Holiday Packing

There are those who believe that the simple approach to dressing works equally well on holiday. Pack ten t-shirts in a suitcase, throw in some swimwear and flip-flops and that's about it. But then there are those who believe that you will have a better time on holiday if you feel right. Clearly "feeling right" differs from person to person and holiday destination to destination. That said, there are some guiding principles that can help to up your style ante on this year's summer break. We'll leave it to you to think laterally and adapt to suit.

Don't have a holiday wardrobe - have a holiday style instead. One that means you wear your usual summer clothes but in a crafty holiday-ish way. Not only does this save cash and time spent in badly lit changing rooms, it is the fast track to looking more stylish. This means admitting that the summer dress you bought for a party can easily be your sightseeing dress. A blouse you normally wear with jeans will look good with shorts for an alfresco lunch. This isn't wardrobe downgrading, this is wardrobe multi-tasking. And your holiday snaps will thank you for it.

Beach coverups are for Liz Hurley to design and then tell us about on the pages of an August issue of Vogue. They are completely unnecessary! If you need to cover up on a beach then just get dressed. Pull on your shorts, button up your silk blouse, shove on a sundress – whatever. But don't fiddle about with a useless piece of floral-printed sheer fabric.

The keenest eyes will have already noted that the scruffy top-knot has silently become the hairstyle to have this summer. Its reach has extended out from the standard Hollywood pap shot of celebrity-plus-Starbucks-plus-scruffy-top-knot, to the parks of East London and beyond. Basically, it is a high bun with loose tendrils of hair pulled out to frame the face. It's super easy to do so there is no need for a patronising explanation and it makes for the most perfect holiday hair. Great for the beach, great for a windy ferry crossing and great with a brilliant pair of sunglasses.

Too much luggage, even on the super-deluxe scale, is a bad thing. Consider the picture that Paris Hilton tweeted of her pre-World Cup packing. Genius and iconic yes, but testament to her superior holiday style, not at all. It doesn't suggest that she has a huge holiday reading backlog to get through, it says she's indecisive and not particularly confident in her holiday-styling ability. Ditto Coleen and the clutch of suitcase minders she recently had to employ after her most recent hols. Coleen's cases also highlight another luggage truth: suitcases (barring Vuitton trunks and The Queen's stamped Globe Trotters) are ugly. If you really want your luggage to say you are stylish, then you need an unbranded minimal leather holdall. It suggests that you are pretty loose with the packing, and thus well-travelled and effortlessly chic. Sadly not the most portable option.

Once you've enjoyed your relaxing holiday, don't stress about getting all the holiday washing but let us take care of it.  We will collect at a time convenient to you and have your items returned 48 hours later - you'll feel like you're still on holiday!

Call us on 01622 870111 or book online http://www.iron-maids.co.uk/book