Let’s face it, we all love holidays! Whether it’s an outdoor activity holiday or a calming beach getaway, holidays are an essential luxury.
Packing for a holiday is usually the least exciting and most time-consuming part of going away, so here are some amazing holiday wardrobe planning tips from our clothing care expert and founder, Julia Dee.
Our holiday wardrobe planning tips:
- Don’t let the weather catch you out
- Use the 3x3x3 packing rule to help you travel light
- Roll clothes instead of folding them to preserve space
- Use storage bags/packing cubes for smaller items of clothing
- Find out if your hotel has an iron, if not, take a clothes steamer to keep your garments fresh
- Wear the bulkiest items of clothing on the journey
- Take an emergency sewing repair kit for any minor disasters
- Cover the soles of shoes with shower caps to protect your garments
- Pack charging leads in a glasses case to keep them free from tangles
- Pack an empty tote bag to use as a portable laundry basket
- Use a beach bag as your hand luggage bag to save space in your case
MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFITS MATCH YOUR ITINERARY
First thing’s first, you need to know the plan. We’re not talking down to the minute, but knowing the general theme of your holiday is a good place to start!
TripAdvisor is an amazing tool for helping you plan an unforgettable holiday itinerary, from planning meals out, to booking boat trips, it’s all (literally) at your fingertips.
Depending on what sort of holiday you’re going on, think about what you are likely to be wearing 80% of the time and plan the rest of your outfits and accessories around this.
MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFITS ARE WEATHER APPROPRIATE!
If you’re like me, in the weeks leading up to your holiday, you’re checking the weather at least once a day and praying that the sun is still shining!
The Met Office Weather App is a firm favourite when it comes to weather forecasts. Not only does it show forecasts from all around the world, but it also tells you the pollen count (for those unlucky hayfever sufferers) and the UV count, so you know how often you need to be reapplying your suncream!
Even if you only do it once, researching the weather forecast is essential in order for you to know what to pack. Find out what the weather is going to be like and plan accordingly! Think layers for colder destinations and light, breathable fabrics for warmer destinations.
PICK YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY COLOUR PALETTE
Before selecting your outfits, it's always a good idea to select your summer holiday colour palette. Not only is this a great way to make sure your holiday pictures look Instagram worthy, but it’s also the key to being able to mix and match all of your outfits.
You can never go wrong with neutral colours and monochromes on a summer holiday, they’re classy, neutral and pair together perfectly! Darker bottoms with lighter tops add shape and sophistication to your outfits, while warmer tones add dimension and vibrancy.
If you wanted to go the extra mile, you could consider using a colour analysis tool like the Dressika App, which is like having your own colour styling assistant! Take a selfie and find out which seasonal colour palette fits with your skin tone, eye colour and hair colour. Deciding on a colour palette before picking your outfits is a fantastic way to help you mix and match your summer holiday wardrobe.
BUILD A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR TRAVEL
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential clothes that you can mix and match to create different outfits. These are carefully selected items of clothing that are neutral enough to swap around to create various ‘OOTDs’. It is a technique that you can use to save space in your suitcase and help you travel light!
You should consider the 3x3x3 rule when curating your travel capsule wardrobe. This suggests that you select 3 tops, 3 bottoms and 3 pairs of shoes, which can all be mixed and matched to create a total of 27 different outfits. Yep, you read that right!
Think about shaping when selecting tops and bottoms. Loose bottoms/shorts and tighter tops are unbeatable for a capsule wardrobe! Think neutral colours, not too many patterns and minimalistic styles. Remember, we’re mixing and matching everything, so go easy on the leopard print!
When it comes to shoes, you’ll have the pair you wore on the journey (comfortable, light trainers ideally) and only two other pairs in your case, so choose wisely! For a sunny beach getaway, opt for one pair of flip flops/sliders that you can wear on the beach or at the pool and one pair of light evening shoes.
Finally, test out the outfits by laying your tops, trousers and shoes on your bed and pair them together in as many different combinations as you can, this is a quick and easy way of finding out if there’s anything that really doesn’t work!
Take a couple of thin layers, one for the daytime to go over swimsuits/bikinis and one for the evening. Again, think neutral colours and basic styles, as these layers need to go with all 27 outfits!
If you are struggling to arrange your outfits, Whering is a fantastic app that helps you piece together all of the clothes in your wardrobe and gives you outfit suggestions, even taking into account the weather and your favourite items!
Outfit rewearing on holiday is a must, nobody will notice (or care) if you wear the same outfit on Day 8 that you wore on Day 2!
If you want to keep your outfits smelling fresh throughout the whole holiday, our lightweight Drawer Sachets can be used in drawers and at the bottom of your case. They come in a range of beautiful scents including Cedarwood Blend, May Chang Blend and Vetivert Blend.
PACK SMART, PACK LIGHT
Packing light is essential when you are going on holiday. Not only will you likely have limited luggage space, but you may also find that your apartment/hotel/villa has less storage space than you expect and nobody wants to be living half out of a suitcase on holiday!
Don’t forget to use the 3x3x3 rule to give you maximum outfit choices with minimum luggage, take thin layers for the evenings and wear your bulkiest shoes on the journey.
To pack your suitcase like an expert, you should carefully fold and then roll your garments. Stack similar sized items next to each other, putting big items of clothing into the case first, and smaller items in after. Rolling clothes makes better use of any empty space, pushes air out of items and generally creates more space in your suitcase…thank me later!
You can pop shower caps over the soles of your shoes to protect your clothes (and the shoes), place them heel to toe and lay them at the top of your case.
I’d also recommend taking heavy things like books/ipads/kindles in your hand luggage and store cables, rolled up, in a glasses case for safe keeping.
Lastly, don’t take things you don’t need! Before you go, find out if your accommodation supplies things like hair dryers, irons, towels etc… trust me, it's worth the research!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE ACCESSORIES
It's easy to get so wrapped up in outfit planning that you forget all about the accessories! We’re not just talking about necklaces and earrings, we’re talking about any small, essential items that will make your holiday a stress-free experience!
Travel Packing Cubes are a foolproof way of organising accessories and smaller items of clothing, whilst preserving valuable suitcase space. Use the smallest size for accessories like scrunchies, hair clips, small boxes of jewellery and belts, use the medium size for pants, socks, bras and swimwear (roll what you can, place unrollable items underneath) and use the large size for your best dresses/cardigans.
BE MINIMALISTIC
When planning which toiletries you’ll bring, it isn’t uncommon to go a bit overdrive. Opt for travel sized toiletries of 100ml, rather than full size and think carefully about what you actually need for the length of your getaway! If you really want to save space, you could even go for a travel sized toothbrush!
Aim to fill up no more than one, medium sized, compact wash bag with your toiletries and think like a minimalist about what the real essentials are.
PROTECT YOUR FAVOURITE GARMENTS
Keeping your garments in good condition when you go on holiday is essential. Using a Clothes Steamer doesn’t just remove creases, it refreshes your clothes, helping them smell better and look cleaner by lifting dust and dirt. Unlike a regular iron, clothes steamers are lightweight, portable and can be used on even the most delicate fabrics, such as silk and satin.
Loose hems and threads often appear on clothes due to normal wear and tear, especially during a holiday when you might be more active or wearing clothes more frequently, so a Travel Sewing Kit is a non-negotiable. When you’re only taking 3 tops, 3 bottoms and 3 pairs of shoes, the last thing you need is a loose thread unravelling and making a hole in your best top!
You could also consider taking a moth repellent to ensure that holes don’t get chewed through your best tops! Remember, moths can be found all over the world and they don’t go on holiday just because you are!
NEED HELP?
Regardless of what sort of holiday you are going on, our holiday wardrobe planning tips stay the same. Check the weather/itinerary, pack light, pack smart, be minimalistic and don’t forget clothing care and moth protection!
If you’re still unsure, feel free to reach out and contact us for more holiday wardrobe tips and tricks.
