how to plan your vacay wardrobe

4th May 2017

This post is sponsored by Kate Spade New York. Having spent yet another month out of the country in two very different areas of the globe, I had really put my packing tekkers to the test, especially when they told me for the last trip there would be a “sea plane” and there was a chance, if I hadn’t packed well, that my suitcase could be left behind and flown over on another flight. There’s nothing quite like a bit of fear to get you packing savvy rather than my usual “if in doubt, pack it all” stance. I don’t even want to think about how much I have spent in excess baggage charges over the years.   A Bikini A Day Let’s start with the important stuff, swimwear. And if like me, you are a bit of a bathing suit connoisseur, if there is such a thing, then you will want to make the most of the small window you have in which to show off your collection so I always allow myself to maximise on this area of my vacation wardrobe and at the very least, pack a different option for each day of my trip. To be honest, I’d rather spend my life in a bathing suit anyway and don’t plan on wearing too many layers as it is so I have no shame in over packing here.   Packing Cubes If you don’t know what a packing cube is, it’s basically like a pouch that you can use to organise your suitcase. So I have a cube for underwear, a cube for electrical items, a cube for socks, accessories and toiletries etc. This makes the organisation process smoother and much more visual. I can physically see each of my essentials packed into a clear plastic pouch […]

This post is sponsored by Kate Spade New York.

Having spent yet another month out of the country in two very different areas of the globe, I had really put my packing tekkers to the test, especially when they told me for the last trip there would be a “sea plane” and there was a chance, if I hadn’t packed well, that my suitcase could be left behind and flown over on another flight.

There’s nothing quite like a bit of fear to get you packing savvy rather than my usual “if in doubt, pack it all” stance. I don’t even want to think about how much I have spent in excess baggage charges over the years.

A Bikini A Day

Let’s start with the important stuff, swimwear. And if like me, you are a bit of a bathing suit connoisseur, if there is such a thing, then you will want to make the most of the small window you have in which to show off your collection so I always allow myself to maximise on this area of my vacation wardrobe and at the very least, pack a different option for each day of my trip. To be honest, I’d rather spend my life in a bathing suit anyway and don’t plan on wearing too many layers as it is so I have no shame in over packing here.

Packing Cubes

If you don’t know what a packing cube is, it’s basically like a pouch that you can use to organise your suitcase. So I have a cube for underwear, a cube for electrical items, a cube for socks, accessories and toiletries etc. This makes the organisation process smoother and much more visual. I can physically see each of my essentials packed into a clear plastic pouch which I strategically place into my suitcase as if it were a jigsaw puzzle. I use clear plastic pouches from Boots however I’m pretty sure there are actual “Packing Cubes”, but this method works well for me currently.

Summer Styles

Much like my every day style, I love the easy of putting together an outfit that looks good with minimal effort. But whilst on vacation you have to also factor in the weight and comfort of fabrics. Crochet, silks, bandaeu and bardot are all styles I opt for when it comes to Vacation packing. This top and shorts two piece from Kate Spade New York is light and airy with breathable Crochet fabrics whilst still maintaining a flattering silhouette. The intricate detailing to the fabric means little else is needed to style up, except for a flower and the new Austin Street Medium Hemsley Bag in white. Shoes? Optional.

Beach Beauty

I wish I could get away with beach beauty all year round. I left the natural wave in my hair to do it’s thing mixed with the salt from the clear blue water meaning the usual styling tools just aren’t essential. And thanks to the sun and warm air, your skin tends to have a glow that you only get from a hot climate. Foundation is lighter, usually a slick of mascara and a good lip colour is all you need, I didn’t even fill in my brows half the time. Meaning my make-up bag enjoyed a vacation diet of its own, freeing up more space for bikini’s, win!

Fresh Fabrics

And finally, the one thing I detest is opening up my suitcase to the smell of, well, a suitcase. That smell you only get from months spent in a damp loft space and that smell contaminates your clothes pretty quickly. So I pop in a couple of Lenor fabric conditioner sheets to keep all my best items smelling fresh. I love the Summer Breeze fragrance for this time of year.

What are your top packing tips for Summer Vacay?

Photograhy Ali Gordon

Editing Reece Champman