Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag...

When Mr. B suggested I write a post about how to pack a suitcase, I did wonder what his agenda was. But, given that schools break up soon and a lot of you will be heading off on your holidays, I thought it was a good idea.

I know there must be people out there who love packing, but not me. A day before travelling I am loudly huffing and puffing around the house, still putting off the deed. Then, when I eventually do start, I put everything in my case. Why? Well, just in case I need it of course! This obviously results in what is essentially an overstuffed wardrobe on wheels and that horrible feeling on holiday when you look at all the clothes and think ‘why the hell did I bring all this stuff?!’

But luckily, after studying this style advisor malarkey, I now know that it isn’t the actual packing that’s the problem but the indecision as to what to take. So, if you have the same problem and long to be one of those traveling light, co-ordinated types, then I’m about to share with you some tips on making the whole packing debacle a lot easier. 

Here’s a mood board that I made earlier (I always wanted to be a TV presenter). It shows a good example of a two week beach holiday capsule wardrobe.

The first thing that you probably notice is that it’s very colour co-ordinated. That’s because I’ve applied the ‘two neutrals / three colours’ rule.

The neutrals are your basics and the colour adds the va-va-voom. Don’t add more than three other colours to your neutrals though because the more colours you add, the less ‘capsule’ your holiday wardrobe becomes.

Mix and Match

The idea is to make sure that you can mix and match pretty much everything that you’ve packed. For example, the patterned skirt can be worn several times but with different colour tops - the same applies to the shorts. The shorts, which can obviously be worn for daytime, can also be worn with a dressier top, jacket, heels and clutch bag for an evening look. The black and white dress on the far right would make a lovely evening outfit, but when you’ve worn it once (or twice, depending on how liberal you are with your food or sweat!) it then makes a perfect beach cover up.

Accessories

What makes this wardrobe even more versatile is the use of accessories. These are the clever, often overlooked, items that can transform an outfit, so don’t forget them - add them to your list NOW! Beachwear becomes daywear and daywear becomes evening wear with clever use of bracelets, necklaces, handbags and/or scarves. A bold statement necklace and clutch bag can make a simple, throw-on daywear dress, into something perfect for an evening out. And a pair of heels can take loose fit, patterned trousers, from cosy-comfy to trendy-wendy quicker than you can say ‘mine’s a mojito’.

What to pack?

So, you’ve got the theory, but what should you actually pack? My mood board is based on the 6 bottoms and 1 dress rule. But I’ve tweaked it slightly because following all of the rules all of the time can be so very boring. So, I have snuck in more dresses because if you’re like me, I think a holiday is the perfect excuse to feel more feminine and wear dresses. 

Here’s a list (I love a list!):

• 6 bottoms  trousers/jeans/skirts/shorts
• 2 dresses (or more but reduce bottom count and tops accordingly)
• Selection of plain tops for daytime and a couple for evening
• 1 or 2 cardigans
• 1 jacket
• 2/3 bikini’s/swimsuits
• 1 sarong/ or kaftan to match
• Beach Towel (though if you can hire them, do that!)
• No more than 5 pairs of shoes including flip-flops/sandals, high heels and trainers/walking shoes if needed
• Selection of jewellery - necklaces, bracelets and earrings
• 1 or 2 wraps/pashminas
• Belt/s
• Hat
• Evening bag
• Day/beach bag
• Sunglasses

You can obviously tweak this to your own personal style, colour choices and type of holiday you're taking – but I think it’s a good place to start.

Roll or Fold?

And of course there’s then the ‘to roll or fold’ question. Well, rolling does reduce creases and can save space in your suitcase, so I would go for that if I were you. Though I do know Victoria Beckham, queen of style, goes for the folding option. So, how does she appear so crease free you ask? Collagen pills and bee pollen apparently.

Oh and I nearly forgot underwear! Ooh la la! Select carefully. If you are wearing a lot of white, don’t be fooled into thinking that you need white underwear. No, no, no – white is very visible and that's not a good look!  What you need is the flesh coloured option. I know, it’s not the sexiest choice but it does the job. In fact, one holiday, many, many, moons ago, I was down to one pair of pink knickers and a pair of white trousers (yep, bad planning) but low and behold the pink didn’t actually show through as much as the white would have done. 

So, whether you’re catching a flight or vacuum packing the kids and the kitchen sink into the back of the car, I hope you have a wonderful time and feel happy in what you’re wearing every day of your holiday.

Oh and please don’t pack your troubles as the song and title of this blog suggests – leave those at home if you can. However, if your troubles are your kids and the other half, then that could be tricky!  I suggest you lose yourself in a good book. 

Click here to find out why these are some of my faves.

Mange tout amigo’s, mange tout.

M x

P.S. I need to pack a bag or two this weekend actually - but I won’t need many outfits. I’m going from dressy wedding on Friday to messy camping on Saturday. Best make sure I pick up the right bag for the right day, huh?!

Handbags and Gladrags...

At the weekend, having just been paid and without any appointments in the diary or children in tow, I indulged in a ‘mooch’ around the shops. As any of you with kids will appreciate, it’s a decadent pleasure having shopping time (or any time actually) to yourself.  On the rare occasion that I do bring my son shopping he is generally very well behaved but that’s only because I’ve bribed him with the promise of a milkshake or a new Skylander.  And whatever promise he’s on, it’s still only a small window of opportunity before he gets stroppy and we have to head home.

Anyway, Saturday was different – it was time for ‘me time’ and I had a list. I love a list. The list, which I keep on my phone, is a list of things that would be good to buy if I happen to come across them on the rare chance that I get out.  Things get crossed off, but it’s not long before something else is added on.  And it’s not always clothes; pretty bed linen was added at the weekend.

Yes, I can and do online shopping – but that can be such a faff if things aren’t right and you need to fill in the paperwork, package them up and then find a real life post office … blah blah etc!

Anyway, one of the things on my list was a new handbag.  I wanted something bigger than the across the body ones that I currently have.  I’ve been stuffing as much as I can into these smaller handbags of mine and then putting the over-flow into an Asda carrier bag.  Shock horror, that’s not what a style advisor does, is it? No, of course not. She uses a Waitrose one.

I looked in so many places for the perfect handbag but time and time again I was just so disappointed, not only with the colours and shapes but with the silly amount of embellishment that some designers feel the need to add.  Please stop! If we want bling, then we’ll wear jewellery thank you very much.  And what’s with all the gold buckles and zips? What’s wrong with silver?

Anyway, I found one I love and here it is.

It’s from White Stuff and it’s called Cruz. Yes, I name all my handbags. It’s a great neutral colour which I would describe as putty but what White Stuff call charcoal. It goes with pretty much every colour in my wardrobe. What I didn’t want is a black bag that then looks odd when I wear blue or a blue bag that looks odd when I wear black etc - so job done. It’s also a great shape, is real leather, has loads of compartments and has a short and long strap (the long strap is detachable). Oh and it’s not in the least bit blingy. Bloody bingo!

 

It also comes in atlantic blue, miso grey, tan and windsor blue.  They have a great selection of bags in all shapes and sizes and in a great range of colours – so worth a look.  BUT if it’s a black bag you want (or anything black for that matter) don’t even bother looking here. They don’t do black dahling!

This is actually the third bag I’ve bought from White Stuff in as many years and so why I didn’t start my search here in the first place is quite beyond my frazzled brain! Note to self, must add fish oils to my phone list.

Where’s my phone…..?

M x

P.S. The top I’m wearing wasn’t on my list, but I love a stripe. It’s silky to the touch, fine knit and feels great on. It’s H&M (no surprise there) - but as there wasn't a link to it when I looked online, you'll have to go into the shop when you next get some ‘you time'. Enjoy that!