It's not too late to buy Swimwear, What to wear to a Summer Garden Party 2010, Flip flops and beach shoes, What to pack in your beach bag,    and How to Pack a Suitcase  

It’s not too late to buy swimwear

The latest edition of Vogue is telling me that camel is the in colour for autumn, and the Times fashion team have just put together a feature on flattering black trousers.  Meanwhile, summer is full-on and I still haven’t had my holiday.  What I really want right now is a new swimsuit – not a winter coat.

But if you think it is too late to buy swimwear, don’t panic!  A quick trawl of a few websites has revealed that there is still a choice of swimwear online, and many items are at sale prices.  A word of warning, you will have to shop around as sizes are limited, and items are selling out. 

The  dotty bikini on the left of the photo is  from White Stuff (total cost at sale price £17).  The top and bottom are sold separately which is good for getting a proper fit.   On the right side of the image there is a daisy print bikini from Boden (price £28 in the sale) and these are also sold as 2 items.

The black cross neck with bright pink trim is available from Evans, the black and purple one-shoulder suit is from Dorothy Perkins.  The red swimsuit comes from Lands' End and the Tropicana print is from John Lewis.

Although these particular styles may not be available in your size, have a browse through the websites mentioned and you will probably find something.

If that fails and you cannot find anything in the shops, try telephoning Lands’ End and talking to one of their ever-helpful telephone assistants.  I have known them to work miracles at finding an item that is ‘out of season’.

Alternatively, try a year round swimwear supplier, such as ipackmybag.  I have been very pleased with items purchased from this website.  The tankini shown is currently available online, and costs £39.99.

What to Wear to a Summer Garden Party 2010

The parties of 2009 don’t seem that long ago, but suddenly it’s time for summer garden party 2010!  And you are faced with the perennial question of what to wear for a summer garden party.

You don’t need to don your finest dress and hat, unless you have the privilege of being invited to a Royal Garden Party.  If you are one of the chosen ones to take tea with Her Royal Highness, you will have received some guidance on what to wear to the garden party.  If you are simply curious, take a peek at the website of the British Monarchy.

Back in real life, in my experience most women get dressed in a casual/pretty way for a summer garden party, while most men wear casual shirts and shorts.  I have noticed a trend in 2010 for men to wear long shorts and a linen jacket over a checked shirt.

If you have been wishing for an occasion to wear a maxi dress, a summer garden party in 2010 presents the ideal occasion.  Try to find a maxi dress that is fairly simple in design so that you don’t look as if you have got lost on your way to a summer ball.  In the illustration we have picked a floral maxi dress from Coast in varied shades of blue, and a blue and white print from Hush.  According to the reviews on the Hush website this dress is low cut back and front, so is probably only suitable for women who can get away with not wearing a bra.

Not into maxis?  The green one from White Stuff  may be too short for some.  If  you are going to be seated on the lawn consider testing whether you can get up without showing your undies.  The pink dress is from Joules and is made from silk; it may be more suitable for a summer garden party where you know you will be sitting on garden chairs and avoiding grass stains. The paisley dress on the left is from Wallis and is machine washable.

Sometimes a summer garden party goes on into the evening, in which case you may wish to take a cardigan.  We’ve shown a blue short sleeved one from Hush, which should keep you warm in a slight breeze.  A summer garden party is one occasion for which we do not recommend a pashmina as it can be difficult to juggle a drink, a plate and keep a wrap draped over your shoulders.

Try to stick to flat shoes or at least shoes with a flat sole because you really don’t want your stilettos so sink into someone’s lawn.  The wedges in the picture are by Dune,  from John Lewis.  In summer 2010 it seems that gladiator sandals are de rigueur for the dedicated follower of fashion.  The pair we’ve shown are reasonably subtle in design so should not look dated next year.  They are from Hush.

Finally, don’t forget sun cream or a good hat.  Take a peek at our selection of Fairtrade Hats for summer.

Flip Flops and Beach Shoes

Pat writes:  

I once ruined an expensive pair of leather sandals by wearing them on a long trek along a sandy beach.  The lesson I learned was to save the designer sandals for urban events or at least pavement.

So, you’re going to a real beach?  What you will do when you are there should determine your choice of footwear.

Of course, you could go bare foot.  It always sounds romantic, and if it is a sand beach you should end up with beautifully exfoliated feet.  Should you decide to leave off shoes, beware of hazards such as shells or broken glass.

If you intend walking no farther than the nearest sun lounger, flip-flops should be perfectly adequate.   Unless you hunger for a designer pair, this is an inexpensive option, and there is usually sufficient colour choice that you can find a pair to tone with your bikini or swimsuit.

The colourful flip flops in the top picture are available at Debenhams and cost £8.  The gladiator-style flip flops are by Nike, come from JD Sports and cost £24.99, but are now reduced to £14.99.  The summer shoe of the year (at least where we live) appears to be the Fitflop.  This entertaining bling version costs £50 and can be purchased from John Lewis (where it is also available in other colours).

What to pack in your beach bag

We are lucky enough to live by the sea and as soon as the weather might be warm enough for the beach, both of us keep a beach bag packed.

Even if you live far inland or in town we advise being ready to make the most of any sunny day.

Of course you can modify the contents of your beach bag depending on where you live and where you might enjoy the sun, but this is our suggestion for what to pack in your beach bag.

In this picture, we have a selection of beach bags, all from Land’s End.  You can find out more about the items we have packed in our virtual beach bag: hoodie and flip flops  JD Sport, kaftan/cover-up from White Stuff, swimsuit, hat and sunglasses from Boden.  The towel with the beach hut print (visible behind the contents of the beach bag) is from John Lewis.

Some sunlight is good for your health, but don’t overdo it!  Remember to pack some sun cream.  Boots always has a wide selection, or for a sun cream made from natural ingredients, take a look at Green People. If you haven’t got time for a separate trip to the shops, why not pop some in your shopping trolley at Sainsbury’s? 

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Holiday Packing

Pat writes: 

Save yourself last minute stress: start early.  Put aside a few hours to decide what clothes you are going to take so that you will have time to wash everything and carry out any necessary repairs. 

I work out how many days I will be away, and if I will need different clothes to wear in the evening on any days of my holiday. 

Then, I lay out a complete set of clothes for each day, including underwear, socks or tights (if applicable) and shoes.  Even if I have to retrieve items from the laundry basket, I do, so that I can actually see each complete outfit. (Obviously, I wash everything that I need prior to packing.) 

When packing for a long holiday, I configure the same items into 2 or 3 outfits.  I move the clothes around so that I can look at each planned ensemble and ensure that I have the correct underwear and shoes. 

When you are planning what to take more than a week before your departure, it may be difficult to guess what the weather will be at your destination.  You can get a good idea from the Internet, and most guidebooks will have information about what to expect.  

If you anticipate frequent changes in the weather, plan to wear lightweight layers of clothes.  This can be as simple as cotton t-shirt, cardigan or fleece, and a shower proof jacket. 

Try to keep shoes to a minimum.  I aim for 2 pairs of comfortable shoes for daytime and a smarter pair for evenings or any special events.  When flying I try to wear my heaviest shoes to save putting them in the suitcase.  (This does result in slight delays at airport security checks.) 

Don’t forget to take a nightdress or pyjamas.  Consider a lightweight dressing gown if you will be sharing a bathroom, or crossing a campsite. 

When planning make a list of all items that you intend to take.  If you are in a rush at the last minute, you have a handy checklist. Take the list on holiday with you; you can use it to ensure that you have packed everything to take home. 

The method of folding and packing should be partly determined by the nature of your holiday. I find that sweaters, t-shirts and blouses crease the least when I put them into a pile and fold them up together.  This is great if I am staying in a cottage or hotel for a week.  However, if I am travelling from place to place, and dipping into the case every evening, it is a real chore to have to unfold and refold the pile of tops.  So, for a touring holiday, I keep each item separate. 

Rolling, rather than folding, is the best method for most single items.   

If I am going to unpack my entire case, I start by laying trousers along the bottom of the case.  In summer (or if travelling somewhere warm) I like to take heavy linen trousers, such as those I bought at the Iris Boutique, Exeter, as any creases tend to drop out when the trousers are hung up. 

I put the trousers in the case without folding them – with the legs draped over the edge of the case.  My toilet bag and folded clothes are packed on top of the trousers.  Finally, I fold the legs of the trousers over the top, so that there are no sharp folds in the trousers. 

If you are taking shaped or moulded bras, pack them so that they are not squashed out of shape.  Use any zipped compartments in your case for small items.  When travelling by air, your case may be opened for a security inspection.  Don’t worry about what the inspector will see –think about whether items could fall out.  That is why I recommend using the zipped sections (if your case has them). 

Wedge shoes along the sides of the case, soles away from clothes. 

When flying, I cram a change of underwear and a clean top into my carry on bag, so that if my suitcase does not arrive at least I have something clean to wear for the first day. 

As well as clothes, I take:

ü      Contact lens kit and glasses

ü      Sunglasses

ü      Make-up

ü      Small torch (flashlight)

ü      Hairbrush and comb

ü      Folding umbrella

ü      Passport and appropriate health documents

ü      Toiletries 

For suggestions for packing toiletries, please follow THIS LINK.

The other links are for sites with a different angle on packing – both helpful.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Vacation-Packing--List-and-Tips 

http://vacationpackingtips.info/

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