Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

The Holiday Capsule Wardrobe –by Sue Courtney

The holiday season is upon us and for those lucky enough to be escaping for a week or two there are issues to be resolved. I put my hand up and admit that I am completely incapable of travelling light – it is a struggle to carry my bag to the car even for a weekend away! If I am going away for a whole week or more the problem really doesn’t bear thinking about. I take every item of suitable clothing out of my wardrobe along with all shoes and accessories and a jumper or two in case it is cold in the evening. (For Goa in April – am I mad?) I then struggle to cram it all in, weigh the case and get cross and upset because it exceeds the weight limit and I now have to make choices. Sound familiar? Thought so.

There is a solution - travel light by taking a capsule wardrobe. I have researched the issue thoroughly and I would like to share my findings with you.

The first thing to consider is the sort of holiday you are going on. Is it a beach holiday, city break, safari or cruise? They each need a very different

wardrobe of clothes. Then think about what you will be doing each day and whether any of these have special requirements such as hiking boots for long walks or tops to cover your shoulders and arms for visiting some religious sites. Is there likely to be an occasion where a posh frock will be required? If so pack just one and use the hotel laundry service if required. If not then just don’t pack it! (I am really struggling with this piece of advice as I always pack at least one just in case!) One really comfortable pair of ‘walk anywhere’ shoes or sandals is usually sufficient, in a neutral colour that can be worn with dresses, shorts, jeans or trousers.

Many holidays involve lounging by the pool or on the beach, shopping, sightseeing and nights out at restaurants or a show. This can mean a selection of clothes that, these days, will put you seriously over your weight limit and out of pocket before you have even hit duty the duty free shops or boarded the plane! However, with some clever mixing and matching and some multi-tasking staples it is possible to look perfectly dressed for all occasions and still come in under your weight limit, which is great because that means that you can bring more back with you!

The easiest option is to wear an outfit out in the evening and then wear it again the following day with a change of shoes and fewer accessories. Current trends can easily be dressed up for evening and down for day so you always look stylish.

The basic items to go into your suitcase are the following:

·        Safari dress

·        Floral dress

·        Floppy hat

·        Gladiator/flat sandals (1 pair)

·        Tote bag for beach, shopping and sightseeing

·        Clutch bag for evenings and more formal day events

·        Sunglasses

·        High heeled shoes or sandals for evening – 1 pair in a neutral shade such as pewter or bronze work well

·        Lightweight flip flops for beach (not essential)

·        Lightweight, neutral cardi for cool evenings

·        2 sets of swimwear with 2 sarongs

·        1 pair of linen trousers or Capri pants

·        1 or 2 smart, embroidered vest tops/camis

·        3 or 4 cotton tops for the beach and general day wear

·        1 pair of cropped trousers and 1 skirt for day and beach wear

·        A couple of sets of jewellery – 1 for the safari look and 1 for the floral look

And that should see you happily from night to day, beach to shops for a week or two with clever mixing and matching and the occasional use of the hotel laundry service or some handwashing. If you coordinate all your colours you will have an even more versatile look. The dresses and shoes will see you happily through shopping sprees, sightseeing and more formal business meetings with no problem.

When it comes to beachwear, it is important to consider your body shape –  so

·        If you are a pear shape then opt for a padded bikini top and high leg briefs with a carefully coordinated and draped sarong to accentuate your top whilst drawing attention away from your hips.

·        If you are an apple shape then a tankini top or one piece will create the illusion of a waist, especially if it contains bodyshaper colour inserts.

·        If you have a full bust then halter necks offer more support and are more flattering.

Team your chosen swimwear with a coordinating kaftan or sarong for walking to and from the beach or for having lunch.

Over the years I have learnt that most holiday destinations sell beach towels quite cheaply, so I always buy when I arrive to save weight. I have also found that many resorts stock well known brands of toiletries and over the counter remedies for holiday ailments that work very well, so I buy those when I arrive as well. The more weight you can save on items like these, the more clothes you can take. The more weight you can save on the clothes you take the more you can bring back with you. (Are you sensing a theme here?) I have even invested in a very lightweight suitcase. In these days of luggage weight restrictions every kilo saved is an extra pair of shoes or an extra dress to give you a wider choice.

I hope you enjoy your holiday and look stunning throughout your stay. My goal this season is to take a capsule wardrobe that is significantly under the weight limit. Wish me luck!

To find out more and learn how to dress for your body shape, Sue can be contacted at

·        sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

·        www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

·        www.suecourtney.com

·        www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Ladies, If you want to climb the corporate ladder then DON’T work for a bank (or the law)

I was staggered to read in my copy of the ILM magazine, that although 55% of the workforce in the financial sector are women (higher than the UK average of 49%), this not reflected at senior levels. Along with the legal profession, banking allows few women to rise to the top.

Why is this?

One reason, cited by 72% of respondents to the ILM research was the attitude of senior managers. Many women also felt that the role could be incompatible with family life as, in reality, there are few genuine opportunities for  flexible working.

70% of women felt that having a high proportion of men in senior roles inhibited their career progress as it appears that they recruit “in their own image”. 

There is more.

In the ILM survey, only 22% of all respondents (both male and female) believed that banking was a meritocracy, while nearly half (48%) believed promotion to be more likely if you know the ‘right’ people and  mix in the ‘right’ circles than if you possess an outstanding ability to do the job.

It was widely considered that there is a lack of female role models at the top of the industry, especially those who displayed a healthy work-life balance and weren’t perceived to have ‘given up everything’ to get to the top.

However, the idea of a quota system to ensure more women were promoted to the top was unpopular with all. It is also widely held that having a stronger female presence at board level would be beneficial to the industry.

Does this sound familiar?

So what can be done?

Well, a shift in culture towards rewarding results would create a more even playing field. More flexible working arrangements were a popular option with both men and women. They do exist already, but most feel that taking advantage of the provision would adversely affect their promotion prospects, so it is not widely used.

Identifying specific stages in the career ladder where women tend to drop out of management would lead to research on measures to remedy the situation. Returning to work after maternity leave is one such ‘choke point’. It isn’t that women want preferential treatment, just an equal opportunity, and in a talent-driven organisation this would be available.

Now, many of these solutions may be beyond the power of the individual to implement. And I do accept that women don’t always present as confident and assured an image of their management capabilities as men.

But this can be easily remedied with coaching, mentoring and styling.

I have developed my unique 3 Step MAP System to address this very issue and enable you to move up the career ladder, as far as you wish, with confidence and style.

For more information please email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk

Or check out my website at www.successandimagecoach.co.uk

For your FREE copy of my book “The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Women Climbing the Corporate Ladder” please go to www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

Copyright © 2012, Sue Courtney – Success & Image Ltd. All rights reserved.

Need a plumber/photographer/mortgage....?

Need a plumber/photographer/mortgage......?

Success & Image is proud to be a member of the Meon Valley Flyers Chapter of BNI (Business Network International). This is a group of local businesses which meet weekly and has a strict code of conduct ensuring that only quality businesses remain members.

What this means to you is that each business is carefully vetted and the level of service is monitored each week, so you can be sure that you are getting a reliable quality of service.

So whether you need a solicitor or a caterer, a mortgage consultant or an electrician, before you pick up the yellow pages or Google, have a word with Sue.

I may not be able to fix it myself – but I am sure I know a ‘man’ who can!

Email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk for contact details of businesses you need right now!