Summer Holiday Packing Guide

Summer holidays are one of the best things in life. They make all those months of dark commutes, demanding bosses and unreasonable deadlines worth it, reviving that shiny, happy, carefree person that sometimes gets lost under all that day-to-day life crap.  And no matter how hard I try, I will forever be that person that can’t book a holiday without shopping for it. There’s nothing like a parcel or two containing itsy-bitsy bikinis and see-through sundresses arriving at your desk to get you excited. Even the annual Amazon suncream order gets me going.

So in honour of my holiday shopping habits, I thought I’d compile some suitcase essentials to match three all-time favourite summer getaways. Use the arrows to flick through all the items.

The dream | White-washed walls and azure skies, hunks of feta and tomatoes with your toes in the sand, basking in searing sun, fresh seafood at waterfront tavernas, tumbling pink bougainvilla, zipping round on scooters and dancing till dawn in sweaty beach bars to bad euro music.
Inspiration | Mamma Mia (yes that’s a valid reference), Lolita, Blue Lagoon, Kate Moss in boho mode and the Zimmerman lookbooks.
Essentials | Breezy cotton tunics and dresses for throwing on after the beach, lots of mix-and-match bikinis, bright bracelets, raffia beach bag and silk shorts for the evening.
Buy there | Cheesecloth sundresses and leather sandals

The dream | Cycling to get fresh bread, playing cards by the pool, the palest pink Rosé, endless lavender fields, Sunday markets and hazy, al fresco dinners.
Inspiration | Jane Birkin, Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Nancy Meyer movies, Chloe Spring/Summer campaigns and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Essentials | Live the cliche in stripes, simple swimwear (go down the one piece route), straw hat, silk trousers and long cotton dresses.
Buy there | Straw baskets, espadrilles and all things edible.

The dream | Eating your way round the city of angels, driving down the pacific highway with the top down, walking barefoot down Malibu’s beaches, watching the skaters at sundown on Venice beach and hikes in the Hollywood hills at dawn.
Inspiration | Lords of Dogtown, Cher Horowitiz and L.A poster girl Kate Bosworth.
Essentials | Denim cut-offs, classic vans, biker jacket (it gets cold at night), sunglasses, suede ankle boots and plenty of casual, jersey basics.
Buy there | Invest in U.S brands Reformation, Stone Cold Fox and Clare Vivier.