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.
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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
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