Summer Holiday Style on a Budget – How to Look Expensive for Less
Words by Jessica
Here’s something I’ve learned after years of packing: looking wonderful on holiday has very little to do with how much you spent. Some of my most-complimented holiday outfits have come almost entirely from the high street, while some of the priciest things in my wardrobe have never once made it into a holiday photo. The trick isn’t a big budget, it’s a small, clever edit of pieces that all work together, in colours that glow in the sun.
So this is what I’d advise for a reasonable holiday capsule wardrobe, for when you don’t want to remortgage the house just to feel nice! The affordable, hard-working pieces I’d actually pack, some in the sale, some first-rate bargains, and all at prices that hopefully won’t make your eyes water!
Linen trousers that cost less than a good lunch out
Credit @claire.a.ramshaw
If there’s one thing that instantly makes a holiday outfit look considered, it’s easy linen trousers, and you genuinely needn’t spend much. Go tailored or relaxed and wear them with a simple vest and flat sandals by day, or a nicer top for dinner. In beige, white or black, they’ll end up being an easy one to mix and match.
Cropped linen trousers work well in the heat and with shoes you want to show off;) Long, wide-leg linen trousers work great with trainers or sandals for everyday style as much as they can switch to evening too.
One easy sundress that does all the work
Credit @emmapaton_
A great sundress is the most efficient thing to have in any holiday suitcase. You slip it on and you’re ready to go. No faff required! I love all the neutrals but in Summer I do also tend to venture out into some brighter shades, with a particular love for oranges and yellow right now too. With prints I’m partial to a spot of polka dot in Summer, and stripes, of course, are always on my list.
Whichever shade or print you decide to go for, I’d advise a fine cotton or cheesecloth for breathability in the heat, and a relaxed shape that can easily be worn loose at the beach or nipped in at the waist for lunch.
The failsafe co-ord: two pieces, endless outfits
Credit @kara_a_mendelsohn
A matching co-ord set is a packing masterstroke, because it works three ways: worn together for the quick dash “instant outfit”, or split into two separates that mix with everything else. The top looks just as good with denim shorts or white trousers by day, while the bottoms pair beautifully with a plain tee or a cami come evening.
I’d look for an easy fabric like cotton or sustainable lyocell that shrugs off creases, in a colour you already wear plenty of, so it slips effortlessly into the rest of your holiday wardrobe.
Credit @emmarosethatcher
One really good swimsuit, worth the splurge
Credit @totallyinfluencedstyle
Swimwear is the one place I don’t mind spending a little more. It’s not often you’re baring your whole body in front of strangers, so you may as well feel your absolute best while you’re doing it. But spending a bigger slice of your budget on swimwear doesn’t have to mean going designer. Plus the high street has some genuinely lovely offerings that should never be overlooked. Find one well-cut one-piece in a colour you love (it doubles as a bodysuit under shorts or a skirt, too), then add a cover-up you’d happily wear to lunch, a cotton or linen shirt-dress or a simple kaftan, and you’re sorted for the whole trip.
“My holiday style is more adventurous than my everyday wardrobe. I love a boho-chic look with lots of colour, lace and crochet. I tend to shop at independent boutiques like Outdazl, Beach Cafe and Wonderlust Stories for unique pieces, and I love Zara’s summer crochet collections too. For swimwear, I always come back to Away That Day and Monday Swimwear – they’re more of an investment, but the quality is fantastic and I wear them year after year” @totallyinfluencedstyle
A statement dress, in the hope David and I get a rare date night!
Credit @fashionandstyleedit
Every holiday wardrobe wants at least one standout statement dress that’s perfect for a nice meal out on your holidays. I still actually do that thing, saving the best dress until the last dinner! Anyone else? This year I need to switch it up and wear it first! Whenever you do end up wearing it, it’ll be worth taking up space in your carry-on.
It should be that dress that makes you feel amazing whenever you wear it, but if you’re buying new, make sure you can imagine wearing it for lots of different occasions. One-night-a-year dresses don’t turn out great on cost per wear, so it’s got to tick that versatility box too!
The raffia bag that ties it all together
A straw or raffia bag is the fastest way to make a simple holiday outfit feel finished, and it needn’t cost much. It just takes a little longer finding them. Or let us do the finding for you! A roomy one covers the beach, the market and the flight home, and that’s generally what I always buy. However, I’ve got my eyes peeled for a nice raffia clutch. I thought that would make the perfect finishing touch to any of these outfits.
*Style tip – Leather or cotton straps on your raffia bags will make it easier to carry round all day (especially if like me, you’re prone to overfilling it!)
The little things that make it all look expensive
**Choose a loose colour story** with everything you decide to take. A couple of neutrals and one accent means it all works together, and you can travel with far less.
**Don’t stress about creases.** Leave your dress hanging in the bathroom while everyone showers and most of them drop out on their own. And when it comes to linen, a few soft creases only add to its authentic, lived-in charm. I actually love it.
**Make the most of your sunglasses.** A great pair can genuinely make a holiday outfit, and here’s my favourite trick: they draw the eye upwards if you’re ever feeling a little conscious in your swimwear.
**And don’t forget your jewellery** I wear most of mine in the pool and the sea; it adds something to a swimwear look that most people never think of. Enamel sat against gold is my current favourite mix. Just watch out for pieces that change colour in the sea:/
The takeaway
You truly don’t need a big budget to look wonderful on holiday, and honestly, it has far less to do with your age and everything to do with how relaxed and yourself you feel. The women I most admire by the pool, in their forties or their seventies, are the ones who look completely at ease, not the ones who spent the most. A pair of linen trousers, one easy sundress, a statement dress, a co-ord, a swimsuit you love and a raffia bag, all in natural fibres and colours that work together, is genuinely all it takes.
Keep it considered, choose fabrics that breathe, and don’t forget about your true personal style along the way.
