Stay cool and on trend on holiday

New season styling inspiration that translates into a practical, affordable holiday edit

Relaxed, confident, and perfectly suited to sunshine (remember sunshine?!), the new season collections serve up a host of styling inspiration that translate beautifully on holiday. There is a particular pleasure in packing for a holiday when you know exactly what suits you, it’s one of the benefits of being older and wiser. Although most of us probably feel more comfortable dressing for the Autumn season, it is very rewarding to have a holiday capsule that takes little or no thought, when you finally get to pull that suitcase out of the attic. Think less frantic trend-chasing and more considered ease. Here is how to work the key trends into a practical, affordable holiday edit.

Linen, but make it looser

Relaxed tailoring dominates the high street, and linen is its natural fabric. Wide-leg trousers, unstructured shirt-jackets and easy dresses with generous silhouettes, should be the foundation of your wardrobe. For holiday dressing later in life, this is ideal. Nothing traps heat, everything moves well, and the slightly rumpled quality of linen only improves as the day goes on. Choose neutral sand, ivory, or soft terracotta tones and you will have pieces that mix effortlessly from beach to dinner table. High street brands such as M&S and Mango have particularly good linen ranges this season, at accessible prices. Even if you only invest in one piece like a linen shirt-jacket, it can work as a beach cover-up, a light layer for cool evenings or as a relaxed blazer over a dress. Three outfits, one piece.

Bold colour, worn simply

As you have probably seen by now, saturated primary colours are back in a big way. Cobalt blue, tomato red and a particularly lovely dusty rose are the highlights. The key is to let one strong colour do the work. Wear a cobalt linen dress on its own with tan sandals, rather than layering print on print. These clear, warm tones work brilliantly against skin that carries a little sun. Look for a single hero dress or top in a confident colour and build the rest of your packing in quieter neutrals around it. Zara, &Other Stories and Next have some excellent options this year.

The return of the maxi

Maxi dresses and skirts have come back with a gentle, floaty authority. For those of us who no longer want to flash too much leg, this is genuinely good news. Long hemlines are elegant, forgiving, and easy. The SS26 versions avoid anything fussy, no heavy embellishment, no complicated ruching. Go for simple shapes in printed cotton or lightweight crepe. A tiered cotton maxi in a Mediterranean print is a holiday wardrobe staple that never dates and is rarely expensive. Maxi dresses also scrunch up small and shake out beautifully so if you only pack two, you have covered every occasion from sightseeing to a smart dinner.

Spry Finance Spring Summer 26

Comfort footwear has arrived

This season’s footwear story is one worth celebrating. Flat leather sandals, wide-fit espadrilles, and supportive mules with sculptural but low heels are all firmly on-trend. You no longer need to choose between style and comfort, which is a relief! Chances are you have one of these styles already in your wardrobe. If not, look out for a Roman-inspired sandal style or a classic espadrille in a new colour. Both will see you through everything a holiday demands and can be found at a reasonable price point.

One considered accessory

If there’s one item that can do a lot of heavy lifting, in terms of updating a holiday look, it’s a well chosen accessory. A wide-brimmed hat, a great basket bag, a colourful scarf or a single piece of interesting jewellery can really elevate an outfit, giving you an air of effortless sophistication. A well-made straw hat, which could even be picked up at the local market on arrival, to save you packing it, is the single most useful holiday accessory you can own. Not only does it add instant polish, it protects your skin and works with everything.

Simplicity is key when switching on holiday mode. It’s all about dressing with intention, buying fewer and better pieces whilst choosing comfort without apology. That is, as it happens, exactly what a holiday calls for.

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