Bumper Edition - My Holiday Packing List
All my essentials, promise I'll try not to overpack! I'm giving you my TOP picks - do it all dresses, my NUMBER 1 tee, THE new shape beach bag, sparkles-n-sandals, crochet cool, barely there beauty ☀️
Same as most of us I LOVE holidays. There’s no other time we properly properly switch off and get to live a ‘fabulous / fake life’, since holidays aren’t real life are they, sadly!
Although, probably a good thing really, since in my case I’d be rather wrinkled, bloated, hazy headed and constantly have unicorns and puppies dancing round my brain - that’s what sun, sangria and some downtime does to me. Actually, saying that, some of my best ideas formulate when I have a change of scenery (not all puppy / unicorn related I swear!).
So, yes, LOVE holidays. Don’t love packing. HATE IT. It panics me!
If I could bring my whole wardrobe with me I would, or so I used to think. Over the past couple of years I’ve (sort of) tried to change my packing ways and I do agree, in this case, LESS really is MORE.
I actually really enjoy having a limited selection racked up in the hotel wardrobe, it usually involves some of my favourite ever pieces and it’s so much simpler to see the wood through the trees if you will.
And, to my husband’s delight, a capsule wardrobe makes it so much faster for me to get ready. Since most my outfits are already planned in the packing process… and I have a limited selection to sway me / spend a good half hour chopping and changing between (which never works out well in any situation I find, always ends up in a stress of running late and going back to the first outfit).
Same with the preening side of getting ready on holiday, I’ve also massively streamlined this in recent years (well, the last two). Gone are the days of full make up on an eve and a daily after beach hair wash… surely this is why God created dry shampoo.
Frankly, I just can’t B bothered! FRANKIE SAYS RELAX.
*I have actually found a great no frills product for staying out all day-to-night from beach, to bar, to 11pm pizza (anyone else do this sometimes?) - product coming below.
Right! Lets begin, here’s my basic packing list covering versions of my ‘essentials’. You know what, it’s not basic, it’s BEAUTIFUL! Gah, I want it all 😂 remind me again why I’m doing this!
I do tend to rewear a lot of the same holiday clothes year after year, so I’ve added in new versions for you for each category… I’ve really tried not to buy ‘for holiday’ this year, as like I said I rewear repeatedly and have quite an assortment now. But it is nice to have one or two new treats to unpack afresh!
Day to night dresses
I’ll admit I may have quite a summer dress collection by now BUT most I’ve had years and I do rewear them every sunshine season. I haven’t actually bought myself something new this year ‘for going away’ BUT here’s a few options I’d work for day or night…
Back to black
Strangely, for the colourful queen that I usually am, I always love a black dress in summer. Only in summer! I saw this on Danielle @littlefashbird recently and I immediately had to look this dress up.
Whistles | Poplin Shirred Dress | £159 (Whistles forever have 20% off promotions, so I’d wait for one).
And I just saw
in this Merlette NYC dress from her Substack post last week; I almost almost immediately hit buy (it’s now in SALE too! Only two sizes left mind).Merlette | Deauville Dress Black | FINAL SALE £281 (was £401) - Final sale just always puts me off when I haven’t tried the item myself, and it’s also shipping from the US (so added customs charges for us in the UK). BUT that shape + Harling’s insanely good summer styling does look amazing here! Argh, I’m so tempted…
Harling’s very good, very real, very achievable post I very much enjoyed ‘My Realistic Summer 2024 Lookbook’. Yes, I’m also longing for her curly mane (we always want what we don’t have says my poker straight thin hair).
Slip into something
Got to have a printed number haven’t we and a slinky slip is easy peasy effortless elegance. These are a rather pricey option but - in the words of Kylie - they just make my heart go PADAM PADAM.
Bernadette Antwerp | Slipdress Jeanine | €395 (six different prints).
And another brand here but one I’ve just discovered with a rather amazing ‘under the sea’ print - Jules B | Me369 Olivia Cami Dress | £199.
Linens for life!
I’ve had some of my Sleeper dresses FOR YEARS (seriously 8 years for the first one I bought, prior to when I stocked the brand myself on Studio B. Which I stocked before the big players like Net, Liberty, Selfridges etc. may I add).
When Studio B was my online store the Sleeper Atlanta Dress was one of my biggest BESTSELLERS (I think the mimosa print Atlanta they remade for me especially one year was my top ever selling item).
The classic Sleeper Atlanta Linen Dress - Me in Lisbon last year in the pink and @annasarlvit in the mimosa print.
Sleeper | Atlanta Dress | $320 - search around for various UK stockists and various colours / prints. The pink roses and red gingham are some of my old favourites.
They have some new styles too and I know it’s pricey but I’m lusting after this - Sleeper | Arle Ruffled Linen Maxi Dress in Daisies | $520 (comes in plain black too).
Life’s rosey
I’d just seen @kerryawalker in this dress and I’ve now got mini roses twinkling in my sale eyes - Farm Rio | Rose Embroidered Maxi Dress | £262.50 (was £375).
*I’d also look to SIR or Alémais in SALE if you’re after something a bit special - for Alémais I’d google the Atticus or Blue Marlin prints to see what you can find in stock! And for SIR I have this in mind.
Both Aussie brands, which seem to B some of my most loved at the moment - more coming up down under (ha! sorry), I mean below, under shirts.
*Cult Gaia and Bimba y Lola I like a sale gander at too. Saying that, a quick moment for this (full price) skirt please!
Red alert
Another I-wish-I’d-seen-this-sooner as it keeps on selling out (sign up to back in stock alerts, it works!). I just think the double layered drop waist top half, combined with the flowing semi sheer skirt, looks far more luxe than H&M! And I love the red.
H&M | Long Strappy Dress Red | £54.99.
Spicy margs
A little HAWT n SPICY day dress, I had to add this one in last minute - Reformation | Avielle Dress Jalapeño | £128.
Samantha sparkles
Not a dress I know, but a day to eve item, and I’m just very into these trousers! Yes, they’re see through but anything goes on holiday, well not anything, but you can go a bit more adventurous / experimental than your usual daily wear.
And you can layer cycling shorts under if you wish / bikini bottoms / big (or small) contrast black knickers (so it’s obvious you’re meant to see them).
Free People | Mirror Sequin Sheer Trousers | £158.
I’d also seen this styling recently from Trine Kjaer at Pernille Rosenkilde’s wedding (@prosenkilde) layering a Ganni mini dress over these AMAZING sheer sequin trousers. MY GOD I love those trousers (determined to find them for me / us!).
Toe time
Like I said I try to pack lighter these days and I really do only pack about two pairs of shoes. YES TWO! And I wear my heaviest chunky pair of sandals for travelling (those MM6 black platform buckle ones). Okay, so really that’s three pairs to see me through ten days. But that’s streamline I’d say!
Flip floppin
My go-to are (not very originally) Havaianas basic flip flops for every single day, and to be fair, most nights. They’re just so easy and all I end up wearing in the heat - comfort is key!
And I do like this new square sole style - Havaianas | Slim Square | £30 (various colour options, some with glitter straps at £36).
There’s so much more below for Paid Subscribers… shoes, slap (beauty), silver, swingers (bags ha-ha I promise!), shirts, shorts, sarongs, secret sources, stripes, suitcase, specials!
A further 25+ pieces I use / have / would buy myself coming up below…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Studio B to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.