My Holiday Must Haves
When I pack for a trip there are a couple of essentials I know I can't leave without. The foundation of any perfect holiday wardrobe; these staples should form the back bone to your looks. Let's start with clothing, I am an expert planner when it comes to what I'll be wearing at any given moment. When I buy pieces for my trips I always envision when I plan on wearing them, for example if I know I'm going to a fancy beach club I'll reserve my best beach number for said day. This helps me when packing as I only bring exactly what I need with every day and evening's look planned in advance. If you're extra organised, make a Pinterest board containing all of the pieces you are taking away, including shoes and accessories; I find seeing them all together on screen helps me put looks together. For me a holiday wardrobe is a fresh and feminine one that's made for making memories.
The Perfect Sandals
I generally take two or three pairs of shoes on holiday, a good flat sandal in a neutral tone that will go with everything, a neutral high heel and a fun perhaps coloured or embellished heel too. The studded Aldo flat sandals I'm wearing in the photo above went with everything I brought with me and were such a good last minute buy! I am still in love with anything fringed so I have ordered the beautiful fringes wedges from Revolve below for my next trip, perfect holiday shoe!
Dresses
I live in dresses on holidays, I rarely bother with shorts, tops or skirts, rompers make the occasional cut. I just find they're no fuss, easy to pack and light in my case. I usually spend money on a couple of really different and unique pieces and then the rest of them I'm happy to buy relatively inexpensively. I had been eyeing up the Alice McCall dress pictured above for months before I bought it, to me it's my summer wrapped up in a dress; bright, floaty and fun. White and neutral dresses are always in the mix with at least one special white number reserved for a night out towards the end of a trip when I'm hopefully tanned. Other than that, bright bold colours tend to be my favourite, check out my picks below.
Accessories
For me, accessories can make or break holiday outfits. Embellished, bright, tasselled pieces are everywhere this season and if you choose wisely you can pick quirky bits that although may be multi coloured will still go with everything! In addition a good beach basket is very important, pack everything in your suitcase into the basket and then place in your case flat on its side. I love my personalised one from Baal and Tanit, I used it nearly every day! Neve and Noor do some gorgeous woven clutches that would instantly dress up any look but could come in equally handy on the beach with a beautiful kaftan! Do not, I repeat, do NOT go away this summer without a pair of tasseled earrings! Betty and Biddy have the best selection!
Beauty
At this time of year I think it's safe to say most of us aim to look bronzed, toned and glowing. I might manage one or two of them on a good day but I've found a few products that help me on my way! Institut Esthederm's Adaptaspun body lotion is my new holy grail. It has a technology to help you develop a deep, intense and natural tan and enjoy all the benefits of the sun without the harmful side effects. Suitable for normal to tolerant skin, this sun-protection milk allows you to boost your tan with perfect cellular protection from a normal to strong sun. It's not a fake or gradual tan, it gives you no colour itself but I somehow change race when I use this before and after a day on the beach, obsessed. When it comes to SPF I love Reform Skincare's facial factor 30, super light yet hydrating. For my body I love Polysianes dry oil SPF from Klorane, you can choose the factor of your choice; heaven in a spray bottle. Let's talk makeup, I recently discovered Armani's Liquid Summer, drops you can use as a bronzer or mixed in with your existing foundation to deepen the shade, so pretty. I also love Hourglass Cosmetics powder bronzer in Radiant Light, gives me the perfect tan!
As always I love to hear from you guys, let me know in the comments box or via my social media channels what yo can't live without this summer!
