For a picnic in the park, wear clothes in which you can sit comfortably: a skort or light trousers, a striped shirt or polo and clean sneakers or loafers. Choose light, breathable fabrics in soft colours and bring a thin cardigan for the wind. That keeps the outfit practical when you sit on a blanket.
What makes a picnic different?
At a picnic you spend a large part of the time sitting on the ground or on a blanket. That changes what works. Clothes that give little room to move or are very light in colour can be less practical on grass. A picnic is informal, but you can still dress with care. It is about the balance between comfort and a neat look. Above all, check the weather and the ground beforehand.
What you need from your clothes
| Requirement | Why | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting on the ground | Freedom of movement | Skort, wide trousers, jeans with stretch |
| Sun and shade | Temperature changes | Thin cardigan, hat, sunglasses |
| Food and drink | Chance of stains | Mid-tones and stripes |
| Walking | Lots of walking | Clean sneakers or loafers |
For Women: skort, jeans or light trousers
The Lavinia skort in glacier blue is a tweed skort with a skirt look. You see a skirt, but you are in fact wearing shorts, which makes sitting on a blanket much easier. Combine it with the Fiori in light blue striped, a fine-knit T-shirt with tweed look and buttons of 79.9% viscose and 20.1% polyamide, and white sneakers. If you would rather have long trousers, the Adelaide in blue suits, a high-waist contour-fit jeans of 70% cotton, 17% viscose, 11% polyester and 2% elastane. You will find more options in the T-shirts for Women collection.
For Men: polo and light trousers
For Men, a polo with light trousers is a simple choice. The Edmund in light grey melange is a fine-knit polo with quarter zip of 100% lyocell. On a melange texture, small splashes often stand out less. If you want a stripe, the Atticus in blue suits, a striped cotton polo with buttons of 70% cotton, 25% polyester and 5% elastane. Wear it with the Vincent in khaki, slim-fit trousers with a mid-rise of 33.5% viscose, 31.6% polyamide, 29.1% polyester and 6.8% elastane. For more choice, see polos for Men.
Colours for a green setting
In a park, green and blue form the backdrop. Light blue, cream, beige and light grey usually give a calm picture in photos. A stripe adds cheerfulness without becoming busy. Bright green gives little contrast with grass, but of course you can wear it if you find it beautiful. White shows grass and soil stains quickly; if you still want to wear it, bring an extra blanket to sit on.
Shoes and layers
Grass is sometimes wet, even when it is not raining. Wear shoes with a sturdy sole: clean sneakers, loafers or neat sandals with a strap. Thin heels can sink into soft ground. A thin cardigan or overshirt is handy for when the sun disappears behind a cloud or the wind picks up. You can use it as a cushion or tie it around your waist. A hat or cap protects your head, and a light scarf can serve as an extra layer.
What to bring
- A large blanket: preferably with a water-repellent underside, so moisture does not seep through.
- A cool bag or basket: to keep the food fresh.
- Napkins and wipes: for small accidents with sauce or fruit.
- Sunscreen: even when it is cloudy.
- A rubbish bag: to take everything back neatly.
Heat, shade and photos
On a warm afternoon in the park it quickly gets stuffy, especially if you sit in full sun. Look for a spot in the shade and choose clothes that let air through. How airy a fabric feels depends on fibre, weave, thickness and fit. In soft daylight, plain colours often give a calm picture. Bold stripes and patterns can look busy in bright sun. If you want to take a group photo, look for a spot with soft light, for example under a tree, so nobody squints.
A picnic with children or friends
If you go with a group, it is nice when everyone feels at ease. If you want a group photo, you can loosely coordinate colours. Wear clothes that can take play: a game of football or a round of frisbee is often part of it. Choose pieces that move with you and can cope with a small stain. That way you enjoy the day without keeping an eye on your clothes.
What you had better leave
Above all choose clothes that suit sitting on grass, eating and moving. Avoid skirts that are too short and trousers that are too tight, which make sitting on the grass awkward. And do not bring shoes you cannot walk in: the way to the picnic spot can be long. Choose an outfit that can cope with a day outdoors and still looks good afterwards.
Afterwards
Let your clothes air afterwards and treat stains according to the care label and material. You will find more tips on our care instructions page. That way your outfit is ready for the next picnic.
Shop the look
Lavinia: tweed skort with skirt look, glacier blue
Fiori: fine-knit T-shirt with buttons, light blue striped
Adelaide: high-waist contour-fit jeans, blue
Edmund: lyocell polo with quarter zip, light grey melange
Atticus: striped cotton polo, blue
Vincent: slim-fit trousers, khaki
Frequently asked questions
What to wear to a picnic?
Clothes in which you can sit easily on the ground, such as a skort or light trousers, with a striped shirt or polo and clean sneakers. Bring a thin cardigan.
Can I wear a skirt to a picnic?
Yes, but choose a skort or a knee-length skirt that does not blow up. A skort gives the most freedom of movement.
Which colours are best in the park?
Soft shades such as light blue, cream and beige, and stripes. Bright green gives less contrast with the grass.
Which shoes are best to wear?
Clean sneakers, loafers or neat sandals with a strap. Avoid heels, which sink into the grass.
