From beach to bar, by
Packing efficiently is a greatly undervalued skill. For years I would stuff the same huge suitcase with the same (too many) clothes. They would be for a whole smorgasbord of hypothetical scenarios, and more than half would never see the light of day.
This was before I discovered “beach to bar” dressing; a dual-purpose approach that’s tailor-made for us midlifers. I’ve embraced a more edited selection of staples that are casual enough to wear during the day, yet sophisticated enough to not leave you feeling underdressed for eventualities such as lunch in a nice restaurant after a morning dip.
Cabana shirts with a camp-collar (a one-piece collar that nods to the shirts worn by the Rat Pack) are a great shout. Your holiday is one of the few times you can get away with a short-sleeve print shirt – but be careful, as there’s a fine line between Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity and Tom Selleck in Magnum PI.
Sunspel has a great selection, and the bamboo print one by French Connection in Lyocell (a lightweight crease-resistant fabric) is a winner.
Two brands in particular are beach-to-bar masters; Orlebar Brown, best known for the blue swimming shorts Daniel Craig wore in Skyfall, and Frescobol Carioca, a Brazilian brand. My favourites are Orlebar Brown’s terry towelling polo shirts (very Sean Connery in Goldfinger)
and Frescobol’s lightweight linen shirts and drawstring shorts in quick-drying Tencel. A few well-chosen accessories, a great pair of sunnies (Cubitts has an excellent selection), a spritz of a Med-inspired fragrance and you’re good to go. With practice you’ll be able to whittle a week’s holiday down to just a simple carry-on.
Towelling polo shirt
£115; orlebar brown.com (and main picture)
Indigo Tencel shorts
£175; frescobolcarioca. com
Camp-collar print shirt
£115; sunspel. com £125; cubitts.com
Bamboo print Lyocell shirt
£19; french connection.com
Neroli Portofino Acqua fragrance
Tom Ford, £82; mrporter.com
Textured leather sandals
£30; riverisland.com