Right now as the temperature hits 30 degrees in the UK short sets are the only thing getting me through this hot weather. When on holiday I live in short sets, they are chic, effortless and easy to wear together. What makes them great is the fact you get so many outfits in one, packing them doesn’t mean just one outfit but lots of other combinations when you pair them with other pieces in your suitcase.
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Holiday
Crochet is this Summer’s biggest new fabric hit. Last summer I saw crochet start to trickle through into beach cover-up and matching sets for holidays, they are great pieces to dress up for evenings and dress down for daytime. But this year everyone is having a go at bringing this fabric upto date and giving it a new spin. My green matching set is from Mango and it is from their collaboration range with Simon Miller USA.
With so many pieces out there right now it’s hard to know what to choose and where to look. Everyone from Marks & Spencer to your Spanish retailers such as Zara and high end pieces from independents like Outdazl all have something to offer. See my picks below to help you find the best pieces for your Summer of crochet.
Crochet trousers Mango, £59.99 / Crochet top Mango, £59.99
My top crochet picks
Crochet skirt &other stories, £75
Crochet hat Marks & Spencer, £17.50
Crochet midi slip dress Marks & Spencer £75
Crochet dress, Kitri, £165
Crochet trousers Mango, £45.99
Crochet trousers Massimo Dutti, £89.95
Crochet tunic dress Zara, £32.99
Crochet top Zara, £32.99
No matter where you are going on holiday, a staycation in the UK, a sun soaked vacay or a weekend city break, you always have to think about what to pack.
Sticking to the same colour palette when packing makes life so much easier especially when adding in accessories such as bags, shoes and earrings. It also makes getting ready stress-free as your pieces blend together seamlessly, making you look chic and pulled together.
Sticking to some holiday wardrobe rules that you can make for yourself, makes it easier to shop for future holidays. You can simply replace the pieces you've worn to death, add in a few extras for longer breaks and throw in a trend-led piece to keep your look up to date. By creating a list each year it ensures you don't go 'overboard' with your spending and therefore can't fit everything in your suitcase!
I've put together my go-to pieces that I am currently packing for my holiday and I wouldn't leave home without.
1. Playsuit - A staple in my holiday wardrobe. Great for putting over swimwear in the daytime and also for glamming up in the evening. I love I don't have to think about anything else apart from what I am wearing on my feet or what bag to take. My top picks are -
2. Statement dress - Something in a bright summer colour that is easily packed in my suitcase and makes me smile when I wear it, also looks great with a tan! My top picks are -
3. Sandals - Once you find a great pair of sandals you wear them til they are broken! This year I have fallen for &other stories sandals and cant' wait to put them on my feet on holiday. My top picks are -
4. Jacket for the evening - I find this the one item that when clients pack for holiday they often don't have or are undecided whether to take one. It is always wise to take one with you, or like me, I will be taking two as I love that they change my outfits up. My top picks are -
5. Holiday bag - This year I have focused on fun evening clutch bags to change up my outfits when going out for dinner. My picks are -
See what items from my must-have list I have brought for my holiday over on my instagram feed whilst I am away.
edits styling notes
A quick getaway no longer means just tossing a couple of items in a bag anymore and jumping on a plane. Packing for a short trip just might be more difficult than packing for a longer one because you need to be prepared to have clothing and shoes for both day and night. Trying to fit everything you need into a small suitcase can be quite a challenge - unless you know what to pack.
My hubby and I are off for our first mini break in years and are getting on a plane with carry on, so perfect packing is essential. Having not packed for just myself and no kids for a number of years it's got me thinking about what to pop into my bag. So I thought it would be best to come up with a strategy before I started tossing clothes into my mini case!
Here are my strategic packing rules for a mini break -
- Make sure you have a good idea of what you'll be planning on doing throughout the break so that you know the appropriate clothing to bring. If you're spending a weekend in the country, you probably won't need a fancy dress and dancing shoes. Likewise, if you're going to spend the bulk of your time at the beach or lounging poolside, you probably won't need to bring long trousers. Checking out the weather beforehand is also a must!
- One key idea to rememberis to try to take clothes that can do double duty, especially shoes. Shoes can be heavy and bulky, so it's good to take as few pairs as possible. Take one pair that can go from day to night and a second pair that you can use as slippers, like flip flops. Because they're flat, they'll pack nicely, and you'll still look stylish any time of the day.
- The name of the game for clothing is versatility. Look for clothes in your wardrobe that can do double duty by pairing in different ways. It also helps to have clothes that can be dressed up or down. A pair of basic black trousers or jeans can be the base for many kinds of tops, for example. You can also change your look just by changing your jewellery. Packing a few select pieces of jewellery can help change your look, which can be important if you're wearing the same outfit twice.
- Learn to pare down the amount of items you need for your daily beauty regime to just the essentials you'll need over the span of two nights. Also be sure to pack mini-bottles of your beauty products. They'll not only fit better into a small bag, but they'll get through security at the airport.
I am hoping these hard-fast rules will help me when packing in the 20mins I have inbetween school runs, washing, working, cooking etc etc! Oh well, who doesn't want to go shopping on a mini break anyway?!!
Bon Voyage! x