9 Items to Add to Your Suitcase, Wherever You're Flying to This Summer

I believe half the fun of holidaying is in the planning. Preparing a capsule assortment and arranging clothes like Jenga blocks into bulging cabin luggage (as is often my case) brings so much anticipation. Travelling is also an opportunity to dress to a theme, letting the destination inform your wardrobe choices and play with different combinations.

I’m passionate about intentional purchases, and so I want my holiday buys to have longevity, and where possible, I look for pieces I can wear at home, too. It can be all too easy to make hasty decisions 48 hours before a flight, so I find it's best to start planning your new buys as soon as you book your trip. So what is on my holiday wish list this year?

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(Image credit: @writtenbyavalon)

The oversized shirt is a timeless staple, and this summer, it comes in a plethora of shades, from bright blue to dulcet brown tones, for those of us averse to colour. As for shoes, it's all about the platforms. If Versace's 160-millimetre Triplatform heels are a little too wobbly for you on the cobbled streets of Europe, there are lots of amazing sturdy, chunky sandals that have taken my fancy.

Then we come to the ultimate summer holiday piece: the sundress. Undoubtedly, every summer, it comes back around like clockwork, but this year, there is no shortage of shirred maxi and midi styles. Then we have my favourite: cut-out midi dresses. We all bore witness to the birth of Cult Gaia’s Serita dress in 2021, and this year, it’s an inspired take on the midi style, this time with longer, exaggerated sleeves.

It was hard to whittle it down and create a concise holiday shopping list, but below I’ve brought you some quality pieces that will have you dreaming of your next trip.

1. WOVEN BAGS

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(Image credit: @writtenbyavalon)

2. TEXTURED AND ASYMMETRIC SWIMWEAR 

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(Image credit: @MONIKH)

3. BIG AND BRIGHT SHIRTS

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(Image credit: @Emmahoareau)

4. SHIRRED SUNDRESSES

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(Image credit: @Bellathomas)

5. CROCHET AND FRINGING

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(Image credit: @styleidealist)

6. CUT-OUT DRESSES

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(Image credit: @aemiliafay)

7. POPS OF COLOUR

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(Image credit: @Laurennicolefk)

8. PLATFORM SANDALS

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(Image credit: hannahlewisstylist)

9. CO-ORDS

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(Image credit: @writtenbyavalon)

 Up Next: 11 Classic Summer Items That Will Make Getting Dressed Easier

Freelance Fashion Editor

Avalon Afriyie is a freelance writer and storyteller based in London. She specialises in sustainable fashion, health and the narratives of marginalised communities. She has a background in fashion show production and styling, having previously worked on The Clothes Show and with the Lyst Group. Since graduating in 2013 with a BA (Hons) in English and contemporary media, she’s worked as a feature writer for an independent publication and a contributor for Quill’s creator network. She now marries her passion for words and style, writing for some of the most esteemed fashion and lifestyle publications, Who What Wear UK and Stylist. Avalon also provides copywriting services, creative consultancy, and visual media for independent businesses, including travel guides, interviews, press releases and blog posts. Her work has been featured on Lush, Contiki, Youswim and Ohne. She spends her days writing to her heart’s content for business and pleasure, shooting on film and dreaming of residing a stone’s throw away from the ocean with her love and a pup (clad in a sweeping frock, of course). She’s currently penning ideas for a book of personal essays and free verse poetry on love, life and the stages in between.