THE PERFECT SUITCASE: MOSTLY NEUTRALS, TWO OUTFITS A DAY AND AN M&S COSSIE
If you’ve ever emptied the contents of your ‘holiday drawer’ into a suitcase, only to find you have nothing to wear when you unpack, help is at hand. Here’s how to pack like a super stylist...
◼ WRITE an itinerary and plan outfits to match. It will save so much effort once there. Milda says: ‘List the things you’re definitely going to be doing and others you might do, then plan for each occasion.’
◼ THINK in terms of outfits, rather than just slinging your favourite summer items into a bag. Oriona’s golden rule is to pack 75 per cent neutral pieces and 25 per cent colourful ones, to create an effortlessly flexible capsule wardrobe.
◼ ALWAYS take white clothes — even for children! Oriona says: ‘White looks beautiful on holiday and makes a family appear well co-ordinated. Although it does stain, it’s easier to bleach clean
than patterned fabric. So don’t be scared of the kids spilling food and ice cream on their clothes — I pack extra and accept they will sometimes need to change.’
◼ TRY on your planned outfits before you go, says Oriona. Then, when you wear them on holiday, take a photo of each and make a note of how you feel wearing it. You might find you love a dress but find the accompanying shoes uncomfortable after a couple of hours — you’ll know not to pack them next time.
◼ PICK the right underwear. Wacoal has affordable but hard-working bras — opt for flesh tones, says Hayley, as most of your clothes will be lighter in colour. And a good strapless bra for flimsy dresses is a must.
◼ IF YOU buy just one new thing, make it a swimsuit, says Hayley. ‘You don’t have to spend a fortune. I pack pieces for clients from M&S (far left, bikini top, £22.50, bottoms, £15, marksand spencer.com) and Mango. At the top end of the High Street, I like the fit at Mint Velvet and Reiss.’
◼ SHOP (really far) ahead. Time your shopping for the sales.
◼ DON’T think you can just wear what you’d wear in a British summer. Milda says that for hot climates you need entirely different fabrics — linen, cotton and other natural fibres, nothing clingy or with thick linings.
◼ CONSIDER packing in tissue paper — it’s Milda’s secret to prevent wrinkles and keep outfits neatly together in your case. Just lift them out and give them a little shake; creases will fall out.
◼ BE DARING ‘as colour can look so different when your skin and hair change tone in the sun’ says Hayley (right, dress, £29.99, 2.hm.com).
◼ PACK a day and evening outfit in hand luggage, says Oriona, so you can go to the pool even if you can’t check into your room. It covers you if your luggage is delayed. (Left, tote, £89, arket.com).