Sunday, 4 August 2013

We're All Going on a Summer Holiday

I really should change the title of my blog to 'The Intermittent Dolly's Closet' given the amount of time that lapses between posts. That being said, I have been out of the country, visiting family and friends in Norway and making a short stop in Rome (which will feature in a later post!)

I thought I would share with you some of the items of clothing I packed and how they fared with all the travelling, especially the long haul flights. Then maybe some of the things that didn't. Le sigh!

Despite the fact that, for the last few years running, Norway has not experienced a particularly warm summer, I decided to overload on my nice summer dresses. With the incessant rain, needless to say I did not quite get the wear out of them that I intended. I did, however invest in a sweet pair of purple gumboots. Turns out the weather has been beautiful (35 degrees Celsius in Hokksund - what?!) since we arrived back in Australia. There were a few really warm and beautiful days in between the rain, but I mostly stuck to wearing jeans and jackets!

Mostly, the fabrics that were made from cotton and a thick cotton sateen travelled well. They required very little (if any) ironing, and survived a particularly rigorous rolling in order to fit in my suitcase. I often roll my clothes to pack them as this saves space. My rayon and crepe dresses... not so lucky. If you don't have access to an iron, I suggest leaving the lightweight finery at home. The odd light crease can be removed by hanging the garment in the bathroom area while taking a hot shower and letting the steam do its work (a tip from an aunt of mine), but anything more than that is going to take some work. And let's face it, you'd rather be spending that time sight-seeing, or purchasing some more lovely things for your wardrobe.

Trashy Diva's 'Walk in the Park' dress in the French Quarter print available here. I'm wearing a size 6 and it is comfortable snug. It comes with a thin belt and would suit short-waisted gals best. The Heddal Stave Church in Telemark is simply magnificent. It dates back to the 13th century and was built circa 1250.

The Heddal Stave Church. One of my favourite places in Norway. The beauty of the architecture always floors me. It's truly amazing how these old wooden structures have withstood the test of time. They are highly intricate and the craftsmanship of the artisans is breathtaking!

This dress required some ironing, but nothing major. It is the 'Revere Pleat' dress by Limb Clothing and it is available here. I received many compliments whilst wearing this dress. It's very flattering with the wide, folded collar and tie sash. The colours are super vivid. It also helps that this dress has sleeves - to help one brave the Norwegian summer!  I'm wearing a size 10 (uk sizing, probably equivalent to a US 6 or an Australian small) and it is a great fit. Here I am at Fossesholm Manor in Vestfossen. I believe it was built in the 1600s.



This is what I spent most of my Norwegian summer holiday wearing, thanks to the rain and cool weather:



Kidding. It was more like this:

Super duper cardis by Wheels and Dollbaby available here. Paired with jeans. Good ol' jeans - they never let me down!


Until next time, my fellow travellers!
Happy Sunday x