Love your Own Wardrobe Again
January 29, 2019
The ‘useful’ summer trends
April 29, 2019
Who doesn’t love a weekend away? A few days to unwind and forget the mundane chores at home and in my case, the bathroom that needs a paint job! Excitement rises as I think of the breakfast bar but then mild panic sets in at the thought of packing and getting it right.
As a family we have made some real clangers at Check In and even later when reaching security. On one occasion, as a toddler, my daughter had decided to slip in my hefty cutting scissors into her own little case, causing a bit of a stir and loss of my trusty tool, so I now try and be far more organised.
How to pack
- Lay your items out on your bed and then reduce by a third. For a weekend trip avoid taking the ‘just in case’ options.
- Arrange outfit ideas with accessories needed for each look and take asnapshot to remember.
- Fold and Roll – no, not an exercise move but a packing suggestion for items like T-shirts, sweatshirts and jumpers which means you can fit them around the edges of your case.
- Smarter items, like cotton shirts, trousers and jeans are better folded around each other to help avoid creasing – known as the ‘bundle technique’.
- For those who like more separation, Lakeland’s Packing Organisers offer a simple solution inside your case at £20.99 for three.
- Belts are better unrolled and slipped in around the perimeter of the case.
- Well before travelling, start collecting trial and sample sizes as it’s often the wash bag that just won’t fit!
I know it’s obvious, but remember the maximum 100ml liquid rule too, inside one small plastic bag per person to avoid dumping new products, which is never a great start to a holiday. (I’ve done it!)
What to pack
A few creative layers that I found on Pinterest, for day to evening.
Add a pop of colour with a little clutch
Comfy trainers with everything!
A leather jacket and heels
A versatile dress for day or evening
- Check the weather forecast for the time of year you are visiting – how likely is a rain cloud – is an umbrella a must or will a rainproof jacket be enough for light showers?
- A capsule collection is key to travelling light, one colour palette that means you can make more outfits out of a few items.
- Scarves are a space-saving item to make the changes and add a pop of colour.
- A selection of tops will make far more impact than lots of bottom halves – so just a couple of pairs of dark trousers or jeans are useful for day and into the evening.
- Comfy footwear is an essential, of course, but make sure they are tried and tested, not brand new and likely to cause blisters!
- A small cross over bag will not only be a safer option but it distributes the weight for all-day sightseeing, just reduce what you need each day to small bag necessities.
- A lightweight cosy sweater is a useful layer for cooler mornings, rolled into a scarf for breakfast chill, through jeans loops for afternoon strolls and then diagonally across the body for early evening cocktails.
- A waterproof lined pouch like this one from Oliver Bonas, is great to transport make-up and becomes a cheeky clutch on a night out.
- For comfortable feet inside trainers, I love Ecco bamboo footsies, £7.99, breathable and dry all day.
- One lightweight overcoat should be enough for smarter day and into evenings, something like a trench coat that layers over a denim jacket too.
- Remember a dress can be a perfect day-into-evening item, dressed down with trainers and a denim jacket for day and a metallic belt and ankle boots added for evening.
- One or two statement pieces of jewellery will add a simple change; go bold like these raffia drops from Oliver Bonas.
A few little tips to finish off with:
Top tips
* The simple sock can be used to ‘bag up’ cables and adaptors.
* Fill shoes with rolled socks/ underwear and use to protect sunglasses.
* Avoid easy creasing fabrics that will need ironing on arrival.
* Add your contact details, visible inside the bag and tagged outside.
* Wear larger items like ankle boots or trainers and pack the slip-ons.
* If in doubt, double-wrap your toiletries to avoid a mess on arrival.
* A cotton bag is useful for storing ‘to be washed on return’ items.
* Remember, to reduce your make- up bag, take out Christmas sparkles.
* Keep your medicines in a separate easy to reach plastic bag.
* Try and leave a little breathing space for purchases made.
“If you would like some help packing for a romantic weekend or longer summer break, I offer a Perfect Packing session to take your stress away. I will photograph your outfits and make sure you only pack what you need so you can concentrate on enjoying your holiday.” Email me for details, kirstie@kirstiesmillie.com
K x
