Your Summer Holiday Packing List - maximum outfits, minimal pieces

July and August are synonymous with holidays and getaways. They're the time to unwind, spend together as a family and recharge the batteries. But, what to pack? It can be such a conundrum. You don't want to get caught short, but likewise you want to pack efficiently so there are no surprise charges at the airport. As a personal stylist, I want to help you travel light and stylishly, no matter where you're off to. So, with that in mind, here's your summer holiday packing list for a 7-10 day holiday - with style, options and comfort in mind.

In writing this I'm assuming you're going away for a week (or so) somewhere relatively warm but if, like me, you're heading somewhere a tad cooler this year (looking at you, Ireland) you may need to adapt these suggestions. But this will be a great starting point for your packing.

🧳 The Golden Rule: Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Now, I'm not one for rules, especially for style rules. Similarly, I have mixed feelings on a capsule wardrobe for everyday life. However. When it comes to packing for a holiday we want to be efficient, versatile and get the most value out of the items we've packed.

Therefore, a capsule wardrobe (or in other words, sticking to a colour palette) is going to allow you to mix and match your clothes easily.

We want maximum outfits with minimal pieces.

So, don't just throw your pieces into your suitcase and hope for the best. This is going to be intentional. Lay them all out on the bed/floor and see do they all look fairly cohesive colour wise. Even better, try on various outfits and take photos for you to refer to while you're away and maybe needing inspiration. As a rough guide, stick to 3 colours which mix and match easily. Here are some ideas for you, but pick 3 colours which you know you wear easily (and enjoy wearing!):

• White, blue and red

• Navy, green and pink

• Grey, orange and blue

• White, purple and yellow

• Brown, orange and green

🧳5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Rule

Yes, I know I said I don't like rules and here I am introducing another but stay with me. The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule is a good foundation for your holiday packing without being restrictive:

• 5 tops - t-shirts, a "dressy" top or 2, a shirt

• 4 bottoms - shorts, skirt and/or trousers

• 3 footwear - sandals/trainers/flip flops/wedges

• 2 jackets - light weight jacket/jumper/cardi. Something for covering up in the evenings.

• 1 dress - although if you're more of a dress person than a shorts person you might want to swap a pair of shorts out so that you bring 2 dresses. That's allowed!

I've provided a visual below - to prove these numbers work. By mixing and matching these garments you have so many outfits combinations. The palette I've used is for someone within the summer season but of course swap this to your own gorgeous colour palette. This is just to give you a guide of how this can work.

As you can see, I've also snuck in a couple of pieces of swimwear too.

🧳 Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise!

Don't forget your gorgeous accessories too - sunglasses, a hat, a handbag (maybe 2!) and some jewellery to jazz up your outfits a bit. These little touches are what can really lift an outfit and ensure you've still got your style confidence.

🧳Lastly...

If you're conscious of keeping cool, remember natural fabrics are your friend. Think cotton and linen. These materials efficiently absorb moisture from the body and allow it to evaporate. So, yes you might still have sweat patches but not for long.

Garments made from polyester may feel super lightweight and floaty but they can trap heat and moisture, leading you to feel sticky and hot. So have a look at those tags if you're wanting to ensure you stay cool this summer.

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Packing for a summer holiday doesn’t mean compromising on your style. With a little intention, you can feel put together, comfortable, stylishly confident and ready to enjoy your well deserved holiday. That's what I want for you. You've been looking forward to getting away and now you should enjoy it.

If you're unsure how to build your perfect travel capsule wardrobe, feel free to reach out. I’d love to help you curate your getaway lookbook. In doing a mini colour analysis for you I can create a moodboard in a palette which is perfect for you with clickable links so you don't even need to leave the house. There's still time to get your sorted for your summer holiday.

Until then, take care,

Lou x