Travel Outfits: Leeds

Planning what to wear and where to go.

Travel Outfits is a series where I share my slow travel plans and capsule wardrobes—part travel diary, part packing list. It’s all about vegan-friendly trips with a dog, from what to pack to where to go.

I'm planning a last-minute trip to Leeds this weekend. My partner’s working there for a few days, so I’m tagging along—with the dog—for a change of scenery and a free hotel stay. It’s only a short 3-day break, but I’m still putting together a travel guide and a capsule wardrobe to match.

I haven’t been to Leeds in about 20 years. Last time, I was a student, and I probably saw more of the inside of pubs than the city itself. So I’m excited to go back, see what’s changed, and explore the city properly. Camera in hand, dog by my side.

The Weather Forecast

What I plan on doing while I’m away plays a major part in how I decide what to pack. But more than anything, it’s the weather that really shapes my travel capsule. It’s the easiest (and most practical) place to start.

At the time of writing, the forecast isn’t exactly promising: light showers expected most of the weekend. Fingers crossed it changes, but if not, I’m prepared to spend more time indoors rather than venturing too far from the hotel.

The great thing about a city break is how easy it is to adapt when the weather turns grim. You can hop from café to gallery to shop, ducking indoors whenever the rain starts—without the weather completely wrecking your plans.

• Cropped Jacket

• Knitted Vest

• Classic Blouse

• Barrel Jeans

• Gingham Dress

• Sleeveless Dress

• Loafers

• Personalised Jewellery

• Handbag

What I’m Packing

I like to plan my outfits ahead of any trip so I can maximise space and minimise what I actually need to pack. A travel capsule wardrobe means I don’t have to wear the exact same thing every day, but I also don’t need to overpack to make that happen.

I’m more than happy to swap out tops or trousers and repeat outfits, especially if it saves me from dragging a heavy suitcase around. I can’t even remember the last time I travelled with more than one bag.

This Leeds travel capsule is compact but versatile: two dresses, one pair of trousers, a top, a knitted vest, a jacket, and one pair of shoes. That gives me three solid outfits, which is more than enough. I always pack a mini steamer too. It makes it easy to freshen things up, especially tops, and smooth out any creases.

Jewellery is, as always, non-negotiable. It instantly makes an outfit look that bit more polished. Lately, I’ve been loving subtle, personalised necklaces—a simple chain layered with a birth flower pendant or a tiny gemstone charm.

The Easiest Way to Upgrade Your Outfits

The Itinerary

My plans are pretty loose. It all depends on the weather, really.

If the skies stay clear, I’d like to take a walk up to Hyde Park—it's near where I lived in Headingley as a student, and I’d love to see it again. It’s a fair trek from the hotel though (around 45 minutes), so I’ll probably need to plan a few stops along the way to give the dog’s paws a break.

There’s a route that would take us past several Atlas Obscura landmarks and through a couple of small parks, which could make for a nice walk. If it’s raining, I might scrap that idea altogether and stick closer to the city centre. There are plenty of cafés, bars, and shops I’d like to check out.

Planning a trip always gives me a good reason to put together a travel guide. Since I focus on vegan-friendly travel with a dog, all my guides are tailored with that in mind—so if that sounds good to you, have a browse. I’ll be putting together a full Leeds travel guide for the blog, plus a travel capsule wardrobe to match.

If you’ve got any Leeds recommendations—especially dog-friendly or vegan ones—I’d love to hear them!

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