Wellingtonians love Toast Martinborough. I know it’s a particular favourite day in my calendar.
A day of wine, fresh country air and pleasant socialising. Well, that’s the goal - but as we all know, it can only take something as small as inappropriate footwear, a blister, or a drop too much pinot-gris to turn a lovely sunny day into a grass-stained nightmare. Toast Martinborough is no different to attending a music festival - preparation is key to enjoying the day. And at $85 a pop for the ticket, we want to make sure we’re are making the most of it! You can nab a ticket here from Ticketek (but be quick before they sell out)
I’ve been twice to Toast Martinborough. The first time was great - I had a fabulous day and greatly enjoyed myself. The second time, I found myself making some rookie errors that I should have known better than to commit. I ended up with sore feet, burnt and de-hydrated! Also, the weather was grey the whole day…but unfortunately, no one can stop that!
This year I am going again - it is on this Sunday 20 November. I'll be making sure I get these tips down-pat.
"The second time, I found myself making some rookie errors that I should have known better than to commit"
I’ve split this post into two parts: First, what to bring; and second (more importantly) what to wear. Knowing you have your kit nailed and your outfit sorted a few days before will help you relax and know that you are going to be able to enjoy the day. Also, the aim is to nail Toast Martinborough, not to get hammered. So I make sure I watch how much I drink and try and eat and sip water through the day as I go. Water is KEY!
(P.S. Guys - sorry if you are reading - this is a more lady-centric post. My advice is the same when it comes to food and drink, but also make sure you bring the below with you, ideally in some kind of man-satchel that gives you an air of being a bit of a dandy).
What to Bring
Make sure the night before you set out the following…
- Camera - if you have a fancy DSLR or non-phone camera.
- Sunhat - this one is just from the Warehouse - they do some simple and cute styles that are inexpensive.
- Breath mints - No one likes boozy breath.
- Sanitary stuff (so you don’t get caught out in a white dress!)
- Sunglasses - Avoid the glare - these ones are from Farmers, but any pair will do.
- Sunblock - Don’t ruin the day by being burnt.
- Spray-on Tan - Just in case you need to top up.
- Fragrance - Ideally in a small bottle or mini-sample size, just to freshen up.
- Band-Aids - In the case of injury or blisters - you will never regret bringing plasters along.
- Savlon - In case you take a tumble and cut yourself - will soothe and disinfect.
- Keys - Make sure you don’t end up locked out when you get home and just want to collapse into bed!
- Lipstick - Gotta keep em’ puckered, girl.
- Money - Don’t forget cash and your Eftpos card in case of an emergency and to buy more francs once you arrive at Toast Martinborough.
- A bag large enough to carry all of this in - go for practicality over style here. It’s just not worth the stress of trying to push everything into a teeny weeny bag.
Other: Make sure your phone is fully charged the night before and close all apps that suck battery life. Chances are, you won’t have a chance to charge it at the event. So make sure you get the battery to last as long as you can and consider carrying a camera for photos, again to save on battery. Take charger as a backup. Also, put your phone in the same pocket! I can’t stress this enough. It’s annoying and my mum nags me about this, but it actually ensures you don’t have a panic attack stressing that you left it at the last vineyard.
What to Wear
In my experience, the tips below help make a successful outfit for the day that is comfortable and also bangin’…
Dresses - Avoid scrappy evening numbers and go for a sturdy fabric that is comfortable and fits well. Personally, I hate wearing anything too short. It just distracts from having a good time for me if I have to worry about whether my thighs are escaping. So I go for knee length or below. This also means if you sit down in the grass, you aren’t flashing ya knickers.
PAM Dress from Good as Gold - Cardigan from Molly N - Handbag, Marc by Marc Jacobs from Area 51 - Nails by Essie - Hat by the Warehouse - Jewellery Misc - All clothes my own. All from previous seasons except Molly N Cardigan which is available all year round.
Pants - Are a good option as well. Play with bright colours for a relaxed Summery feel, like these ones from Topshop. Pair with a relaxed top that brings different era’s of fashion together for a retro yet modern look. Make sure you layer a tank under anything sheer so you don’t let the wind nip around your boobs. By all means, do jeans with something funky on top and elegant accessories. Make it dressy and smart…
Pants from Topshop Topman Wellington - Shoes by Marc by Marc Jacobs from Area 51 - All clothes my own. Shoes from previous seasons. Pants currently in store.
Tops - Anything goes, but avoid anything too corporate, like a shirt with pants. It's fun to pair more structured pieces, like these pants, with something soft and feminine like this sheer Helen Cherry Top with a bow on the front. Remember to have fun with colour and patterns!
Top, Helen Cherry from Workshop - Glasses from Farmers - Hat from the Warehouse - Nails by Essie - Red lips by Hourglass from Mecca Cosmetica. All clothes from previous seasons.
Shoes - If possible, go for boots or flats. Wearing stilettos is a rookie error. Remember, you’ll be walking all day, often on grass. They may look stylish, but they will be a huge nuisance. Also, don’t wear shoes that haven’t yet been broken in that will give you blisters. If you are wearing socks, find ones that won’t roll under your feet all day (this happens to me all the time when I am wearing ankle socks - it is the most irritating thing in the world). You may also have low heels with a thick heel - these are great because they can be as soft as sneakers but also elevate you a bit higher.
Boots by Beau Coop from Superette. Available from Beau Coop Website all year round.
Jackets and cardigans - Cardigans are light and easy to thrown on when it gets breezy. Don't bring anything heavy as far as coats go but do bring something waterproof you can whip out if it starts to pour down.
Cardigan from Glassons.
Jewellery - I like simple studs or chunky necklaces. They feel fresh and modern. I also like droplet pearl earrings. The vibe is a country garden party, not ghetto, so personally I avoid anything too clanky, too valuable or fussy. Keep it minimal and clean.
Hair - Again, simple is key. An easy updo or braid will keep your hair out of your face. If you wear your hair out, leave it loose and if possible skip the straightening. It’s likely it will go wavy as the day wears on.
Makeup - Again, go simple but have fun with bold lip and nail colours. Easy on the smokey eye and heavy on the mascara. A pop of blush finishes the look with a sweep of bronzer.
Hat - Bring something that fits your head and won’t blow off in the wind.
Bag - Go large or go home...
I hope these suggestions about how to get the best of Toast Martinborough are useful. What's your go-to trick for nailing a day-out like Toast? Let me know in the comment box below.
Surrealism at Te Papa is where it’s at this winter with these wonderful events…!