The chances are you’ll be outdoors for tomorrow’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  You might be in fancy dress, but then again, you might not be. The problem will be what exactly to wear, given the UK’s changeable weather. Shorts or trousers? Long sleeved tops of t-shirts? Waterproof jacket or fleece? Here we bring you our top five suggestions for clothes wear outdoors for tomorrow’s celebrations.

Four must-have outdoors items for the Diamond Jubilee

1)   Zip-off walking trousers: Instead of worrying about whether it’s shorts or a trousers kind of day, wear zip-off walking trousers. These versatile trousers come in male and female zip-off versions and allow you to zip off for shorts when it’s warm and sunny, or zip up and wear long for cooler weather. See below: How to choose a pair of zip-off walking trousers

2)   Packaway waterproof jacket: The day might start sunny, so simply pop a packaway waterproof into a rucksack and hope it stays that way. But if the clouds do come, you know that your lightweight, waterproof jacket is only a few seconds away.

3)   A rucksack: This is a useful item for adding all the extra clothes, such as a fleece or a mid-layer, snacks, drinks etc that a day out celebrating might require. And if you’re wearing a rucksack, it means you have both hands free: One to hol on to your child’s hand and the other to wave your Union Jack flag!

4)   Sun hat: The best way to keep the hottest rays of the day off your precious head, if the hottest rays decide to peek out on the Jubilee Day!

How to choose the right pair of zip-off walking trousers

First, think about the type of zip-offs you're looking for. The zips can create short shorts, longer shorts or three-quarter walking trousers.

If you have shorter than average legs, make sure that the zip-off part of the trousers, for example over the knee, doesn’t rub in the wrong place while walking. Then again, if you happen to have larger than average calf muscles, it's worth making sure that the three-quarter length zip-off trousers do not rub on the back of your calf while walking. Most won't, but people with larger leg muscles may find this a problem when walking extensive distances.

In general, however, the trousers need to be comfortable, whatever distance you're walking and however hard you plan to celebrate! Points to take into account:

  • A snug but not overly tight waist.
  •  A belt or waist band that can be tightened to cope with changes in body shape – and a little excessive eating at your Diamond Jubilee party!
  • Room around the hips so that seams do not rub if you sweat while walking.
  • Handy pockets, especially side pockets if you like to stow bits and pieces while walking.
  •  Zips offs that don't catch on your knees.
  • Colour coding on the zip offs (or similar) so that you can easily re-zip the trousers together.
  • Sun protection or quick dry fabrics, or both.

We hope you have fun – and stay dry and warm – at your chosen outdoors Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration.