La Belle Vie: City break
How does the Winter term manage to be simultaneously painfully long and cripplingly short?
Okay, so I know it's technically the shortest term, but it feels so long since I last had a holiday or even a day off that I'm beginning to lose a grasp of what the phrase "lie-in" even means. My friend asked me on the phone the other day whether the term was "winding down for the holidays."
Oh, for the days when that meant playing hangman on the blackboard and watching Disney films because your class teacher couldn't be bothered to try to teach you anything new. Instead, it means writing 45 pages in 10 days, followed by exams. I really, really need a break, and I'm guessing that you guys do, too.
When spring break finally does arrive, I'll probably spend the first two days alternating between Canoe Club and my bed, but then I'm determined to get the hell out of town for a few days. I'm thinking either New York or Florida, so I'm mentally preparing myself for both eventualities.
When you're going on a mini-break, the last thing you want is to be hauling a great big suitcase around with you, so packing requires some careful planning. We've all heard the phrase "capsule wardrobe" — a modest set of clothing that you can mix and match to create different outfits. The most crucial part of designing your holiday clothes like this is making sure that, as much as possible, everything goes together. As you can see, I've chosen a muted color palette for the city-break capsule wardrobe I've put together here (in case I end up in New York).
A good pair of jeans is always a great place to start. Skinnies are good because you can dress them up for evening with some heels, some jewelry and perhaps a blazer. Another absolute essential is a pair of shoes or boots that you can comfortably walk in all day. You don't want to have to bow out of that shopping trip/museum visit/walking tour because your feet can't hack it.
You also don't want to have to cut your day's activities short because you're too cold. Don't be fooled by the sun streaming in through your window in the morning — there's still a definite nip in the air pretty much everywhere but Florida (and I'll be dealing with that next week). Layers are the best way to address this: A cozy cardigan, a pashmina (a fine-knit cashmere blend like thisonewill keep you warm without the bulk) and a medium-weight coat ought to do the trick. I've also included a felt fedora to keep my head nice and warm because that's what I imagine people to be wearing in New York. You can tell I'm foreign, can't you?
Since you're leaving Hanover, you should make the most of the fact that you can go to actual bars (that stay open later than 1 a.m.) and maybe even nightclubs. What a novel idea. Pack a dress and some nice heels, preferably ones that also go with your jeans, and perhaps a small clutch (though if you have a good handbag, this isn't really necessary).
Don't forget to also pack: tights (always useful), sunglasses, a camera, a bathing suit (you never know when you might have the opportunity toblagyour way into the spa of the swanky hotel next door) and some ballet pumps for wearing around your hotel room. If you've got all that, then you're pretty much set.