The Weekend Read✨Holiday Packing Without the Panic!

Hello Everyone!

We're back!

After taking a little break over the past month (and enjoying a little sunshine ourselves), we're delighted to be sitting back down with a cup of coffee and writing another edition of The Weekend Read.

Before anything else, we'd just like to say thank you. So many of you have emailed, messaged and mentioned during appointments how much you've missed our Saturday morning read over the past few weeks. We honestly hadn't realised quite how many of you had made it part of your weekend routine, and your lovely messages have meant such a lot to us.

Thank you for waiting so patiently. We're excited to be back and have lots of ideas lined up for the months ahead. So, what better way to return than with one of the questions we get asked every single summer...

How do I pack for my holiday without taking my entire wardrobe?

The Holiday Packing Dilemma

Let's imagine you're heading off for a week or two somewhere in Europe. Perhaps it's Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia or Portugal. Your days might include relaxing by the pool, wandering around beautiful old towns, visiting local markets, long lunches overlooking the sea, and evenings enjoying delicious food in little restaurants as the sun goes down.

It sounds idyllic until it's time to pack. Suddenly, you're trying to cater for sightseeing, beach days, boat trips, cooler evenings, smart restaurants, shopping, travelling and those just-in-case moments. Before you know it, the suitcase is bulging and somehow you still feel like you've got nothing to wear.

Sound familiar? The truth is, most overpacking doesn't happen because we need more clothes. It happens because we pack lots of individual outfits instead of a wardrobe that works together.

Start With Your Colour Palette

One of the biggest advantages of having your colours analysed is that your wardrobe naturally becomes easier to pack. Instead of lots of random colours that only work with one item, your seasonal palette starts to work in harmony.

Imagine packing a suitcase of coordinating colours: navy, white, aqua and raspberry if you're a Winter. Perhaps olive, camel, warm oyster and coral if you're an Autumn. Springs might pack bright blue, banana, flamingo pink and light grey to colour coordinate and Summers could opt for delph, sky blue, primrose and jade.

Imagine if every top works with every bottom, every outfit feels coordinated and every morning becomes easier to get dressed. Rather than packing outfits, pack pieces that all belong to the same colour story. That's when holiday packing becomes wonderfully simple.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Holiday Formula

If there's one packing tip we'd encourage everyone to try this summer, it's this:

Instead of thinking about individual outfits, think about creating a mini capsule wardrobe for your holiday. To help you narrow down what to pack for you week or two weeks away, try following our 5-4-3-2-1 packing formula (it caters for re-wearing outfits).

You've looked at your colour palette, now let's look at your best styles. Here's how the formula will work for you. Look to pack the following:

5 Tops or Dresses

Think about a combination that covers everything from breakfast to dinner. Perhaps:

• three daytime tops (can be used as an evening top then a day top the next day)
• one smarter blouse or top
• one easy dress for evenings

Or if you're more of a dress person, swap some of the tops for dresses instead, and yes, it is okay to wear a dress twice on holiday, especially if you are away for two weeks. The exact combination of your tops/dresses isn't important. The important thing is that everything coordinates.

4 Bottoms or Easy Throw-On Dresses

Choose four versatile pieces that you'll genuinely wear. Perhaps:

• linen trousers
• cropped trousers
• shorts
• a skirt

Or replace one or two with those effortless throw-on dresses that take you from breakfast to the pool and straight on to lunch without thinking twice.

3 Pairs of Shoes

This is usually where suitcases become heavy, so try and keep it practical. Choose:

• 1 pair of comfortable trainers for sightseeing.
• 1 pair of stylish sandals that work for both day and evening.
• 1 pair of flip-flops for the pool or beach.

If every pair is comfortable enough to walk in, they'll earn their place.

2 Swimwear Sets

Taking two pieces of swimwear makes life easier. One to wear, one drying on the balcony. Keep it simple!

1 Layer

Never forget one lightweight layer. A linen shirt, lightweight jacket, pashmina or fine knit can make all the difference for:

• cooler evenings
• air-conditioned restaurants
• flights
• unexpected sea breezes

The Secret Isn't Really the Numbers

The magic of the 5-4-3-2-1 formula isn't actually about the numbers (you can double the number for longer holidays), it's about coordination. When every item sits comfortably within your seasonal colour palette, everything works with everything else.

That means:

• more outfit combinations
• fewer clothes
• less decision making
• a lighter suitcase

It's exactly the same principle we use when helping clients build a wardrobe at home. A wardrobe that works harder doesn't have to be bigger. It simply needs to work together.

Pack For Your Actual Holiday, Not Your Fantasy Holiday

This is something we see time and time again. Often we pack for the holiday we imagine we're going to have:

• The glamorous evening dress
• The six-inch heels
• The glitzy handbag

The reality? Most European holidays involve far more walking than we realise. So remember, pack for the holiday you'll actually have, not the fantasy one - your shoulders and your suitcase will thank you.

Remember to pack:

• Comfortable shoes
• Easy, breathable fabrics
• Versatile layers
• Pieces you can dress up or down

Accessories Really Do Make the Difference

Accessories take up very little room (remember to pack them inside your shoes to save space), but they completely transform an outfit. A simple linen shirt worn with shorts during the day suddenly feels ready for dinner with the addition of a necklace, earrings and a brighter lipstick.

Jewellery

If you've had your colours analysed, you'll know which metal naturally complements you. Winters and Summers look best in silver metals, whilst Springs and Autumns look best in gold metals. Keeping your jewellery within your most flattering metal instantly creates a more polished, coordinated look. Choose just a handful of favourite pieces rather than lots of maybes.

Bags

You probably don't need five handbags. A maximum of three bags will cover everything:

• a beach tote
• a comfortable crossbody for sightseeing
• a small evening bag if needed

The Little Extras

Don't underestimate the finishing touches which can be the cherry on the cake for your look.

• A pair of sunglasses chosen for your face shape
• A hat
• A lightweight scarf
• A belt
• A colourful hair accessory

These tiny additions can completely change the feel of an outfit while taking up almost no room in your suitcase.

The Holiday Photo Test

Holiday photographs last far longer than the holiday itself. Years later, you won't remember exactly what everyone else was wearing, but you'll remember the laughter, the sunsets, the ice creams, the family dinners and the unexpected adventures.

When you're wearing colours that naturally brighten your complexion and styles that genuinely feel like you, those photographs become memories you love looking back on. There's no wishing you'd packed something different and no wondering why you look washed out. Just happy memories captured beautifully.

Less Really Can Be More

One of the loveliest things our clients tell us after colour analysis and personal style consultations is that they actually pack less but wear more. Everything coordinates and everything feels like them and nothing sits untouched in the hotel wardrobe.

Isn't that exactly what we all want from our wardrobes at home too? Less overwhelm, more confidence and definitely more enjoyment. Whether we're packing for a fortnight in the Mediterranean or simply getting dressed for work on a weekday morning.

Final Thoughts: Pack Less, Live More

The best holiday wardrobe isn't the biggest one, it's the one that lets you spend less time deciding what to wear and more time making memories. Because the best souvenir you'll bring home isn't another T-shirt you'll never wear, it's the photographs where you look relaxed, confident and completely yourself.

When your colours, your style and your wardrobe all work together, packing becomes less about just-in-case, and more about knowing this works. That's a lovely feeling to take away with you. Whether you're heading to Tuscany, the Algarve, the Greek Islands or simply enjoying a long weekend on the British coast, our 5-4-3-2-1 packing formula will help you pack for the holiday you're going on, not the fantasy one.

If you're travelling this summer, we hope you have a wonderful time. And if you do try our 5-4-3-2-1 Holiday Packing Formula, we'd love to hear how you get on, or better still, tag us in a photo of your beautifully coordinated holiday wardrobe!

Until next Saturday... Have a wonderful week.

Best wishes,

Jenny & Judi xx

Next week in The Weekend Read we'll be talking about how to navigate the summer sales.

Click Here For Our Summer Holiday 2026 Inspiration

Jenny Goldsmith

Personal Style Coach

Tel: 07986 062460

e: jenny.goldsmith@houseofcolour.co.uk

w: www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jennygoldsmith

Client code: GOLDSMIT for 30% of all webshop prices

Webshop: shop.houseofcolour.co.uk/shop