Your one need-to-know holiday tip: pack smart, not light

Hands up. When you pack for a summer holiday, does your bed look as though a life-sized bag of pick-and-mix has been poured over it? There are stripes here, a shot of lemon yellow there, a slither of something red – and, always, at least one questionable buy vying for another chance. And once you arrive at your destination, you’re hit with the realisation that despite being fun and summery, none of it actually goes together. 

Sound familiar? Then you need a suitcaseful of co-ords in your life. Short for co-ordinates (matching separates, basically), they were once occasionwear-centric, but now this gift from the fashion gods has filtered down into everyday pieces that are as impactful as they are practical. 

For example: a printed silk shirt and matching trousers spells Amalfi coast glamour when styled together, while providing ample mileage when worn separately with denim shorts and a white vest respectively. Ditto a co-ordinating skirt and blouse: together they have the bonus of looking like a dress, but each can be worn separately for added flexibility.

It’s simple, really. Double up on your prints and you more than double your options. All of a sudden, holiday packing will be a breeze…