Seen In The West

Happy Holidays
Seen In The West
Blogged by: Kate Gaskin 14 Jan 2016
Hallelujah - the holidays are here!
 
No matter what industry you work in the Christmas/New year period is the one time of year where just about everyone can let their hair down, kick back on a sun lounge and sip a daiquiri poolside with absolutely no inclination to check emails or fear work-related calls.
 
When it comes time to packing your suitcase for that summer getaway I always find simplicity is key. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have somehow squeezed what felt like my whole wardrobe into one small case, only to find I pretty much wear the same thing day in, day out.

Summer holiday dressing needs to be easy, light and suitable for travel. I find layering is great for destinations where the climate can be unpredictable, or for when it gets cold at night. Restrict yourself to one jacket, but perhaps opt for a shirt that can be worn on it’s own or over a tank. Natural linen is also a great holiday staple- it squashes down for packing and doesn’t weigh much, is breathable and dries quickly.
 
To take the hard work out of it for you I’ve compiled a few holiday wardrobe must-haves…
 
1. SWIMWEAR
Thankfully swimwear has changed a lot in the last few years- gone are the days of only being able to buy bikinis in sets and daggy sport-styled one pieces with no support. There are so many affordable, fun swimwear options available now with retailers such as Topshop and Gorman making gorgeous ranges of brightly coloured and printed separates to mix and match.

Swimwear specialists such as Seafolly and Speedo offer a range of high quality one pieces and mix and match separates that will keep their shape and hold colour season after season. Thankfully they also offer a brilliant range of larger cup sizes in modern shapes and colours for bigger-busted women.
Being bigger-busted myself I find this a god send! While Seafolly pieces can get quite expensive, I will buy at least one great top from them per season, and often mix it back with a simple bottom from a more affordable store such as Cotton On Body or any of the surf shops within centre.
 
Speedo 'Contour Motion' one piece $85, Gorman 'Lost Treasure' bikini top, $109 and bottom, $99, Country Road scarf print one piece, $129, Speedo balconette top, $89, and ruched pant, $64.95, Seed pineapple bikini, $39.95

2. HATS
The Australian sun can be so harsh at this time of year, and whilst you may not realise it even the smallest amount of exposure can be doing you damage. I love an oversized straw hat for summer, but for a more practical option there are also plenty of more compact fedora styles also on-trend at the moment.
 
Country Road raffia wide brim hat, $79.95, Rubi Shoes woven fedora, $19.95, Gorman 'Zissou' beach hat, $69, Rubi Shoes 'Astor Cloche', $10, Cotton On 'Sunset Road' floppy hat, $16.95, Seed oversized wide hat, $59.95


 
3. FOOTWEAR
I love a great summer sandal. Leather are usually my go-to for beach-to-bar days, and I do love a statement slide for a more casual, practical option. Espadrilles are very on-trend at the moment, however as most styles have ankle-wrap laces and fancy styling they tend to be more suited to a summer soiree than the sandy beach.
And of course you can’t go past a simple Havaiana for an affordable, practical, hard-wearing option.
 
 
Cotton On 'Moss' sandals, $24.95, Country Road 'Brigitte' espadrille, $129, Gorman 'Deep Sea' sandal, $189, Seed 'Monica' espadrille, $99.95, Havaianas (from Surf Dive n Ski), $19.95, Gorman 'Phoenix' sandal, $189, Witchery 'Orson
 sandal, $89.95


4. BEACH BAGS
You can’t go wrong with a great beach bag. I was given one years ago by a friend and have used it every time I’ve been to the pool or beach ever since. Things to look for in a great bag include a small, secure inner pocket for things like keys and phone, easy to clean and waterproof/quick dry fabric, lighter colours (as black attracts heat).

Country Road beach tote, $149, Morgan and Finch tote from Bed Bath N Table, $19.95, Cotton On holiday tote, $19.95, Country Road stripe beach bag, $129, Trenery Cornelia canvas tote, $149
 

5. TOWELS
For travel I love nothing more than a beautiful Turkish towel. They are light and don’t take up much room, dry quickly and are a chic alternative to a brightly coloured traditional beach towel. If I’m hitting the water locally I love the indulgence of a plush, bright Country Road towel (although they’re not overly practical for travelling).

 

Country Road ‘Farrow’ beach towel, $64.95, Gorman ‘Aquarium’ beach towel, $89, Country Road ‘Tjord’ beach towel, $64.95, Adairs Turkish Peshtemal towel, $29.95, Cotton On pineapple towel, $24.95
 

6. SUNGLASSES
In my opinion a great pair of sunglasses is most definitely worth the investment, eliminating glare, preventing squinting and preserving vision. Many sunglasses designers are now producing polarized lenses, so make sure to do your research when purchasing. Whilst it may be tempting to buy a cheap pair online or in a fashion store you really don’t know what you’re getting, and in most cases the lenses won’t provide sufficient sun protection. Sunglass Hut have an amazing range of on-trend, high grade sunglasses, whilst more sport-based retailers such as Nike, Adidas and Rebel carry and range of modern styles with high-grade protection levels.

 

Persol ‘Icon’ frames, $510, Oroton ‘Aletta’ sunglasses, $215, Rayban polarised wayfarer from Myer, $299.95, Dolce and Gabbana frames from Sunglass Hut, $350, Karen Walker ‘Poolside Flowerpatch’ sunglasses from David Jones, $295, Oroton ‘Alaina’ sunglasses, $215

On that note, I’m packing up my Turkish towel, best beach hat and bikini and hitting the high seas!

Happy holidays everyone,
 
Kate x

Tags

Join The Conversation

comments powered by Disqus