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Outfit inspiration for your spring city break

By Naomi Webb   |  

Your super summer holiday in the sunshine might seem a long way away right now, but why wait until then? The spring is the perfect time to take in a long weekend city break and give yourself something fun to look forward to in the meantime.

Whether it’s a flight across the Atlantic to New York City or a shorter hop across the Channel to one of the continent’s classy capitals, there’s plenty of choice for your spring getaway.

No matter where you end up, you want to look at your best. Loading up with fashion on Fifth Avenue? Romantic break in Paris? Soaking up the sights in historic Rome? Wherever you choose, it’s time to rifle through your wardrobe, prepare what to take along and plug any gaps with some smart purchases.

It’s likely that you won’t have unlimited space in your weekend getaway case, so it’s important to pack quality over quantity. It can be tricky to get this right, so here’s some inspiration for men and women to take on board before they pack up and fly away.

man and woman walking
The spring is the perfect time to take in a long weekend city break. Image credit: www.alamy.com

For the men
Both men and women have to bear in mind that a spring break doesn’t necessarily guarantee great weather. In New York or on mainland Europe you could be faced with changeable conditions.

What does that mean in practice? Aim to take a smart navy blazer along for the ride.

This will look great over a casual T-shirt in the day with a pair of quality jeans from Superdry. Equally, in the evening, pop it over your smartest shirt and you’ll look great in a classy bar or restaurant.

Don’t forget the footwear either. As Fashion Beans highlights: “With its long thoroughfares, iconic landmarks and inspiring architecture, walking is an inevitable part of a trip to NYC, so remembering to pack a pair of practical shoes is vital. Leather work wear-inspired toe cap boots and desert boots are both sensible options that can be dressed or up down to suit.”

The tip could equally apply to any sightseeing/shopping city break.

For the women
Like the men, a quality pair of jeans are an absolute must. As Marie Claire points out, a great pair of heels is all you’ll need to transform these “from casual to chic in a matter of seconds”.

Those heels are fine for the evening but, in the day you’ll need something much more comfortable under foot so you can last the pace while pounding the pavements between the best boutiques you can find.

man and woman shopping trip
Both men and women have to bear in mind that a spring break doesn’t necessarily guarantee great weather. Image credit: www.alamy.com

Stay warm and stylish with some chunky knitwear – that stylish Nordic Noir detective look will serve you well on a chilly spring day. Switch that for a splash of colour in a shirt for the evening.

Layers are vital in spring – and so is a classy coat. You can have the best outfit in your wardrobe but if you wrap it up in a tatty old coat you’ll have lost out.

As Lizzy Hadfield writes on Raddison Red: “Pick a versatile one, definitely a neutral colour, and a classic shape. The right coat can take you from day to evening with ease. If you are anything like me, you want your outfits while you’re away to be a little different each day, so you can feel your best every day. Taking a coat that is understated will stop it from being the focus of several looks, but will ensure it compliments them all perfectly.”

Now enjoy your hard-earned break.

All three images used in this article are copyright: www.alamy.com