Help I only have 23 Kilo Baggage Allowance...
- samanthalomax
- Feb 19, 2018
- 9 min read
I have a bitter sweet relationship with holidays. Yes obviously I love going away the weather, the people, the culture but, having to edit a whole wardrobe that I spent a season cultivating; making sure each item looks beautiful for two weeks is quite literally a pain in my... flip flop! I mean how the hell do I know what I want to wear on day four of the holiday? Will I be tan enough for the white dress? Will I be feeling too bloated for the denim shorts? Will it be warm enough at night to wear the coral Bardot?
Airlines is this (far too low in my opinion) baggage allowance karma for people not listening to the safety announcements and leaving starbursts melted on your seats?
Silly old me has landed herself a brand spanking new job where I will be overseas for the next six months (don't cry though I'll still have wifi to keep you updated!) with a long haul baggage allowance (which I'm praying is 23 and I've not just made that number up)
And it leaves me scratching my metaphorical beard and thinking...
What to take?
After some sleepless nights and many reflective baths where I thought long and hard about what I want to take. Side note: I will be cruising around Panama (I know it softens the baggage allowance blow) and I will be in uniform around 90% of the time which, slightly takes some pressure off. But what am I going to wear?
On my time off I want to look cool, effortless, hot, trendy and appropriate. I want to feel confident and because I'll be in uniform a lot of the time I want to have fun with my fashion, I want to show as much of my personality as possible. No biggie right?
For comfort and packing success I will let you in on one of Sammie's Secrets, it may seem like common sense but when you are travelling abroad the key thing to remember is to pack light materials. You don't need to be accessorising your clothes with sweat patches. I'm sure you will find this list useful if you're in search for something to wear for strolling down those beautiful, white beaches and sipping a tasty cocktail or two...
*note all clothes mentioned in the next few paragraphs are featured in my gallery below (with some cheeky extras)
First on my list is denim shorts. Denim shorts are a must! However, I'll probably spot a mermaid in the ocean quicker than finding the perfect pair of shorts. My main problem is they need to finish in the right place. I'm tall with a big bum, large thighs and cellulite- don't be jealous. So Jessica Simpson I'm going to pass on your Daisy Dukes. I thought I'd found the perfect pair last year from Topshop. *Wistful sigh* Black denim from the tall section and they made my lower half look more like Kim K (or JLO, Beyoncé in fact just insert your favourite peachy Queen here) but after three holidays in the Balearics the distressed denim on the leg was clearly having Ibiza flashbacks because the rip began dancing up my legs. However, for the price tag (£32) and the amount of times I wore them I will definitely be putting them in my basket.
Next Skirts. There are certain people who can really pull off a skirt. You know the girls I'm talking about the ones with the legs that would give Blake Lively a run for her money. I unfortunately am not one of these girls but, that doesn't stop me. The key to a good skirt (much like a pair of shorts or a dress) they need to cut you off in the right place. Easier said than done right? So what about that perfect summer skirt? If you want to play it safe I would suggest a denim skirt- maybe in a different colour to your shorts? However, if you don't fancy showing off all of your legs why not try a midi or a maxi skirt? Try and bag yourself a wrap- which is very in vogue. Maje have got an absolute beauty in at the moment. It gives me West Side Story's Anita singing 'America' vibes check it out on the gallery below. It's romantic ruffles and radiant colour will ensure you have all eyes on you.
Now on holiday I always find that we tend to favour three specific styles of tops the crop, the t-shirt and the vest. Go on look through your previous holiday snaps! Don't try and deny it. Whilst I am a fan of these three I'm going to tell you how to update the three styles and some alternatives. First lets start with the alternatives... swimsuits. Beautiful, fashionable swimsuits. These multifunctional beauties will leave you looking stream lined (no t-shirt ruffle giving you an illusion of a bigger stomach) and they are fun. They love to be set up with your shorts for casual lunches at the beach or all night raves in Ibiza. Pro for the swimsuits is no need for a bra! Con- not that easy to wee in (unless you're a pro at the pull to the side) Over sized shirts are one of my favourite things. They give you instant model off duty vibes. They are cool (literally and figuratively) and sexy. Want a bit more shape? Tuck the front part into your shorts (don't forget to pull some of it out though) or tie it in a knot, just be careful you can either look like über cool Kate Hudson or Britney Spears in Oops I did it again. Top Tip: Can't find an oversized shirt? Try using your linen shirt dress that you've already worn for the beach. If you're not feeling any of the alternatives why not try and update the famous three? Swap your plain t-shirt for a statement tee, try a cropped bardot and switch your vest for a cami and if all else fails reach for your favourite Bretton top, an easy Summer favourite.
Nothing says GLAM-OOR like a maxi dress on the beach and my angels ASOS have produced a truly beautiful garment. It's simple maths horizontal stripes on the bust + vertical stripes on the bottom= utter perfection. So as Shania Twain would probably say 'okay so you've got stripes... that don't impress me much' never fear though its sweetheart neckline, buttons all the way down and blue and white colouring will leave the sailors and Shania blue with envy 😂 Summer dresses have a tendency to speak to me. They allow me to realise even more of my girly side. Put me in a summer dress and I feel like I'm in Wonderland. For me summer dresses don't have to be following the recent fashion trends they have to be comfortable, their crease levels need to be between 0-25% and they need to be fun (what I think fashion needs to be fun?! that's something I've not said before) If you want to be on trend but don't have the money to constantly buy new summer dresses each season stick to checks/plaid/gingham and floral patterns these prints don't seem to be going anywhere soon.
Right you've got your perfect day outfits sorted. Now you need to ensure your pm ensembles are as instaworthy as the am ones. So what to pack? If you are partial to a pant I would suggest a wide leg trouser whether that be a Palazzo or a culotte, wide leg pants are always fabulous in my book. If you're looking for the perfect culotte take it from personal experience ASOS culottes are next level- all the comfort of your favourite PJ's with the style of a paper bag cigarette pant. For your top half I would always opt for something slightly more structured. I do love a cropped top when teamed with a wide leg trew and a camisole with a culotte can be sexy- if you have narrow shoulder try and snag a camisole with adjustable straps so you don't have to keep pushing them back up! I can't do a post with out expressing my love for a body suit. Body suits have come out of the Jane Fonda workout gear era and there are so many great options around (missguided, nasty-gal and asos to name a few) Topshop have ventured out of the straight body suits and have started to knock it out of the park check my gallery.
Shift and slip dresses always deliver that easy, breezy, beautiful covergirl style for you #OOTN posts. There are no set rules for hemlines and colour once that suitcase comes out so my advice is to mix it up and challenge yourself to see what colour best makes your tan pop!
How best to cover up. I know, I know jackets abroad you'll pass right? Why waste valuable suitcase room? But depending on the country and time of year that jacket might become your best friend. Temperature has been known to drop at night and restaurants can be big fans of their air condition (found this out the hard way in Orlando) I tend to take three coverups/ jackets. First pick a Kimono, great for the beach and night (a twofer as my mum would say) If you are going to wear it for both am and pm I would suggest keeping it simple with the colour and pattern so it doesn't clash. Denim jackets are always a good option. Live out your 90's fantasy and channel Kelly Kapowski with an oversized denim jacket extra points for it's distressed. My third jacket that I normally take is a leather jacket. I travel in this and it always comes in handy pair it with a summer dress, converse and go exploring.
Unfortunately that crippling baggage allowance doesn't allow you to bring your Imelda Marcos size shoe collection with you. For a two weeks beach vacay my general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pairs of flip flops (I love a Havaiana) because lets be real we could take more but we will end up wearing the same pair. Two pairs of sandals, a tan gladiator and fancier sandal is always a good option and finally a pair of trainers/ converse incase you end up shopping or exploring you need reliable footwear that wont blister and cripple you. I normally travel in a heel well, when I say a heel I really mean a flatform sandal (they are so freaking comfy and they elongate my legs) but if you are more graceful and want a wedge go for it!
Bags are my thing. They are my go to. So it always pains me that I can only take a few. So you have to be realistic; only take the necessities. Beach bags obviously a must! But they need to have plenty of room for a towel, your cream and any books/kindles/leisure activities you want to take with you. I would highly recommend that you purchase one with a zip this helps to keep the sand out! Now I would take a saddle bag (across the body/messenger bag) these bags are so easy to wear and convenient especially if you want to be hands free to peruse the racks of Zara. Night time clutches always cause a problem for me... I like big clutches, I like quirky clutches and it seems to be the heavier the clutch the more likely it seems that I'll buy it. I would suggest a neutral clutch maybe a tan or a black and then if you do have extra room in your bag (I never have this luxury) go for a bright colour something to make your outfit pop. If your short on space make like the Russian Dolls and stack your bags inside your beach bags.
Ever seen that episode of Friends where Joey wears all Chandler's clothes? This is reminiscent of me and my jewellery when I am travelling. I like to wear all my jewellery to travel in. Layered chokers and necklaces, bangles my trusty Pandora rings, watch and a pair of stud earrings (my hoops and my statement earrings are safe in my hand luggage) Yes I may be that person everyone hates going through security whilst I remove all my jewellery but I don't care. I have found a way to cheat the system and I am living for the fact that I can take both highlighter sets.
My final items that I am throwing in my suitcase (I'm sure you all can make your own decisions when it comes to PJ's, sunglasses and underwear) with glee are my swimsuits. When some people think of swimsuits they think old lady or have flashbacks to swimming lessons in your old leisure centres. But when I think of swimsuits I think sexy, pin up and chic. Being someone who isn't that body confident a swimsuit for me is like a LBD, I can always rely on it to make feel good. I normally like to take five swimsuits with me (four swimsuits and one bikini) They normally vary for what mood I will be in- whether I feel bloated, pale or fun. Whether you are a bikini babe or a swimsuit siren the key is to feel confident! If you feel good you'll look good- oh and if the pants are a high rise make sure you have shaved!
So I've taken you through what I will be taking on my six month adventure and because I am very kind I have scoured the internet to find the best items I would recommend to be your plus ones abroad... Take a look (links can be found below the xoxo)
xoxo
Links:
http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0609787013.html
http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0619608001.html
https://www.stradivarius.com/gb/woman/accessories/caps-and-hats/oversize-denim-jacket-c1020048004p300574062.html?colorId=700
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/raffia-cross-body-bag-p13338304.html?v1=5757002&v2=712008
http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-foz-leather-gladiator-flat-sandals/prd/8856878?clr=champagne&SearchQuery=gladiator20sandals&gridcolumn=2&gridrow=1&gridsize=4&pge=1&pgesize=72&totalstyles=5
http://www.asos.com/whistles/whistles-exclusive-de-rien-embroidered-t-shirt/prd/9106926?clr=white&SearchQuery=whistles&gridcolumn=2&gridrow=1&gridsize=4&pge=1&pgesize=72&totalstyles=16
https://uk.maje.com/en/collection/skirts-and-shorts-2/jonette/E18JONETTE.html?dwvar_E18JONETTE_color=518#sz=24&start=127
http://www.raefeather.com/monogram-tassel-basket
https://www.missguided.co.uk/green-floral-pyjama-shirt-10097384
https://www.missguided.co.uk/white-oversized-plunge-shirt
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/tall-454/tall-rip-longline-mom-shorts-6467653?bi=0&ps=20
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=204484&categoryId=208548&productId=30985430
https://www.riverisland.com/p/black-strappy-cami-top-715434
https://www.missguided.co.uk/green-wide-leg-trousers-10062821
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/linear-cactus-bardot-top-7236944?bi=0&ps=20&Ntt=WHITE20BARDOT
https://www.riverisland.com/p/beige-moi-et-toi-glitter-print-t-shirt-713863
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/denim-4889473/moto-denim-mini-skirt-7315622?bi=0&ps=20
https://www.riverisland.com/p/light-pink-tropical-print-duster-coat-714736
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/bags-accessories-1702216/bags-purses-462/new-charlie-clutch-7280873?bi=0&ps=20
http://www.nastygal.com/gb/love-on-top-platform-sandal/AGG98951-1.html
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/bodysuits-6864633/satin-cowl-neck-bodysuit-by-oh-my-love-7368313?bi=20&ps=20
http://www.asos.com/asos-tall/asos-tall-culotte-trousers-with-tie/prd/8633727?clr=black&SearchQuery=tall20culottes&gridcolumn=1&gridrow=2&gridsize=4&pge=1&pgesize=72&totalstyles=24
https://www.allsaints.com/women/leather/allsaints-dalby-biker-wl018n/?colour=4184&category=25
https://www.harveynichols.com/brand/alice-and-olivia/233169-launa-floral-embroidered-velvet-dress/p3011684/
http://www.boohoo.com/alia-long-sleeve-floral-shift-dress/DZZ38141.html
http://www.asos.com/asos-tall/asos-tall-tea-dress-with-v-back-and-frill-hem-in-red-floral-print/prd/9109377?clr=multi&SearchQuery=asos+tall+tea+dress+with+v+back+and+frill+hem+in+red+floral+print&SearchRedirect=true
http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-sleeveless-button-smock-dress/prd/9148439?CTAref=Recently+Viewed&clr=greymarl
http://www.asos.com/asos-tall/asos-tall-linen-button-through-maxi-dress-in-stripe/prd/8951520?CTAref=Recently+Viewed&clr=stripe
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=&categoryId=&productId=30586823
http://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/summer-dresses/mela-pink-floral-print-prom-dress-/p/566962079?comp=NewLookRecentlyViewedComponent
http://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/summer-dresses/red-aztec-print-shirred-bardot-neck-beach-dress-/p/561323969?comp=Browse
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/lace-a-line-mini-shift-dress-7430238?bi=0&ps=20
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=204484&categoryId=208548&productId=30871014
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=&categoryId=&productId=30372175
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=&categoryId=&productId=30337907
https://www.riverisland.com/p/white-stripe-floral-scallop-plunge-swimsuit-710046
https://www.riverisland.com/p/orange-floral-frill-triangle-bikini-top-710039 https://www.riverisland.com/p/orange-floral-tie-side-string-bikini-bottoms-710040
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_categoryId=204484&categoryId=208548&productId=29812926