Travel Blog – Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique & Luxury Hotels

Planning a boutique hotel break is not just about finding the right place to stay. Even when you’ve pinned down your perfect location, how to hone down our threads to hand-luggage proportions?

Isabella Oliver – best known for its sartorial ways with baby bumps – now stocks a 365 collection of no-pregnancy-required womenswear. Dresses, tops, even the lingerie, all seem to have a pared-down sophistication that is ideal capsule-wardrobe material. À la Girl Meets Dress, we’ve married our favourite pieces with places.

Destination: SAN SEBASTIAN
Wear The Roma dress.
Why? It may seem contrary to pair an Italian-titled day dress with a Basque city, but go with it. The curve-flattering drapes are easy to wear and suitcase-friendly, while its long sleeves and fitted shape are ideal for this seaside breezy city.
Hang it in your wardrobe at Astoria7. This movie-themed designer den warrants elegant sophistication.

Destination: CAPE TOWN
Wear The Draped Tank.
Why? South Africa’s city by the sea has laid-back in its dress code – this sexy vest, with its silky ruching, is a step up from the kind of cami you could get away with in a beach resort – without being overly smart. Wear it shopping on the waterfront, or to the bar at sunset.
Hang it in your wardrobe at Alta Bay. The glamour is understated at this hilltop hideaway up Table Mountain. They’d no more demand a jacket and tie in the restaurant than they would stick you in an anything-less-than-stylish room.

Destination: BIRMINGHAM
Wear The Hepburn tunic.
Why? This super-cute ’60s-style tunic has a Carnaby Street retro charm about it, and a practicality that makes it your new best friend on any shopping break. When you’re trying on clothes at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping mall faster than Mr Ben in the fancy dress shop, you’ll be pleased you’re wearing something so simple – and smart – to slip on and off.
Hang it in your wardrobe at Staying Cool Rotunda. This top-of-the-block apartment has stunning city vistas and enough urban edge to make your Hepburn tunic feel at home.

Destination: MIAMI
Wear The Bustier dress.
Why? Layered or solo, dressed up or down, this sharply tailored strapless number is unmistakably upscale. You could go for brunch in this beautiful frock, accessorised in your finest Cartier and Coach, and nobody would think you overdressed in Miami, the home of pose.
Hang it in your wardrobe at the Delano. The Bustier wouldn’t look out of place at any of our Miami hotels – but something about its simplicity puts us in mind to recommend the pared-down film-set fabulousness of this South Beach bolthole.

Destination: AUCKLAND
Wear: The Wrap Cardi.
Why? In truth, you’d be wise to take this versatile layer on any trip that involves getting on a plane, but coastal destinations especially have a habit of cooling off as the sun sets, and New Zealand’s North Island is no exception. Play it down by day with a cardigan-style knot; wear it long by night for a chic cover-up over eveningwear.
Hang it in your wardrobe at: The Boatshed. This timbered retreat by the beach on Waiheke Island is 30 minutes from Auckland by ferry. It’s just the kind of luxe hideaway where you could pull up a lounger at dusk, and snuggle up in this stylish wrap. Accessorise with a good book and a large glass of wine.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am and is filed under Birmingham, Cape Town, Destinations, Features, New Zealand, Shopping, South Africa, Spain, Travel tips, Uncategorized, United States, Worth getting out of bed for, fashion. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.