WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR SUMMER ESCAPE
The destination getaway is back. According to Marks & Spencer, 40 per cent of us are planning trips abroad this summer – a 10 per cent rise from last year.
This is a marked shift from post-pandemic holiday habits, where travel restrictions and tightening purse strings saw staycations boom in popularity. Yorkshire was named 2023’s most desirable holiday spot, based on insights from UK travel company Sykes.
So as we swap yomping through the Dales for daiquiris by the pool, we’re naturally looking to boost our destination wardrobes, too. M&S says 69 per cent of holiday goers have bought, or are planning on buying new clothes. And while there’s a charm to dressing for a staycation, packing for hot holidays is a very different ball game.
Linen and cotton dress, £159, whistles.com
Linen blazer, £150; Linen shorts, £28, both marksandspencer.com
What you’ll want to take for a long weekend in Marrakesh will be entirely different to five nights on The Algarve. There are subtleties, when packing for a hot holiday, to reacquaint ourselves with.
No one wants to shell out for excess baggage, so versatile pieces that can be styled in different ways are a smart move. Quick drying, natural fabrics can be washed and worn again.
Practicalities aside, consider destination dressing the ultimate escapism. Brighter colours and splashier prints feel easier to wear in sunny climates. Jeans and T-shirts can be switched for wafty silhouettes in linen and cotton. No more jumpers on the beach either – tropical temperatures means it’s time to pack your sarong.
The right packing list makes for a well equipped and stylish break. Here are five of this summer’s top destinations – and what to pack for each.
Rome
The Italian capital is as known for its sophisticated style credentials as it is historical sites and aperitivo hour. Take smart pieces in breathable fabrics that will keep you cool in the city heat.
A linen dress is polished yet breezy – either a classic shirt style or something with La Dolce Vita flair; “I wore the Eden dress from Wiggy Kit to channel my inner Sophia Loren,” says designer and former fashion editor Deborah Brett, who visited Rome recently. The Vatican and main basilicas require knees and shoulders to be covered, so opt for a midi-length dress and pack a light scarf to drape around you.
A small cross-body bag keeps valuables safe. Brett also advises Skiim Paris’ packable totes for carrying a water bottle and nick-nacks found at the market. Ballet flats or Birkenstocks will take you from sightseeing to piazza lunches.
Lightweight shirts and chinos are a failsafe formula for men. T-shirts are too casual, opt for polos instead. Brett’s husband, screen-writer Tom Edmunds, looked to Stanley Tucci for inspiration, adding Persol 714 sunglasses and navy Supergas.
For her...
Cotton dress, £395, wiggykit.com; Straw hat, £60, jigsaw-online.com; Leather and cotton sandals, £250, meandem.com
For him...
Linen shirt, £59.95, massimodutti.com; Linen trousers, £40, marksandspencer.com
Sunglasses, £297, persol.com; Canvas plimsolls, £65, superga.co.uk
San Sebastian
This former fishing village-turned-foodie hotspot has a sense of undone glamour that harks back to its Belle Epoque heyday. While the sartorial scene is very relaxed – even the many Michelin star restaurants don’t have a strict dress code – the look is more Old Town chic than beachy.
Linen or chino shorts hit the smart/casual spot. Look to Jigsaw for a stylish womenswear offering, Luca Faloni for men. Team them with cool cotton button-downs for walking up Monte Urgull to take in the panoramic views. Men can add a collared top for Pintox bar-hopping in the evening, while women can slip into an elevated sundress – try ME + Em and Wyse London.
Flat shoes are advisable as many of the streets are cobbled. A classic boat shoe feels suitably nautical, or nod to Spanish heritage in espadrilles.
Pack sleek swimwear for an afternoon on Playa de la Concha. Take a light raincoat, too; although summers in Basque Country are warm, it’s not unusual to see a spot of rain.
For her...
Linen and cotton dress, £159, whistles.com; Swimming costume, £79, whistles.com
Acrylic sunglasses, £75, cos.com; Cotton espadrilles, £120, castaner.com
Cotton and linen dress, £150, wyselondon.com; Cotton mix shorts, £95, wyselondon.com
For him...
Cotton polo shirt, £125, sunspel.com; Cotton shorts, £79.95, schoffelcountry.com
Suede deck shoes, £165, fairfaxndfaour.com; Straw hat, £22, next.co.uk
The Algarve
There’s more to style in the Algarve than dressing for the golf course. White washed villages and pristine sandy beaches are the perfect backdrop for colourful holiday pieces. Keep things casual; the Portuguese region has a laid-back mood.
Bright sundresses and sandals are your suitcase staples. Pink City Prints and Daydress have beautiful styles. For men, short-sleeved shirts, T-shirts and shorts fit the bill. You’ll find plenty at Orlebar Brown and Uniqlo. Things get a littler dressier in the evening, so switch to chinos and palazzos for those seafood dinners.
With over 3,000 hours of sun per year, you’re likely to spend a lot of time on The Algarve’s beaches, so pack a chic one-piece and cover-up for reading on the sunlounger (M&S has a great selection this season). Sportier swimsuit cuts are perfect for enjoying watersports along the coast line. Try Vilebriquin,Varley and Boden.
If you’re planning on playing a few holes, look at chic golf wear brands Byrdie Golf Social Wear, Manors and Rhone.
For her...
Swimming costume, £85, boden.co.uk; Cotton dress, £180, Pinkcityprints.com
Leather sandals, £99, hush-uk.com; Straw bag, £75, beaumontorganic.com
For him...
Cotton jersey T-shirt, £75, Mr P. at mrporter.com; Linen shorts, £195, orlebarbrown.com; Suede sandals, £49, johnlewis.com
Marrakesh
“The style [in Marrakesh] is in your face, bold and unapologetic. Embrace the vibrant surroundings with statement prints and colours, or keep it super simple and chic in a solid colourway, for me that’s usually white,” says stylist and co-founder of resortwear brand SMR days, Dan May.
The Marrakesh regular relies on a capsule of relaxed-fit shorts and T-shirts during the day, printed silk sets for evening cocktails at El Fenn’s renowned roof-top bar. Head to Octobre Editions for wearable styles.
Bold and breezy are the watchwords for women, too. Long, fluid dresses and palazzo coords will keep you cool and observe the modest dress code. Beaumont Organics and Casa Raki have a good selection of both. Shoulders need to be covered when walking around the souk, so keep With Nothing Underneath’s linen sarong (£75) in your bag – then use it again at the hotel pool.
Speaking of bags, leave space in yours to bring home stylish finds from the thriving fashion scene. Norya Ayron, Res Ipsa, Moro and Oubaich are brands to look out for.
For her...
Linen tunic, £120, withnothingunderneath.com; Printed trousers, £65, whitestuff.com
Raffia basket, £330, Aaks at gatherandsee.com; Linen shoes, £109, flabelus.com
For him...
Shirt, £380, smrdays.com; Linen blend trousers, £59.99, mango.com; Leather shoes, £175, uk.sabah.am
Corfu
Sand, sea, sun and souvlaki are all that need to occupy your itinerary when holidaying in Corfu. Match the laid-back mood with an equally relaxed beachy look. Take inspiration from the island’s colour palette and dress in white and Ionian blue.
Swimwear is a good place to start – you’re certain to spend time in those famous crystal waters. A one-shouldered one-piece evokes Grecian glamour. Try Reiss and Hush. If you’d rather a two-piece, Away That Day’s Bequia (£69, awaythatday) has a hint of sunshine shimmer.
White Stuff’s wave trunks (£28, whitestuff.com) are a stylish option for men. Frescobol Carioca also has chic printed styles – slip on a short-sleeved button-down and fisherman sandals for lunch.
If Only If’s cotton night dresses double as lightweight cover-ups for a tour around the Bougainvillea-draped town. The White Company and East Clothing are worth looking at too. Add a pair of sculptural gold earrings for Kumquat liqueur sundowners in the evening.
For her...
Cotton dress, £210, East Clothing at gatherandsee.com; Swimming costume, £130, oascompany.com
Leather sandals, £170, ancient-greek-sandals.com; Jute tote, £57, Arket
For him...
Linen shirt, £30, gap.co.uk; Trunks, £28, whitestuff .com
Linen bag, £95, toa.st; Leather sandals, £39.20, johnlewis.com
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