A reader question:
Good afternoon Muffy,
I hope you are doing well. I have a question for the community. I'm excited to be going on a bus trip to Cape Cod Jun3rd- Jun8th. I'll start off on a plane, then go to a touring bus. I like traveling light as I usually do not check my bags when I fly. And I live in the Midwest, so I have a capsule wardrobe for all 4 seasons. I've never been to this area before and would love suggestions on what to pack. Thank you and take care!
Weather on the Cape in early June is definitely starting to get warm - but with cooler evenings and mornings (especially on the beach). My go-to light travel wardrobe - for pretty much any location - includes:
ReplyDelete2-3 Oxford Cloth Button Down Shirts
1 Polo Shirt
2-3 Pairs Bottoms (Trousers/Cords/Khakis/Shorts depending on season and activities)
1 Crewneck Sweater (thick or thin depending on weather)
1 Navy Blazer
1 Rain Jacket
2 Pairs Good Travel Shoes
And then obviously all your toiletries, socks, etc. Would also pack sunscreen and don't forget your swimsuit if you plan on visiting the beach (although in June the water will probably still be a bit brisk).
I admire the fortitude of anyone who can endure Cape Cod heat in June while wearing 2-3 Oxford cloth button down shirts and a navy blazer.
DeleteMamaw?
ReplyDeleteA most solid plan!
ReplyDeleteI live in Massachusetts and I have always associated Cape Cod with very casual clothing. I've never worn a blazer or an Oxford-cloth shirt on Cape Cod. Many people will be wearing polo shirts or tee shirts with maybe a sweater or a sweatshirt, along with chinos or jeans or shorts.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to give advice without knowing what degree of formality in clothing you will want or need. I don't want to suggest forgoing a blazer and Oxford-cloth shirts if you're going to be with people who'll want to see blazers and Oxford-cloth shirts. Of course you can always buy tee shirts and a sweatshirt once you get there if you perceive a need for them.
Hope for the best weather and plan for the worst.
ReplyDeleteJune means you can rule out the fourth season, unless you see a weather report that predicts a Nor'easter along the coast. I've lived in New England and Chicago, the weather isn't that different in June, so wear whatever you think will be appropriate for the season and your plans.
My few specific recommendations: a) bring a rain shell, a small collapsible umbrella, and shoes you wouldn't mind getting wet, in case it rains; b) ballcap or bucket hat and decent flips or water sandals if you plan to wander the beaches - no point in an early summer sunburn, and depending on where you are, the beaches may be rocky. If you plan to be on or near the water, polarized sunglasses. c) at least one semi-warm layer for cool evenings or weather, like a Shetland sweater or synthetic fleece.
Grownups wearing tee shirts, go figure.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Imagine. When we were young (1960-70’s) we dressed to look older, more mature. Today adults dress to mimic their children. Some places more so than others. Have you been to Florida lately? It’s like being in a cartoon.
DeleteI think I know what you mean. Florida is covered with strip malls featuring “theme” restaurants. There are outlandish vehicles everywhere. People (adults) walk around in cut-off t-shirts and cargo shorts. Their arms and often legs tattooed up the Ying Yang (and down the Yangtze). Flip flops are evidently all the rage. So are little beards. The place is flat as a pancake so all this business can be easily seen.
DeleteMaybe we could consider staying with the posted question. Maybe we could talk about what we like instead of criticizing all of the things we don’t?
DeleteDear Anonymous 1:18 pm. Maybe not. Going off topic and skewering everything and everyone not true Prep is what makes this Blog an National Treasure.
DeleteAnon 1:18 here again. I in truth agree with most of the negative comments made above but disagree with the skewering all that is not true prep and are just lost people adrift in the misery. I have been here from the beginning of this blog.
DeleteAnd I must say that I have enjoyed and commented my approval on your comments skewering those that think they are prep but are not even close. But this is just weakness showing through.
Weakness for the sake of controversy is simply that, weakness.
It’s like shooting fish in a barrel
My word, had I known I was writing to one of the first passengers on the Good Ship Muffy, an apostle there at the very start of this literary landscape , I would have refrained, or perhaps been more reverent towards you. You are a Carver, a Winthrop, an Aldrich of bloggers, one of the first to flee the barren shores of everyday blogging and strike out, with Muffy as your Master, to new continents of commentary. As for my weakness, well, yes. I, not unlike so many of my Celtic brothers, are born with an abundance of inherited sadness. We are born weak but then live to fight back at all who oppressed us for centuries on that sad shore west of Liverpool. Weakness slips quietly into anger which in turn speaks with venom, and occasional wit. So be it.
DeleteI have been going to the Cape for a couple of decades. 70 degrees in Chatham feels like 60s in Ohio. Make sure you have a sweatshirt. Shorts, t-shirt and a sweatshirt has been comfortable for mornings and evenings in August. You can pick up a sweatshirt there and there is no tax on clothing.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Chicago and they tax everything. Even put fees on a bill and tax it.
I've never done a bus tour before. We'll be sight sight-seeing and eating. I'm traveling with some serious foodies so I know they will be all for the lobster rolls and other seafood. Sounds like my polo and sailor shirts won't be too heavy, yet I do need to pack some socks.
ReplyDeleteI'm not far from Chicago Andrew so that helps me to know that the weather is kind of the same. And John, I 'll be keeping it relaxed as we will be getting off, and on the bus, (a day in MVY, CC Natl. Seashore) all the way up to Provincetown. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. 😊
pack for hot cold, wet dry, windy calm
ReplyDeleteThis. I've worn a down jacket on the 4th of July.
DeleteI knew a couple who were planning to visit the Cape. I told them about Marine Specialties in P-town and suggested if they had a chance, it was worth a visit, just for fun if nothing else. As it turned out, they were strolling Commercial St. and got caught when it began to pour. So they promptly hit Marine Specialties, and got themselves outfitted with rain gear for the rest of their trip. And had a good time in the shop.
ReplyDeleteMake sure to pack bug spray as ticks can be bad and Lyme disease is even worse.
ReplyDeleteThe Cape extends something like 40 miles out to sea (depending where you are). The seawater doesn't get very warm even on the "inside" (Cape Cod Bay). Expect that any onshore wind will be water-cooled in the so-called summer months.
ReplyDeleteShorts, sweatshirt, tshirts, sailing shoes, cotton cardigan, rose pink cotton sundress, navy linen pants, sleeveless white shirt, baseball cap, sun hat, swimsuit, sandals, tortoise frame sunglasses. Pose for a photo by some pink geraniums wearing the dress. Take home a jar of beach plum jam.
ReplyDeleteMy better half (which until this evening has not previously intervened in my writings to Muffy) begged me not to Comment on this. But, dear friends, how could I not weigh in on this most trenchant of requests for information? First let me note how prosaic our dear Cape traveler must be. Bus trip? 2024? I for one read this after waking from a Sunday nap and for a second thought I was Rip Van Winkle, for Lord's sake. In the event, however, I was pressed to offer my humble Comments. (And, after the beating I took in February as the result of Muffy's unannounced retrospective on my earliest work, I can be humble, because I have already been humiliated). Since the gender of the writer is not revealed, despite all current cultural encouragement, I will assume that a female has written to this blog regarding her excursion. Since the writer evidently is also unaware of ten-day forecasts available from 2,390,204,201 sources on the internet at the push of a button, I have done her and all faithful Muffy disciples a favor and actually looked up the weather. Thus, fully armed with decades of experience with females on Cape Cod and a trusty forecast, here are my suggestions: (i) a light, white pleated skirt (I understand it is not yet Memorial Day, but trust me, the boys at the Chatham Arms will take notice); (ii) Belgian navy blue flats; (iii) gold knot earrings; (iv) a 70-year old Lanz nightgown your grandmother wore at Smith in the 60's; (v) a Patagonia raid jacket with Bermuda Race emblems; (vi) three polo shirts with the New York Yacht Club burgee; (vii) three pair corduroy trousers, preferably stolen from one or more boyfriends during graduate school; (viii) underwear, I presume; (ix) two hats, one of which spells out Bowdoin Lacrosse and the other of which yells Camp Dudley.
ReplyDeleteAre we now speaking publicly of nether garments? Mercy me!
DeleteJ Press 3/2 tweed sports jacket, 1 pr each of charcoal and light gray flannels with 3" cuffs, black Alden shell oxfords, six Mercer and Sons OCBD in assorted colors. 1 swim suit from Patagonia, Nantucket Red shorts from VV, Topsiders, NY Yankee cap.
ReplyDeleteTraveled to Nantucket for 20+ years and owned a house in Dennis (wife's family have lived on the Cape for 50+ years) and rent in Wellfleet for the last 15 or so years. Much of our time there was/is in late Fall and in early June before the schools let out for the summer and chaos erupts. Strongly recommend warm and comfortable being the best choice. It can feel mighty cold there this time of the year when the wind comes off the still very cold adjacent waters. Early June is not quite yet summer weather on the Cape despite thoughts to the contrary.
ReplyDelete