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8th July 2017

A stylist’s guide to a holiday wardrobe…

Fashion - By Alexandra Stedman

Shirt: $68, Storets. Skirt: £36, Urban Outfitters. Bag: Ancient Greek Sandals. Espadrilles: £35 in the sale, Dune London. Photographs: Christopher O’Donnell.

Or more simply put ‘what I wore on my hols’, but this title sounded better..!

As you may know, ‘peacocking’ on holiday is my thing – I always save up my favourite items to take away with me, and I pack by planning outfits so everything goes with each other. I thought I’d share some images of my holiday wardrobe and tips here as not everything goes on Instagram these days…

1. Mules add an instant ‘relaxed’ vibe to your outfit

I must admit, they do involve a bit of commitment but once you soften to a mule slider, they’re such an easy holiday shoe. I love wearing them with jeans, skirt and dresses where sometimes a different shoe would look too clumpy.

2. It’s okay, this season, for your inspiration to come from a stick of rock…

In fact, candy stripes are most definitely in. I’ve gone for the more British seaside red and white variety and loving the boldness.

Shirt: H&M (borrowed for the trip). Skirt: Urban Outfitters (old but buy similar here). Earrings: Kate Spade (old). Bag: And Other Stories (sold out).

T-shirt: £40, Sezane. Skirt: £79.99, H&M (sold out). Sandals: £28, Next. Clutch: £20, Elizabeth Scarlett. Earrings: £15, Marks & Spencer. Sunglasses: Ray-Ban.

This skirt could look girly (which isn’t a bad thing, either), but I’ve worn with flats and a logo tee so it keeps with my boyish style. Sorry, this skirt sold out in a day via Instagram but I will let you in on a purchase I made via Mango where I will, literally, channel Brighton Rock:

Dress: £49.99, Mango

Shirt: £17.99, H&M.

Can’t face doing it head to toe? Try a shirt with jeans – I have this H&M version from a few years back in grey and it’s one of my most useful items in my wardrobe…

3. Do try yellow…

Dress: H&M (bought instore but dress in the same print available here). Bag: £79, Wood/Grey (available for pre-order here). Bracelet: £18, Boden. Rope sandals: £150, Rae Feather.

I know, I know, I’m a terrible blogger as everything I wear is sold out…but trust me, you will want yellow in your holiday wardrobe. It is turning into the colour of the season. And where better to try it than on holiday with a tan?

Dress: £55, Marks & Spencer.

One-shoulder top: £31.99, H&M.

4. It’s the summer of the earring…

If it’s not engrained in your brain now, I just haven’t been doing my job very well at all. It’s a great way to try a trend as well – especially those tropical colours. I took a few bold coloured earrings but also a pair of everyday hoops with turquoise detail from Astley Clarke from their new Alexander Calder collection (which I fell in love with last London Fashion Week) – I have been wearing them most days and then swap them in the evening for a more statement pair.

Earrings: £85, Astley Clarke. Dress: River Island (sold out).

Coral hoops: £5.99, H&M

Navy and pink earrings: £6.49, Mango

5. Try a long maxi as a cover-up…

I know it sounds like an oxymoron but a long shirt dress is actually a perfect dress for ‘wafting’ around in. It covers you up plenty and you can have it as buttoned/unbuttoned as suits you…And they also look great half done up over a pair of shorts.

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban. Dress: River Island (sold out). Straw bag: £49.50, J Crew (but Marks and Spencer also have a similar one here). Sandals: £136.94, Ancient Greek Sandals. Bikini: Sidway Swim.

6. A crop-top doesn’t have to be revealing…

Again, another trend that’s doing the rounds and is in my holiday wardrobe – but it needn’t mean you have to get your midriff out. Sometimes it can be the meeting point of a high waisted skirt or trouser with a shorter top. Or try just flashing a slither of the area around your ribcage – it can be quite freeing!

Top: £65, Pampelone. Skirt: £55, And Other Stories. Raffia clutch: £55, Dune London. Earrings: J Crew (available in blue here). Pom pom bracelets: Dana Levy.

It’s all about proportion – balance a cropped top with a wide leg trouser and a hoop earring for Riviera chic – and just add sleeves if you want to be more covered:

Top: £26, Warehouse

Wide leg trousers: £56, Topshop

That’s almost it for the holiday posts (whilst we’re trying to get back into the swing of work/life/renovations) – next up it will be all about where we loved in Barcelona…

For my all time holiday essentials, click here.

By Alexandra Stedman

Fashion Editor, Blogger, Realist

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Comments

  1. Danish Pastry says

    8th July 2017 at 8:56 am

    Your way of packing sounds so familiar, all my favourite things, in one colour palette, I may get a bit anally retentive and start making lists way in advance of departure date.
    But the upside is that I don’t over pack very much, it’s usually those items that are there to cover every weather eventuality that remain unworn, and I get to wear my favourite outfits.
    It’s only recently I’ve found out I’m not alone in this….

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 10:20 am

      I love a list, too! I have a checklist too which I mark off! So true – I always have pretty much a ‘holiday only’ part to my wardrobe!

      Reply
  2. Liv says

    8th July 2017 at 6:58 pm

    All great summer looks!

    Liv

    http://livforstyle.net

    Reply
  3. Lesley says

    8th July 2017 at 9:35 pm

    There are loads of the red skirt in stores in London. I like it but for £80 I think it should have a proper waistband!

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 10:19 am

      That’s good to know! I actually quite liked the elasticated waist but know what you mean – I didn’t expect it to be so pricey! x

      Reply
  4. Laragh says

    8th July 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Did you say on the white maxi river island maxi dress that some may be released online again? It’s really gorgeous on you. Great hol pics, love everything you put together.

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 10:18 am

      Yes but….think it came in and sold out again – before I could even do an Insta on it 🙁

      Reply
  5. Anna Colquhoun says

    9th July 2017 at 4:33 pm

    Hi Alex, what is the tan you use? I know you have said before, but can’t remember! Thanks xx

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 7:58 pm

      I use a few different ones! Lately it’s been Xen Tan on the face and then James Read sleep serum I can’t get enough of – it goes on clear, doesn’t rub off on sheets and you wake up ‘glowy’ not orange xx

      Reply
      • Anna Colquhoun says

        12th July 2017 at 7:33 pm

        Thanks! X

        Reply
  6. Saida - She talks Glam says

    9th July 2017 at 6:36 pm

    That River Island white dress with eyelets is the prettiest, Alex, you look gorgeous! Such a cool roundup. Will definitely be more conscious when packing this summer so that everything I include can cover several outfits. I have a couple of dresses that are dying to be worn in my wardrobe but have the “hols” tag on them so… 😛

    Saida

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 7:57 pm

      Thank you…yes I’m so guilty of ‘holiday’ only but luckily with this British weather i think I *might get some extra use out of everything x

      Reply
  7. Making Here Home says

    9th July 2017 at 7:12 pm

    I love yellow…but it doesn’t love me back! That dress looks fab on you though x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      9th July 2017 at 7:56 pm

      I honestly don’t think I’ve worn it until this year! And think it’s all about the tone….canary yellow only works with a tan on me!

      Reply
  8. Shilpa Malhotra says

    12th July 2017 at 12:09 pm

    Such beautiful and creative photos !!

    Reply
  9. mobile app developer delhi ncr says

    12th July 2017 at 2:27 pm

    Nice pictures..

    Reply
  10. Maria says

    12th July 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Please can you let me know what the sizing is like for the Sezane t-shirt? Not sure whether to go for a S or a M when I’m usually a size 10… Thanks for your help! x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      12th July 2017 at 7:19 pm

      I am a size 10 and have the medium – as I hate tees that cling x

      Reply
  11. Patricia says

    14th July 2017 at 9:54 am

    Such creative photos

    Reply
  12. Gmail QA says

    14th July 2017 at 6:46 pm

    Thank you for sharing the advice, it’s helpful for me 😀 Love that white dress <3

    http://gmailqa.com

    Reply
  13. Appnazismylife says

    26th July 2017 at 3:57 am

    Love this set

    Reply
  14. HannahT says

    29th July 2017 at 9:36 am

    Do you know when the red striped H&M shirt will be available, or is it in stores only? I can’t find it online. Thanks 🙂 x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      30th July 2017 at 9:55 pm

      Sorry I think it came in and went, I saw Katherine Ormerod in it shortly after – and she might have triggered a stampede! x

      Reply
  15. Dominique says

    3rd August 2017 at 6:47 pm

    I wore the outfit with the yellow H&M dress and the woven bag over the weekend, and the bag completely shredded the dress. It was my favourite dress of the summer too! And it’s sold out! Devastated. I don’t recommend that Wood/Grey bag, it might look pretty but it damages everything that I wear with it, unless I wear jeans. The ends of the bamboo stick out from the bag and snag clothing.

    Was wondering if you’ve found the same and whether you’ve come up with a way to stop the bag ripping your outfits? Would love to hear it if so. xx

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      4th August 2017 at 5:15 pm

      oh no!!! Such a shame….I haven’t had any problems so far x

      Reply
  16. Sharulata says

    20th January 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Hi Alex Can’t stop loving what you post and what you wear. Always a big fan.
    The red skirt by Hm made my summer in Rome a fashioned one and I love the river island maxi dress but was unable to get it. Think of me if you want to sell it one day !!!!

    Best wishes for the last weeks of your pregnancy. You look awesome as always

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      21st January 2018 at 9:19 pm

      Thank you! Will let you know! xxx

      Reply

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