Packing For a Holiday
Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear?
And, yet, you still try to take the entire contents with you when packing for a holiday? Even though you know very well that you won’t wear even half of it? You poor old thing!
It needn’t be like this. And it needn’t be so serious, either. You can have a lot of fun putting together a wardrobe that always works and one that answers the needs of every type of holiday. even if your other half astounds you by arriving home on Friday tea-time with the overwhelming announcement that you have just half an hour to pack a bag as he has booked you both on a long weekend trip to the sun.
After you have picked yourself up off the floor and made him repeat what he just said and once you have established that this is not some kind of vile joke (or that you are not drunk and clearly hallucinating), you will be able to saunter (yes, saunter) to your wardrobe, select several items which all go together (and, by the way, make you look absolutely fabulous), pack them easily so that they won’t wrinkle, have a quick piddle, touch up your lipstick and be ready, waiting to leave, exactly one hour later.
PS. It helps if his wardrobe has been ‘done over’, too. Then you can apply the same actions as above if, as we all know that if a job needs doing well, you may as well do it yourself!, you end up packing for him as well.
Choose a colour theme
So, how do you begin?
Choose a colour theme for your holiday clothes and everything will work like magic. If you choose just 3 colours, you will be amazed at how everything mixes and matches easily, and if you’re wise you should only choose colours that make you look absolutely fabulous too.
If you’re a Classic, European or Dramatic, then choosing a colour theme based around your best neutrals will make you feel comfortable and work every time:
- Your darkest neutral
- Your lightest neutral
- One basic or accent colour
Your accessories, ie. shoes, hat, belt, handbag, can all then be the same colour. Choose either the darkest or the lightest neutral. Try these for your starter for ten:
- Spring – chocolate brown, cream and coral
- Summer – navy, soft white and deep rose
- Autumn – olive green, oyster and deep apricot
- Winter – black, white and true red
However, if you’re a Natural or a Creative, or you just fancy being different on holiday this year, then try these:
- Spring – coral pink, ivory and aqua blue
- Summer – dusty pink, soft white and lavender
- Autumn – salmon pink, cream and teal
- Winter – fuchsia pink, white and violet
Tops and bottoms
And stop trying to pack the kitchen sink! Just take tops and bottoms that will mix and match. The following has worked for me on a two-week holiday in the sun:
- Two pairs of trousers
- A pair of shorts
- Two skirts
- A good selection of tops with different necklines and sleeve lengths; aim for 3 tops per bottom
- Two dresses (one for day, one for evening)
- One cardigan or lightweight jacket for chilly evenings
- A bikini or swimsuit
- Matching sarong, or shawl to cover up
Accessories
Take plenty of accessories to ring the changes. For instance, a colourful scarf will help ring the changes and could double up as a belt if you’re clever. You can wear a simple dress during the day with flip-flops to go sight-seeing, but add a beautiful necklace, earrings, and party shoes and you’re ready to hit the town for an evening out.
Shoes
Three pairs of shoes should be more than enough:
- A pair of pretty flip-flops or low sandals
- A pair of flat shoes or ballet pumps for sightseeing. If you prefer a heel, cork wedges will keep the weight down in your suitcase
- A pair of dressing-up shoes for evening
Flip-flops are totally dress down. Sandals, especially with a covered heel or sling back, take you up a notch to smart casual, and a pair of court shoes or snazzy stilettoes will dress up even a pair of shorts (and I would love to see the photos, please!).
Save room in your case
To save even more room and weight in your case:
- Travel in the heaviest pair of trousers; denim jeans are really bulky to pack
- Layer up for the trip – wear one of your tops, the cardigan, and the jacket and you can peel off as you reach warmer climes!
- Pack your jewellery in your one evening bag to save space
- Roll your clothes to minimise wrinkling
- Pack miniatures of shampoo, conditioner, etc. to see you through the first day of your holiday and then buy locally – put your money into the local economy
- Fold a good-sized tote bag flat in the bottom of your case; you never know what you bargains you’re going to run into while you’re away
- Only take flesh-coloured underwear as you can wear it under any colour, and pack a miniature bottle of washing liquid so you can rinse your knickers out!
And if all else fails, don’t panic Mr. Mainwaring! Unless you are heading for the jungle, you can always buy whatever you’ve not brought when you get there! “Oh darling! I’ve forgotten my jim-jams. I shall just HAVE to buy some while we’re here….” Priceless!
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