From stylish separates to slinky swimwear, get your holiday wardrobe sorted with our pick of summer essentials.
When it comes to dressing for warmer climes, there are a number of things to consider. While the temptation is to stuff your suitcase to the brim with everything you own, we’re all guilty of finishing our two-weeks in the sun without having worn half of the stuff we’ve lugged with us.
So first things first, opt for light-coloured, light-weight options that you can dress down with vest tops for a day of sight-seeing or dressed-up for the hotel bar in the evening. Floaty dresses and skirts are your best friend – short, midi or maxi – as are wide-legged trousers, and leave anything too tight-fitting back home.
If you’re looking at getting the most out of your swimwear, it’s a great idea to mix and match bikini and tankini sets so they will easily see you through your holiday. You can also have fun with those key accessories to give your outfits a different look. Easy to pack shell necklaces, hoop earrings, straw bags and headscarves allow you to swap and change each day, injecting colour into your look and adding a dash of your own personality too. And for footwear, flip flops are the easy, no-fuss choice, as are strappy sandals (preferably in leather to allow your feet to breathe).
Keep cool as the temperatures rise – wearing white absorbs less of the sun’s heat than most other colours. Broderie shirt, £18; cami, £7; and co-ordinating midi skirt, £20 – all from Primark.
Stone linen look stripe straight leg trousers, from Pretty Little Things. Featuring a stone hue linen look material with a stripe print design and a straight leg fit, style with your fave bikini for the perfect beach fit.
The Kiribati bikini top, from La Pêche Swim, is small on space but big on details – from the hand-braided straps to the gold charm at the front. Team, with matching bottoms to complete the look.
For a flattering fit, this A-line tankini features lacy tiers, padded cups and adjustable straps. By Bon Prix and available from Freemans.
Location sandals, from Dune – with their flatform style, padded insole and soft leather straps they’re as comfy as they are fashionable.
Inspired by the bougainvillea of the Vergelegen Gardens, this fuchsia headband by Pam Weinstock is perfect for a day on the beach or a night in the bar, helping keep that flyaway holiday hair under control.
From the Beachcombing Collection and hand-made in England by Annabel James, these shell earrings and necklace are a real holiday statement – wear with your bikini or your favourite summer dress for al fresco evenings.
