the hems will absorb rainwater faster than you can say “soggy bottoms”. Nor do you want to be the fool in the cagoule should the sun shine.
It’s not so cold that a dress or summery co-ord would look inappropriate. Stick to mini or midi lengths, or cropped trousers. It’s the key to looking pulled-together and elegant without appearing as though you’ve tried too hard. A light hooded jacket should be enough to protect your head, just in case you’re required to ferry platters of burgers and sausages to the rest of the party inside.
Polka-dot top, £30, and culottes, £65, both Oliver Bonas
Birkenstock St. Barths leather slides, £200, Net-a-Porter
Jacket with detachable hood, £115, Cos
Coastal day trip
Proceed with caution because the weather always feels more extreme on the coast. That said, there’s something very cobwebs-clearing about a windswept beach, and it’ll feel like all of your Christmases have come at once (provided the sun chooses to make an appearance).
A great pair of boyfriend jeans is the way to go here – not too tight, not too wide, with rollable hems should you fancy getting your feet wet. Team with a big, oversized knit, which can be tossed over the shoulders if not needed. You’ll win bonus-style points if you can incorporate a Breton stripe in some way.
Oversized wool jumper, £295, Navygrey
Cotton-twill wide-leg trousers, £149, Wrap London
Veja Rio Branco trainers, £125, Toast
European minibreak
Clever you for booking this one in – you’ll escape the will-it-won’t-it rain game altogether, as sunshine, at least in southern Europe, is all but guaranteed. Seize the opportunity to wear your sundresses one last time, or billowy silk or linen trousers. Day-to-night versatility is useful here; it means you can meander from sightseeing and shopping to dinner easily. Footwear should be flat and comfortable enough for walking all day, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be attractive – anything from Birkenstocks to woven ballerinas could work beautifully.
Wild Clouds linen jumpsuit, £95, Gather & See
Cote earrings, £320, Ysso
Yeida woven leather ballerinas, £250, Miista
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