what to wear on holiday

If there is one thing that unites the great British public in misery it is packing. Truly, if there is a more stressful, more complicated, more mind-boggling domestic task I am yet to stumble upon it. I often think — while counting pairs of children’s socks and battling to get the too-big suitcase out through the too-small loft hatch — that I’d rather cancel the holiday altogether than face the hours (and I mean hours) it takes to get ready for a week of revelry in the sun. But much like putting up the Christmas tree (a fairly painful task) and reorganising the cereal cupboard (more painful than it sounds) you have to put in the hard work to reap the joy at the end.

The benefits of “good packing” are impossible to miss: an appropriately chosen, well-thought-through holiday wardrobe can be the difference between a good holiday and a great one (please don’t hold me to that). So, how to master? Truthfully, I have no idea (if we’re not learning, we’re dead, right?). But I can tell you that a uniform is a great place to start. For instance, if your holiday is looking likely to be one mostly spent on a beach, your uniform is swimwear and variations of cover-ups (you probably only need two), then you need a great pair of earrings, a bag that can work for any trips to the market (you get the idea).

You can use the same principle if you’re planning a UK-based staycation: shorts and T-shirts are your base layers, then add fun via a colourful shirt, which can be worn layered on top or unbuttoned with a pair of comfortable sandals, you get the idea. Once you’ve cracked the base, I’d suggest adding at least one “special occasion” outfit that is light enough to be rolled up in the bottom of the suitcase. If you don’t wear it, who cares. The key to choosing this is to make sure it can be worn along with your other accessories — ie, the well-loved pair of Tevas you wear for everything. Happy packing.

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• 10 stylish things to buy right now

City hopper

Print midiskirt, £119, massimodutti.com

• Cereal City Guide: Copenhagen, £25, hm.com
• Stripy trousers, £79, whistles.com
• Ribbed vest, £16, johnlewis.com
• Sandals, £880, loropiana.com
• Woven tote, £341, dragondiffusion.com

• Dress, £475, proenzaschouler.com
• Spiral ring, £60, Côté Caché, wolfandbadger.com
• Compact cabin suitcase, £750, montblanc.com
• Sunglasses, £150, finlayandco.com

Boho bather

Bikini set, £109, and skort, £59, triangl.com

• T-shirt, £185, isabelmarant.com
• Bikini, £280, Missoni, selfridges.com
• Suitcase, £1,550, rimowa.com
• Trousers, £50, mango.com
• Bag, £75, thejacksons.co.uk

• Necklace, £168, anni-lu.com
• Straw hat, £55, cos.com
• Dress, £240, casaraki.com
• Backgammon sarong, £69, fruitybooty.co.uk
• Sunglasses, £4, hm.com

Staycationer

Fleece, £158, freepeople.com

• Swimsuit, £55, stories.com
• Jumper, £125, finisterre.com
• Cap, £25, thenorthface.co.uk
• Towel, £85, shopbaina.com
• Trainers, £55, toms.com

• Anorak, £125, rapanuiclothing.com
• Sunglasses, £50, lespecs.com
• Speedmaster, £5,000, omegawatches.com
• Shorts, £88, reiss.com
• Backpack cooler, £325, yeti.com

Beach clubber

• DolceVita watch, £4,700, longines.com
• Linen shirt, £35, marksandspencer.com
• Swimsuit, £215, awaythatday.com
• Leopard-print denim shorts, £185, ganni.com

• Hoop earrings, £155, missoma.com
• Top, £595, tove-studio.com
• Cotton mididress, £303, Three Graces London, theoutnet.com
• Small raffia tote, £885, Saint Laurent, net-a-porter.com
• Sandals, £84, A Emery, net-a-porter.com