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Smart holiday packing guide

Each year, many of us empty our entire summer wardrobe into our suitcases and only end up wearing a quarter of the clothes we have packed.

Sound familiar? To avoid time wasting, and save precious baggage space here are some golden rules for packing the perfect holiday essentials.

My top tip for avoiding excess luggage is a few well chosen, best loved pieces that work well together. It’s no good taking items of clothing that you rarely wear at home, as these will just sit in your suitcase creased and unloved. Stick to a simple colour palette so you can mix-and-match items for a multitude of combinations.

The holiday hot list
A neutral pair of skinny jeans will be great for travelling and if you opt for a pair with stretch, they’ll be comfortable for the whole journey. Warehouse has a great selection of denim in a variety of colours for all shapes and sizes.

Loose-fitting chiffon blouses are versatile as they can be dressed down in the day, worn on the beach as a great cover-up, or up-styled for the evening with an over-size clutch bag, towering wedges and sparkly earrings.

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Check out Zara for a huge range of cute, ultra-feminine blouses. Ensure you choose a blouse for your body shape. For those of you self-conscious of the tops of your arms, find yourself a boho-inspired blouse that covers the area without drowning your silhouette completely. Ladies who are self-conscious of their tummies, a floaty fabric will disguise and draw attention away from this area.


A pair of black or beige shorts that you feel comfortable in are a must as they can be worn with various tops, shirts or jackets, in different prints, patterns or colours. Pair with flat, strappy sandals in the day for a relaxed, yet stylish look. For evening, glam up the outfit with some bright heels for a sexy night-owl look.

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Light summer dresses and skirts take up barely any space in a suitcase – plus they’re cool, comfortable and perfect for day-to-evening transition. I have spotted so many gorgeous pieces on the high street in Miss Selfridge, Monsoon and Ted Baker.


Canny customising
Don’t be afraid of customising and mixing and matching pieces. It will allow you to achieve an array of great looks to last all holiday long.

This will leave plenty of space in your suitcase for a few beauty and accessory essentials.

Take a few silk scarves with you; you can wear them to personalise an outfit, tie them around the handles of your bag for a chic finish or add a touch of glamour to your wide-brimmed floppy hat.

A print sarong is perfect for the beach, as you can cover up any areas you feel self-conscious about and it can then be transformed in the evenings into a stunning skirt or cool top.

Find out more about Nicky at www.themakeoverqueen.co.uk and www.nhjstyle.com.