I Just Came Back From a Holiday in Spain—Here Are the Few Essential Pieces I Packed

Once upon a time, before having a 4-year-old to pack for, my holiday prepping plans revolved entirely around me and the many fun, chic, adventurous looks I wanted to debut on vacation—I would spend weeks mentally assembling the on-theme outfits to pack for a wedding in Puglia, a Grecian getaway in Tinos (the best Greek island IMO) or a sunny weekend in Seville. In fact, if you're looking for destination inspiration, I would highly recommend our editors' top holiday picks.

These days I have to think about cramming many unsexy things into suitcases such as float jackets, kilos of snacks and every possible factor 50 suncream that a small child won't kick off about wearing (any advice welcome). So it means that the minute amount of space that's left has to be used very wisely. I also haven't been on a proper holiday since I was pregnant 5 years ago, so it's been a long time since I faced the challenge of packing efficiently for a 10-day trip to my favourite place in the world, the Costa de la Luz in Spain.

Saving time and precious packing space, I knew I had to land on a limited colour palette. Revolving all outfits around a strict few hues means there's no room for something rogue making its way in, and—in theory—all separates should be able to interchange and work together to generate more outfits. My solution was found via a combination of navy, red, white and tan. These are classic summer colours that are easily worn together and I already own a lot of these shades, meaning I didn't have to purchase anything new and my holiday budget could stretch a little further. So, what did I pack and actually wear? Everything! Keep scrolling to see my Spanish capsule holiday wardrobe…

1. INTERCHANGEABLE CO-ORDS

I'd been eyeing up the ruched top and skirt set from Peachy Den for some time and it had already enjoyed a couple of outings before I scrunched it up into my suitcase for Spain. This fabric is genius because it rolls up to be really small and then the creases fall out again as soon as you put it on. Comfy, breezy and easy to pair the top with another skirt or trousers, or the skirt with a simple tee or shirt.

You'll see that one pair of simple tan sandals feature throughout—these are a really low-key pair of kitten heels from Polo Ralph Lauren that are barely there and therefore go with everything! During the day I'd be in a basic pair of Tevas or flat tan sandals for running around and then swap into chic sandals for evenings spent barbecueing back at the villa.

As much as I adore dresses, I've come to rely on co-ords for easy outfit-building solutions that look effortful and put-together. What's great about this Mint Velvet set is that the white slip skirt is lined (so it's not see-through) and endlessly versatile—I'll still be wearing this long skirt well into the winter months with an oversized jumper and ankle boots.

I packed a red scarf because it instantly added a bit of drama to any given look which is perfect for feeling a little more dressed up after a day playing frisbee on the beach in an oversized shirt!

2. THROW-ON "WOW" DRESSES

I got this Reformation dress about a year ago and hadn't had the right excuse to wear it but when I'm in Spain I like to channel the flamenco lady emoji and this dress does that in spades! This is a bulkier piece to pack but I knew I'd wear it a couple of times and feel glad I included it in the capsule. It feels like a dream to wear thanks to the heavy swoosh of the skirt and the lined bodice keeping everything in place! Again, tan sandals and a very old, very basic pouch bag from American Apparel (which I used in a bigger canvas tote to carry all of the airport necessities and for keeping items sand-free and dry on the beach) can then be used for evening.

I have come to rely upon this Louisa Parris kaftan for many summers in a row now. Silky and loose, it is the ultimate throw-on and look-good option. I don't tend to wear it around the pool as I like to save it for after dark but it could work double-duty on that front.

3. ELEVATING ACCESSORIES

I always pack a few pairs of statement earrings, and these twisty gold hoops are a style that I picked up in Vejer De La Frontera many moons ago. They're so lightweight and go with everything, so I went back and bought multiples in gold, silver and different sizes—I never want to be without these earrings!

I would also recommend packing a belt, a neck scarf and two pairs of sunglasses (because you never know when you'll lose a pair)…

4. SIMPLE SWIMWEAR

Like with clothing, my swimwear choices were succinct and fairly simple. Colour-block swimsuits are an easy go-to and this red ruched style from Karla Colletto is one that I've worn for the past ten years—seriously, investing in top-quality swimwear is actually worth it.

I always pack a simple sarong as it can work for so many things: pareo, picnic blanket, halter top, extra layer for a plane. You name it, a big scarf can do it.

One new addition to my 2024 summer wardrobe was this '90s-tinged monochrome swimsuit from Away That Day—it's become a bit of a cult favourite and I can see why. It's hard not to feel quite fabulous in a well-cut swimsuit of this calibre. Okay, so it's not navy, but it did blend in seamlessly with the rest of my suitcase, so I allowed it in!

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