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

7 Top Tips For What To Wear

7 Top Tips For What To Wear–

For interviews, dating – anything!

Recently I was asked to be the guest expert speaker on a teleseminar run by the relationship expert George Pirinizi (www.AttractYourIdealPartner.com). I was to talk about what to wear on a first date and to attract a partner, generally. Now, this is not something I often have to consider, but I agreed to speak on the teleseminar and thought about what my top 7 tips would be.

It occurred to me that my 7 top tips would be relevant for dressing for any occasion. The principles remain the same, whatever the circumstances – the only difference is in the items of clothing you would select to wear for the different occasions.

However, it is no good dressing to impress someone and not being yourself. The idea is to enhance ‘you’ by dressing to look the best version of you – the one who knows how to look effortlessly stylish.

So, in reverse order, here are my 7 Top Tips for what to wear – at any time!

7. The “Best-Front-Room” Syndrome

Do you remember the days when most families had a “best room” that was reserved for special guests and Christmas? Or the “best” tea set that was rarely used – every day the family had to make do with mismatched crockery?

Well, too many women adopt this principle with their clothes – keeping a few choice items for “best” and wearing cheaper, less flattering clothes for every day. Don’t.

I don’t see the point in dressing down for work, when that is where you will be seen by most people, and dressing up and looking your best only occasionally. The result of this is that, often, the best clothes go out of fashion and have to the ditched before they have been worn more than once or twice. What a waste.

No, don’t save your fab look for social events, dates and interviews. You are special – treat yourself as such and wear your “best” often – to work, to the pub, shopping, to put the bin out....! You deserve to look your best at all times. You don’t need loads of clothes to look good, just a core of well fitting, flattering items that you can mix and match.

Far better to have to ditch gorgeous clothes because you wore them out than because they went out of fashion before you had the chance to wear them.

6. Less is More

The “decked out like a Christmas tree” look is not elegant or stylish. The general rule is don’t wear more than 3 accessories at any one time. Also, don’t wear earrings and necklaces at the same time. I know they can be bought as sets, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear them together. If you wear earrings, leave your neck unadorned. If you wear a necklace, leave your ears bare.

Take the advice of Coco Chanel – before leaving the house, look in the mirror and remove one item.

Dress simply to look stunning.

5.Mix and Match

Never buy a whole outfit from one collection, it isn’t stylish. Mix and match to let the authentic you shine through. You don’t want people to admire that outfit from XXX. You want them to admire your wonderful sense of style. So mix it up.

I love to wear a gorgeous, expensive, tailored shift dress (which is really quite smart) with a lovely leather biker jacket. It gives a quite unexpected edge to the look.

Also, don’t go for high fashion looks – they rarely suit and rarely look good. They certainly aren’t a good investment of your money.

As Yves Saint Laurent said “Fashion Fades, Style is Eternal”.

Oh yes, and another tip – the neckline/hemline rule.

If your hemline rises, the neckline should rise too.

If your neckline drops so should your hemline.

This avoids the ‘belt’ look when the two meet in the middle! Not stylish.

4. PPPPPP or Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

I imagine you have never heard this uses in relation to dressing. But it is as relevant to what you wear as any other aspect of your life.

·       If you are going out shopping for clothes then take the shoes you will wear with the outfit with you – or borrow from the shop. This is especially important when buying trousers and jeans.

·       If you are buying for a special occasion – date, interview, wedding etc. then buy in advance and wear the outfit around the house to get used to how it feels and works. On a special occasion you want to feel confident and be able to give your attention to the matter in hand, being yourself, not worried about whether the skirt rides up, the zip will split, the front of the blouse is gaping or whatever else proper planning can alleviate.

3. Build on a Strong Foundation

A properly fitting bra is essential. It can alter the way clothes fit and look on you and can change your shape by a size. So get properly fitted as a priority. It isn’t an exact science and you may need to take as many as ten bras of the same size into the fitting room to find one that fits properly. It is worth the effort.

Get re-fitted regularly, at least every twelve to eighteen months.

Now we have all been guilty of buying gorgeous sets of undies for that ‘special occasion’ and wearing really quite ‘manky’ undies every day – it’s that “best-front-room” syndrome again. Don’t do it. You know how wonderful you feel in the good stuff – so wear it every day – for YOU.

2. Extreme care

Take care of your clothes – they are an investment.

I once did a Wardrobe De-Tox session for a woman who had a great many expensive designer dresses and outfits in her wardrobe – well some of them were, others were in a heap in the corner of the room, dirty, in need of mending and unwearable.  Don’t be like that.

Before I put anything into my wardrobe I ensure it is ready to wear again – so I check to see whether items need cleaning, ironing or mending. I have a shoe cleaning basket in the wardrobe and always check my shoes and clean them before replacing them in their box.

If clothes need dry cleaning don’t have them cleaned too often as this will weaken the fabric. But do take care of your clothes and they will take care of you.

When you open your wardrobe door you want to feel inspired not terrified.

1.Dress for your Shape.

There is no perfect shape. Those who appear to have a ‘perfect’ shape will be a fortunate combination of several. Most of us would rather have a different shape and most of us are a combination of two or more shapes, but acceptance is crucial. If you know and accept the shape you are you can begin to use this information to your advantage to dress to flatter your shape and look fab all the time.

You may be an apple, pear, rhubarb, strawberry or hourglass shape (see blog “Dress for your Shape” for details) but as long as you dress to enhance the shape you actually are and follow my other top tips you will always look stylish and draw attention in a positive and authentic way.

If you haven’t already done so, might I suggest that you go to my website, www.successandimagecoach.co.uk  and get yourself a copy of my FREE book “The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder”. All the information about the different shapes is in there as well as many more expert tips and hints.

So go there NOW and claim your FREE BOOK at www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk

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

DO A WARDROBE DE-TOX

And get clarity and flow back into your life

Now you know what to wear to look your best you need to attack the wardrobe – not for nothing does Nicky Hambleton-Jones call it a Wardrobe Warrior session. Be ruthless and really analyse your clothes. If they don’t fit the rules and don’t make you look and feel great they either have to be altered or binned.

Do you love your clothes or just wear them?

William Morris once said that he allowed in his house only items that he either knew to be useful or believed to be beautiful.

This applies to clothes too. If it doesn’t fit, you haven’t worn it for a year or it makes your energy plummet every time you see it in your wardrobe, I’m sorry, but it has to go. The new, stylish you can’t emerge if you are still wearing that old coat or top, just because it cost a lot, your mother-in-law knitted it or it has some other way of making you feel guilty. Guilt is not attractive – give it away to someone who will truly appreciate it and move on. I have regular culls of my clothes, at least three times a year. I rarely regret throwing something out for more than a few hours!

But before you throw out everything, be creative. Would the jacket you wear with the suit look better with different trousers? Could a belt, bag or scarf transform a tired outfit and bring it back to trendy life? As Duke Ellington said,

   “It don’t mean a thing if it aint got that swing…”

So be playful when putting your clothes together in different ways, have fun. A complete wardrobe re-vamp with a professional can take about three to five hours. On your own it won’t be any quicker and is a lot less fun. Try setting aside an hour each evening to make it more manageable. Once you have decided what to throw out, go do it. Get it out of the house and out of your life before you are tempted to sneak something back. A stylist will often take the bag of discarded clothes with her to ensure the can be no backsliding! While you are doing this remember to throw out all the wire hangers – every single one.

Your clothes should reflect you – your authentic style. If you aren’t sure what that is any more then look in magazines and cut out pictures of clothes you like. Analyse what it is that you like about them. Are there any celebrities whose style you admire? Collect pictures of them and see if you can adapt what they wear to your shape. Make a seasonal style board to set your subconscious mind looking for opportunities to find similar items within your budget. As you buy a piece or change your mind, simply stick another picture over it.

Finally, once you have weeded out the unflattering items in your collection take a close look at the remaining items.

How well do you care for your clothes?

Can you go to your wardrobe every morning and pick out anything and guarantee that it is clean, ironed, in good repair and ready to wear?

How do you arrange your clothes in your wardrobe? (I can hear some asking – arrange? No I shove things in anywhere.) It is important that when you open your wardrobe you are inspired, it makes it so much easier to pick an outfit, so arrange them by colour, group them into skirts, tops etc, or any way you choose that works for you.

You may not have as many clothes now, but you know that you look great in every outfit and feel inspired every time you open your wardrobe and see the rail of neatly arranged, clean tidy clothes ready to be worn. Liberating isn’t it?

If you would like to have a proper Wardrobe Detox carried out by an expert then contact Sue Courtney at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk for details.

Alternatively go to www.successandimagecoach.co.uk
For your FREE copy of my book "The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder" go to www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk - it really is FREE and is going out to 16 countries worldwide!

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