In It For The Long Haul - Travel Outfits, Packing & Charity Shop Finds

Compared to what I've worn earlier this week I'm looking rather muted today.

Technically though this isn't today's outfit but rather tonight's as it's what I'll be wearing on my epic journey to India. We're flying from Birmingham to Paris then on to Mumbai and, after a six hour stopover, on to Bhuj where we'll be picked up by a driver sent by the family who own the haveli in Gujarat in which we'll be staying for the first week of our trip.

My dress is (don't faint) a new purchase which I spotted on-line while looking for inspiration, although it's modern I loved the sleeves and the faux Indian block print. I needed something comfortable which wouldn't crease on our long journey and could cope with being screwed up in the bottom of my bag without taking up valuable space and would look halfway decent for the journey home a month later whilst still being "me" - a tough ask. At £7 (including postage) I didn't expect it to look as good as it did on the model but was pleasantly surprised when it turned up. It weighs virtually nothing, is lined and has no fiddly fastenings - one less thing to set the alarms off when I go through departures.

What to wear on my feet? It's too cold to travel in sandals. Last night I remembered my vintage Italian-made canvas & leather pirate boots festering at the bottom of the wardrobe, I think most of us had these in the 1980s, didn't we? These came from a car boot sale and cost 25p. Like the dress they weigh virtually nothing and can be stashed away in my bag for the rest of our India trip and, a massive plus, I can get them on and off without having to bend down - I'm such a cripple when it's cold.

I loved this pompom trimmed length of poly cotton when I spotted it in the "Three for £1" bucket in the charity shop clearance shop on Wednesday. It's labelled as a size 16 so I think it's a beach skirt rather than a scarf, but there's masses of it which should keep my neck cosy on the flight (fecking air con, I hate it!) and double up as a beach cover up when we get to Goa.

In the same bucket I also spotted this Indian bag, still in the cellophane packaging...yes, more pompoms! The lady at the counter told me to get something else to get my £1's worth but I was happy with just the bag and the scarf. I've taken out my Rajasthani leather bag as the zip's on the blink and replaced it with this one.

Jon's travelling in an embroidered denim shirt by Firetrap, Topman carrot-leg chinos, a vintage tooled leather belt and vintage desert boots (all of which he found in charity shops).

Clockwise from top left: Hand loom cotton granddad shirt (bought in India); Diesel tee shirt (charity shop); Hand loom, block printed granddad shirt (bought in India); Swim shorts (birthday present from me); Quiksilver back pack & cross body bag by Clarks', vintage Kangol cap (all charity shopped); Linen trousers (retail, on sale); Sarongs and scarves (India & chazza shopped); Petrol blue shorts (charity shop); Swim shorts (bought for our trip to Corfu); Candy stripe cotton granddad shirt (charity shop); Printed tailored shorts (charity shop); Vintage Gabicci silk shirt (nicked from the stockroom); Pink tailored shorts (bought for Corfu); Black seersucker granddad shirt (bought in India). Not pictured - three pairs of sandals, sunglasses.

You've seen my travel wardrobe so I thought I'd show you what Jon's packed in his bag - well, half in his bag and half in mine, just in case we have any luggage mishaps. I've nagged him to try everything on before he packed it so he doesn't end up with a pair of shorts two sizes too big like last year!

Before I go....look! I made psychedelic granny squares! I was hoping to whip myself up a little crochet halterneck for my travels but I best not run before I can walk...my crochet creation can wait for the festival season.

That's it, I've dyed my hair, done my eyelash extensions and painted my toenails, I just need to have a bath and shave my legs and maybe squeeze in a bit more crochet.

See you in February!