Europe Summer travel wadrobe

Dresses I'm packing includes a Cream cotton Tuscan style dress perfect for the Italian leg of the trip, Thurley dress for Polo in the Park and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Asymetrical Chiffon Maxi for Barcelona nights and a couple of beach dresses to wear around Positano and Lake Como.

 Tops include: Cotton On multicolour empire line spaghetti strap, Orange sequinned Halter top, Forever New Dusty Pink Cutout top, and a selection of fun print Tees.

 Denim bolero studded jacket, Northface hoodie, Dotti Macrame back vest.

 Sussan roll-up shorts in grey, Rip Curl beach short shorts, Linen Khaki shorts, and Supre khaki maxi skirt

Marks & Spencer bikini in black, Mis-matched Rip Curl bikini.

What else may I need for my trip? I'd have to pack a few pieces for work interviews that I may have, but those can double up as chic wear in the cities I will be visiting outside of London i.e. Milan, Madrid and Barcelona.

Trying to pack accessories that will take me from the Italian coast to High street Milan/London this summer can prove challenging, but I assembled the following (fairly similar) set on Polyvore to remind me of what to take.

Summer travel accessories by happy-e-after featuring flip flop sandals, Embellished sandals, $99 / Ballerina shoes, $44 / IPANEMA flip flop sandals, $32 / Tiffany & Co. / Kate Spade jewelry / Stone jewelry / Orange jewelry, $12 / Alexander McQueen scarve / Coach mirrored sunglasses, $175 / Paul Smith belt / Banana Republic / Longchamp Carry-On Duffel Bag



On top of that I have to bring Mr HEA his Nespresso Machine, pack cosmetics, toiletries, underwear, beach towels, Interview documents. Aaahhh!! Will I forget something?

Europe 2012 haul

Europe 2012 haul by happy-e-after featuring 

 Chanel earrings/ Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Apparence Holiday Makeup 2012/H&M beige sleeveless top/ H&M white jacket, $40/  Zara knit with shoulder embellishments/  H&M puffy jacket , $48 / H&M skinny fit jeans, $16 / Longchamp 'le Pliage' tote/ Maison Martin Margiela with H&M Fusion of two trousers/ Chanel leather GST / GAP 1969 oxblood skinny pants / GAP color block sweater /ALDO flat shoes / Anthropologie Ruched tops/ Mark & Spencer ankle Strap boots, $56 H&M print wrap dress, $19/ Michael Kors Tonne Pebbled Leather Hobo bag

I know it might not look like much but between travelling, fooding, souvenir shopping and seeing shows, I am still proud to have amassed these new items. My credit card bill however, is another story.

One Day in Paris

Such a tiring day, but I'd do it again in a heart beat.

Leaving St Pancras on the Eurostar

Paree!

View from the Arc De Triomphe

You can see Paris through the clock in Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay: The house of the largest Impressionists art collection in the world

Arc de Triomphe

Headed towards espace in Louis Vuitton

Waiting for the vacuum lift that takes you to the gallery

The art being showcased at the moment at espace was an artistic journey throughout Istanbul Turkey, but I dare say the holiday began here in this oasis

Stopping for a cuppa

Gorgeous Laduree tea salon

Shopping frenzy

Swarovski Xmas at Galleries Lafayette

Bottega Venetta's pastel confectionery window display

Where all your dreams come true

If not, there's always LV toting dancing penguins

Tips for recreating this one day:

1) Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris is easy and reasonably safe as long as you keep your valuables where you can see them

2) Download the Paris Metro App and the Trip Advisor map of Paris that gives all the comments and nearest metro stops of the main attractions. Both these apps you can access reasonable amount of information without data and so it was a quite a boon when you haven't got roaming on.

3) If you take the Eurostar, you get 10% off extra on top of your Vat refund at Galleries Lafayette and two tickets for the price of one at Musee d'Orsay (Pity I only went by myself)

4) The Laduree at Rue Cambon (near Madeleine station) is less busy compared to the salon at Champ Elysees

5) Please use the tunnel at the end of Champ Elysees to get to the Arc de Triomphe. That roundabout is atrocious to cross above ground and dangerous too!

6) If planning to buy any of the Chanel classics, be prepared that you might be competing with all the other tourists that travel there for the very same reason and stock as you. (Oh yes, I bought a bag for myself by the way, thus saving myself over $1k in AUD - that's how I justify the purchase)

KL Haul wish list

KL Haul wish list by happy-e-after featuring mini bags

EDWARD ACHOUR cropped tweed jacket
$620 - farfetch.com

Pleated skirt
$155 - pretaportobello.com

Zara snakeskin pants
zara.com

Tory Burch ballerina shoes
jildorshoes.com

CÉLINE mini bag
malleries.com

Chanel matte finish makeup
$58 - debenhams.com

Christian Dior foundation
lordandtaylor.com

Shiseido face mask
$51 - johnlewis.com

Beauty product
bioelements.com

LONGCHAMP Le Pliage Cuir
$565 - mirabella.jp

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I found my KL Haul wish list yesterday and I realised that I only managed to score five or six out of that list. Most of them beauty related. Shopping lost its lustre when speaking with my cousin about the cost of some of these garments when she trawls the wholesale markets in China and Bangkok and the ridiculous markups she sees in the clothes. Even though Malaysian prices were already really affordable, I couldn't bring myself to pay retail price as she gave a running commentary on how much the wholesale prices were.

Le Sigh.

Perhaps I may fare better when I am in Europe with Mr.HEA at the end of this year. But then again, under his supervision, I doubt I'd get away with much.