Memorial Day is right around the corner, which means the unofficial start to summer. With such a long winter behind us, it’s staggering how quickly spring tends to pass by. It’s moving so quickly in fact that before you know it, weekends like Memorial day catch you by surprise. So consider this guide a heads up of sorts. Whether you plan on heading out of town, firing up the grill, or just taking sometime to relax and catch up on a good read or enjoy a game of bocce. It’s time to unwind.
But before we pack up the cooler and dust off the board shorts, let’s take a quick moment to consider the context of this holiday. We’ve included a brief history of Memorial Day for perspective:
The first Memorial Day was officially observed on the last Monday of May in 1868. It originated after the Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. Many towns and cities, both large and small, hold special Memorial Day observances. Richmond holds one every year at the Virginia War Memorial. If you decided to forego venturing out, PBS and NPR cover the National Memorial Day Concert that takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol.
For those planning to skip town, whether for a long weekend or for a more substantial period of time, packing light should always be the goal. On a recent trek to Philadelphia, I ended up packing at the last minute (as in 25 minutes before leaving my apartment) and haphazardly threw all my belongings for the long-weekend into a duffle bag. As I hauled my overburdened bag through the City of Brotherly Love, I was reminded of a vague but familiar saying: “If I had more time, I would’ve written a shorter letter.” The quote has been attributed to everyone from Winston Churchill to Mark Twain. Regardless of it’s origin, the idea holds true today: time spent editing is worth it. And so with packing, the same logic applies. Travel smart and don’t save packing for when it’s too late. Give yourself time to think about what you need, and make sure not to duplicate unnecessary items.
One technique that has been helpful when packing is creating a list of what you intend to bring. Keep a notebook or your cell phone handy a day or two before your trip and jot down what you plan to carry. Here is a short list of some of the items that we plan to pack for the weekend:
1.
A Lightweight Shirt
The McDaniel Chambray Shirt is one of Ledbury’s most popular warm weather shirts, and for good reason. For its lightweight and comfortable nature, a chambray shirt deserves a place in every wardrobe.
2.
Charcuterie and Wine
Visit our friends at
Belmont Butcher for some charcuterie and wine before hitting the road. Have a snack while on the highway, and save the wine for when you reach your destination.
3.
Good Reads
Monocle and
Inventory magazines are constant reads around the Ledbury office.
4.
A Denim Shirt
Memorial Day weekend is a casual weekend that requires an equally casual shirt.
The Collins Denim is comfortable and easy to wear. The pocket and shortened body makes this a no brainer.
5.
A White Linen Shirt
When preparing the visuals to accompany this post, we all thought this would be the perfect occasion to preview one of our upcoming releases – a casual white linen shirt. Be on the lookout for this release in the upcoming weeks.
6.
Yard Games
No Memorial Day weekend is complete without a few rounds of yard game. Whether bocce ball or croquet, make sure to choose your game wisely.
We hope you have a good weekend and kickoff to the summer.
