holiday essentials

5/03/2016

Let The Sunshine In - Summer Accessories For Your Holiday Suitcase

With the first of two May bank holidays out of the way, the sunshine has arrived and dreams of summer holidays are starting to feel that little bit more real. But clothes aside, what are the other essentials to cram into your getaway suitcase?

Whether you're escaping for a city break or seaside stroll, shoes are a pretty important thing to think about as there is nothing quicker to spoil your fun than sore, swollen, blister covered feet! Online shoe brand Brantano have you covered, with a huge range of sandals and flats perfect for all sorts of holiday adventures.

Clarks Hayla Pier Flat Sandals (£47).
Caravelle Lofters Ballerina Shoes (£30).
A pair of pretty sandals will take you from day to night with the right outfit, with this timeless, classic style from Clarks designed very much with comfort in mind. They feature a moulded footbed and elevated outsole, and even have an adjustable riptape fastening for fuss free functionality. The ballerina pumps are great for slipping on and off when you want to feel the sand between your toes, with a laser cut pattern allowing your shoes to aerate. They're also perfect to throw in your bag if you want to take off your heels after a night of dancing, with the pretty diamante finish continuing to add to the glitz.

Contrast Trim Floppy Hat (£20) from JD Willians.
A floppy brimmed sun hat which channels the glamour of Audrey Hepburn is another holiday must, and I am absolutely in love with this monochrome beauty from JD Williams. I am a huge fan of straw hats, as my vintage inspired hair styles often make it difficult to sit a hat on top correctly, where straw is incredibly easy to pin in place by running a few hair grips stealthily between the woven layers. Even if it does fit properly, I find that pins are great at protecting your hat from being swept away by the wind too! Perfect for a bit of poolside glamour.

Tortoiseshell Effect Sunglasses from George (£4).
Sunglasses are the holiday item which get lost, broken and misplaced the most, but at just £4, you needn't worry with these pretty mock tortoiseshell sunglasses from George. Great for protection against sun glare and hangovers, these stylist frames evoke a little vintage vixen into whatever outfit you pair them with.

F&F Crochet Kaftan (£16).
If you're looking for a pretty poolside cover-up, then look no further than this beautiful crochet kaftan from F&F. It's a stunning item to throw over your swimwear when wanting to give your skin a break from the sun, but would also work as a long line tunic if you wanted to get more value out of your suitcase space.

2in1 Laser Cut Tote Bag from George (£16).
My last pick is this pretty laser cut bag from George which is great for throwing all of your holiday essentials in whilst you're off exploring. Even better, it comes complete with a second smaller make-up bag where you can stock your sun lotion and face essentials without them getting lost amongst everything else. I am a huge fan of large bags, and this one comes complete with inner pockets and a magnetic popper fastener.

What are your holiday essentials? Don't forget to tell me in the comments!

Until next time,

Let The Sunshine In - Summer Accessories For Your Holiday Suitcase

5/03/2016

4/18/2016

Three Times A Lady - One Dress, Three Looks - Ready For Summer With Curvissa

Multicoloured prints are one of my all time faves as their large colour palette make them so versatile. Anything which transitions with the help of a few accessories is perfect for the holiday suitcase, so when Curvissa got in touch to see if I'd be interested in getting involved with a city break themed styling challenge, I jumped at the chance.

I was kindly sent this Sheego Sleeveless Print Dress from Curvissa, which is the dress of dreams for any sunshine filled vacation. Available up to a UK size 32, the gorgeous, swirling print around the high neckline had a bit of a 60s feel which of course is right up my street.

Sheego Sleeveless Print Dress from Curvissa (£49).
Because of the very column like shape to the dress, I made the decision to go up two sizes. My bust and hips and not normally this sort of style's best friend, but getting a larger dress allowed it to skim my curves rather than feel tight and stretched out. It also felt light and airy, and perfect for exploring somewhere new - a definite 5 out of 5 for a capsule holiday wardrobe!

As a suitcase staple, my first instinct was to keep the dress cute. Pink shoes and an oversized flower had me ready for a restaurant, whilst my biker boots and jacket toughened up the whole look for a trip to a bar, or for riding on the back of a Vespa! My final look was a simple denim jacket for sight seeing, with the blue in the pattern making it the perfect match for soft denim shades. If I'd had one to hand, I would have totally tied a light denim shirt around my waist for a fourth look with a hint of grunge.

Curvissa currently have their holiday shop live on their site, which has you covered for everything from beachwear to footwear! They are also running an exciting competition which could have you winning a trip to New York, which you can enter here! The trip includes

★ Return flights for two from the UK to New York City
★ Luxury private return airport transfers
★ 4 nights’ accommodation at the 4* Sanctuary Hotel, New York City with breakfast
★ £400 spending money
★ 2 x tickets to a catwalk show at Full Figured Fashion Week 2016

Don't forget to tell me what your holiday must haves are in the comments below! You can also see how Michaela of Cardiffornia Gurl styled up her Curvissa holiday essential.

Until next time,

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Three Times A Lady - One Dress, Three Looks - Ready For Summer With Curvissa

4/18/2016

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