ONLY HAVE HAND LUGGAGE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? PACK THESE

The urge to switch up your outfit every few hours while on holiday may be hard to ignore, but let’s be real – suitcase space isn’t limitless. Regardless of how many kgs you’re allowed to haul onto your flight, packing smarter, not harder, has benefits both practical and sartorial. It forces you to prioritise versatile, essential pieces. So, if you’re still wondering what to take on holiday or what to pack for a weekend away, we've got the wardrobe staples that'll easily fit in your carry-on.

You’re taking a break from work, not trying to remind yourself of it, so swap out smart shirts for casual ones. A staple for the beach, city breaks or even a cruise, summer shirts tend to be thinner and lighter, so you can pack a good few of them into your travel bag. Although we’re particularly loving striped styles and graphic designs, a pale pink crinkled style can make just as much of a statement.

GET THE LOOK:

01: ASOS DESIGN oversized shirt with floral embroidery in khaki, £30
02: ASOS DESIGN oversized overhead stripe shirt in black and white, £30
03: ASOS DESIGN co-ord relaxed revere crinkle texture shirt in pink, £22
04: Polo Ralph Lauren icon logo striped linen shirt in beige and white, £185

Classic linen-look trousers are a holiday must-have. The easy drawstring, breathability and endless styling potential make them sunshine staples. Lean into a smart-casual look by styling yours with a baggy white T-shirt or black vest. Adding Birkenstocks will keep the look island-ready. For an effortless win, search for neutrals and greens when crafting your holiday capsule.

GET THE LOOK:

01: Bershka Super baggy trousers linen blend in beige, £39.99
02: ASOS DESIGN baggy fit linen blend trousers in khaki, £30
03: ARKET pure linen trouser in off white, £65

04: Jack & Jones loose fit linen mix trouser in black, £30

What's great about linen is that it looks good when crumpled, so you don't have to be careful with stuffing it into your carry-on. And what’s even better than that? A linen co-ord. Cotton and denim work well, too. The beauty of co-ords is their ability to be mix and matched – just picture the shirt styled with jorts, or the shorts with a muscle tank. Create different configurations with the same base co-ord for a stress-free holiday.

GET THE LOOK:

01: Sixth June striped denim baggy co-ord shorts in navy, £65 and Sixth June striped denim baggy co-ord shirt in navy, £79.90

02: ASOS DESIGN co-ord in linen look with print in green, from £20

03: ASOS DESIGN cotton twill co-ord in beige, from £25

04: Belier linen mix long sleeve shirt and trouser co-ord in olive, from £55

While you may be on the fence about packing bold graphic tops or trousers, statement accessories deserve priority boarding. Being more efficient doesn’t have to mean boring – an abstract tote bag will add interest without totally overwhelming the outfit. But if you’d rather stuff your souvenirs into something more compact and convenient, pick sling bags or anything raffia.

GET THE LOOK:

01: Tommy Jeans archive sling bag in navy/red/white, £75

02: ASOS DESIGN straw tote bag in neutral, £28

03: ASOS DESIGN stripe tote bag in blue, £24
04: Vans Perg checkerboard tote in white and black, £50

If your mind defaulted to Birkenstock at the first mention of sandals, we don’t blame you. You can effortlessly slip into them and they go with everything – one cursory look at recent street style pics and you'll find plenty of proof. But different situations call for different styles. Choose to add techy Tevas, fisherman styles or Havaianas to your packing list too.

GET THE LOOK:

01: Birkenstock Arizona regular fit birko-flor sandals in dark brown, £85

02: ASOS DESIGN woven fisherman sandals in brown leather, £38

03: Teva Hurricane XLT sandals in black, £75
04: Havaianas flip flops in navy, £23